Non-invasive system and method for inspection of valves
First Claim
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1. A non-invasive monitoring system for a valve of the type including a housing and a movable element mounted in the housing for movement between an open position and a closed position and intermediate positions between the open and closed positions comprising:
- (a) first means for both detecting acoustic energy produced by the valve during a monitoring interval and generating data representative of the detected acoustic energy;
(b) second means for both detecting signals indicative of the position of the movable element during the monitoring interval and generating data representative of the detected signals; and
(c) third means coupled to the first and second means for simultaneously receiving the data generated by the first and second means and providing data from which a condition of the valve can be determined by a user.
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A non-invasive system and method is provided for the inspection of check valves which combines acoustic and magnetic techniques. The acoustic and magnetic techniques are used to measure check valve disk motion and internal impacts or vibrations resulting from the disk motion.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A non-invasive monitoring system for a valve of the type including a housing and a movable element mounted in the housing for movement between an open position and a closed position and intermediate positions between the open and closed positions comprising:
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(a) first means for both detecting acoustic energy produced by the valve during a monitoring interval and generating data representative of the detected acoustic energy; (b) second means for both detecting signals indicative of the position of the movable element during the monitoring interval and generating data representative of the detected signals; and (c) third means coupled to the first and second means for simultaneously receiving the data generated by the first and second means and providing data from which a condition of the valve can be determined by a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A non-invasive method of monitoring a valve of the type having a housing and an internal element mounted in the housing for movement between open and closed positions and intermediate positions between the open and closed positions comprising the steps of:
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(a) detecting acoustic energy produced by the valve during a monitoring interval and generating data representative of the detected acoustic energy; (b) detecting signals indicative of the position of the movable element during the monitoring interval and generating data representative of the detected signals; and (c) processing the data generated in steps (a) and (b) to place the data generated in steps (a) and (b) in a form for detecting various conditions within the valve. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A non-invasive method of monitoring a valve of the type having a housing and an internal element mounted in the housing for movement between open and closed positions and intermediate positions between the open and closed positions comprising the steps of:
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(a) detecting acoustic energy produced by the valve during a monitoring interval and generating data representative of the detected acoustic energy; (b) detecting signals indicative of the position of the movable element during the monitoring internal and generating data representative of the detected signals; and (c) recording the data generated in steps (a) and (b) for subsequent analysis. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A non-invasive method of monitoring a valve of the type having a housing and an interval element mounted in the housing for movement between open and closed positions and intermediate positions between the open and closed positions, the moveable element having a permanent magnet located thereon for movement therewith, comprising the steps of:
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(a) mounting an accelerometer and a Hall effect generator on the exterior of the housing; and (b) processing the output signals of the accelerometer and the Hall effect generator to place the same in a form for detecting various conditions within the valve. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A non-invasive method of monitoring a valve of the type having a housing and an internal element mounted in the housing for movement between open and closed positions and intermediate positions between the open and closed positions, the movable element having a permanent magnet located thereon for movement therewith, comprising the steps of:
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(a) mounting a piezoelectric accelerometer and a Hall effect generator on the exterior of the housing; (b) effecting movement of the movable element; and (c) during step (b) simultaneously recording the output signals of the accelerometer and the output signals of the Hall effect generator. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification