Rising stem valve position indicator

• US 4,093,000 A
• Filed: 05/20/1977
• Issued: 06/06/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James S. Poff
• Original Assignee: James S. Poff
• Inventors: Poff, James S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cline, William R.
• Application Number:
  US05/798,812
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 137/554, 137/556, 251/162, 251/263, 251/229, 251/252, 251/264, 251/269, 251/296
• US Class Current: 137/554
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0033 using a permanent magnet, e.g. in combination with a reed relays
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0041 for measuring valve parameters F16K37/0033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical

Abstract

A position indicator is used to indicate the opened and closed positions of a rising stem valve. A sleeve is provided which is adapted to be attached to a handwheel and turns with the handwheel. A tubular shell is provided which is adapted to be attached to the valve stem and to be disposed within the sleeve so that it raises, lowers and rotates with the stem. At least one magnet is supported within the sleeve to rotate therewith. First and second reed switches with associated wiring are supported by the shell to be raised and lowered relative to the magnet for closing of the switches at the opened and closed valve positions.

Claims

1. A position indicator adapted for use with a valve having a body, a ball core positioned within a flow passage of the valve body and movable between an opened and a closed position by rotation through an angle of 90°

, a stem positioned within a stem passage of the valve body to engage the ball core, said stem having a groove provided in the surface thereof to coact with a pin extending from the body to cause a camming action which rotates the core between opened and closed positions as the stem is raised, lowered and rotated, and a handwheel mechanism to raise and lower the stem by rotating a handwheel through a series of turns about the stem, including a sleeve adapted for attachment to said handwheel mechanism for rotation thereby through the series of turns with the handwheel, a tubular shell of non-magnetic material adapted for attachment to the stem and being disposed within said sleeve and adapted to be raised, lowered and rotated by the stem, at least one magnet supported within said sleeve at a distance from the handwheel mechanism and rotatable with said sleeve about said shell, and a first and a second reed switch with associated wiring supported within said shell separated by at least a distance necessary to raise and lower the stem when opening and closing the valve which in turn raises and lowers the switches relative to the magnet for activating the respective switch at the opened and closed valve positions while limiting any twisting of the wiring to the angle of rotation of the stem.

2. The position indicator of claim 1, wherein said sleeve is tubular and concentrically disposed around said tubular shell and two magnets are supported within said sleeve on diametrically opposed sides of said shell with a pole of one magnet facing a like pole of the other magnet in a direction substantially normal to the raising and lowering of the stem.

3. A device to indicate the opening and closing of a valve, comprising a valve body, a ball core positioned within a flow passage of said valve body and rotatable between an opened and closed position by rotation through an angle of 90°

, a stem positioned within a stem passage of said valve body, engaging said ball core and having a groove provided in a surface thereof to coact with a pin extending from said valve body to cause a camming action which rotates the stem and core between opened and closed positions as the stem is raised and lowered, a handwheel mechanism to raise and lower said stem by rotating a handwheel through a series of turns about the stem, a sleeve attached to said handwheel mechanism and rotating through the series of turns with the handwheel, a tubular shell of non-magnetic material attached to said stem and being disposed within said sleeve and raised, lowered and rotated with said stem, at least one magnet supported within said sleeve at a distance from the handwheel mechanism and rotating with said sleeve about said shell, and a first and a second reed switch with associated wiring supported within said shell separated by at least a distance necessary to raise and lower the stem when opening and closing the valve which in turn raises and lowers the switches relative to the magnet for closing the respective switch at the opened and closed valve positions while limiting any twisting of the wiring to the angle of rotation of the stem.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said sleeve is tubular and concentrically disposed around said tubular shell and two magnets are supported within said sleeve on diametrically opposed sides of said shell with a pole of one magnet facing a like pole of the other magnet in a direction substantially normal to the raising and lowering of the stem.