Check valve position indication system and method
First Claim
1. A system for detecting from outside a valve housing, the position of a movable valving element within the housing, said system comprising:
- energizing coil means placed adjacent said housing, wherein said energizing coil means spans a range of movement of said movable valving element;
energizing means applying a current pulse of predetermined pulse amplitude and duration to said energizing coil means to induce an electromagnetic field pulse in said housing and said movable valving element;
sensing means sensing amplitude and temporal characteristics of transient secondary electromagnetic fields generated by said electromagnetic field pulse in said housing and said movable valving element; and
output means generating an indication of the position of said movable valving element within said housing from said sensed amplitude and temporal characteristics of said secondary electromagnetic fields.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electromagnetic field pulses are induced in an electrically conductive/magnetically permeable housing and valving element movable within the housing of a check valve by an energizing coil placed against the housing and forming a loop extending substantially over the full range of travel of the valving element. At least two sensing coils positioned within the loop of the energizing coil proximate the two ends of the range of travel of the valving element, and preferably an array including additional sensing coils spaced between the two end coils, detect transient responses to the induced pulses from which the position of the valving element is determined.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for detecting from outside a valve housing, the position of a movable valving element within the housing, said system comprising:
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energizing coil means placed adjacent said housing, wherein said energizing coil means spans a range of movement of said movable valving element; energizing means applying a current pulse of predetermined pulse amplitude and duration to said energizing coil means to induce an electromagnetic field pulse in said housing and said movable valving element; sensing means sensing amplitude and temporal characteristics of transient secondary electromagnetic fields generated by said electromagnetic field pulse in said housing and said movable valving element; and output means generating an indication of the position of said movable valving element within said housing from said sensed amplitude and temporal characteristics of said secondary electromagnetic fields. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for detecting the position of a valving element movable within a valve housing, said method comprising the steps of:
- (1) inducing in said movable valving element a pulsed electromagnetic field of predetermined pulse shape, amplitude and duration;
(2) sensing at a plurality of locations outside said valve housing transient secondary electromagnetic fields produced by said pulsed electromagnetic field; and
(3) analyzing amplitude and temporal characteristics of said transient secondary electromagnetic fields as sensed at said plurality of locations to determine the position of the movable valving element. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- (1) inducing in said movable valving element a pulsed electromagnetic field of predetermined pulse shape, amplitude and duration;
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14. A system for detecting the position of a movable valving element located inside a valve housing comprising:
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means for inducing a transient electromagnetic field in said valving element; a plurality of sensors located outside said valve housing and proximate a range of movement of said movable valving element, said sensors operable to provide output in response to secondary electromagnetic fields generated in said movable valving element by said transient electromagnetic field; and output means operable to indicate the relative position of said movable valving element from said sensor output. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for detecting the location of a movable valving element located inside a valve housing, comprising the steps of:
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inducing a transient electromagnetic field in said movable valving element; sensing, at a plurality of locations proximate a range of movement of said valving element, the secondary electromagnetic fields generated in said movable valving element by said transient electromagnetic field; and analyzing said secondary electromagnetic fields sensed at said plurality of locations to determine the relative location of said movable valving element. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A system for detecting from outside an electrically conductive/magnetically permeable valve housing, the position of an electrically conductive/magnetically permeable movable valving element within the housing, said system comprising:
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means inducing a transient electromagnetic field in said electrically conductive/magnetically permeable valving element within said electrically conductive/magnetically permeable valve housing; sensing means located outside said electrically conductive/magnetically permeable valve housing sensing amplitude and temporal characteristics of transient secondary electromagnetic fields generated by said transient electromagnetic field in said electrically conductive/magnetically permeable valving element and said electrically conductive/magnetically permeable valve housing; and output means generating an indication of the position of said movable electrically conductive/magnetically permeable valving element within said electrically conductive/magnetically permeable valve housing from said sensed amplitude and temporal characteristics of said secondary electromagnetic fields wherein said sensing means comprises a plurality of sensors positioned proximate a range of movement of said movable electrically conductive/magnetically permeable valving element.
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24. A system for detecting from outside an electrically conductive/magnetically permeable valve housing, the position of an electrically conductive/magnetically permeable movable valving element within the housing, said system comprising:
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means inducing a transient electromagnetic field in said electrically conductive/magnetically permeable valving element within said electrically conductive/magnetically permeable valve housing; sensing means located outside said electrically conductive/magnetically permeable valve housing sensing amplitude and temporal characteristics of transient secondary electromagnetic fields generated by said transient electromagnetic field in said electrically conductive/magnetically permeable valving element and said electrically conductive/magnetically permeable valve housing; and output means generating an indication of the position of said movable electrically conductive/magnetically permeable valving element within said electrically conductive/magnetically permeable valve housing from said sensed amplitude and temporal characteristics of said secondary electromagnetic fields wherein said means for inducing a transient electromagnetic field comprises a coil forming a loop substantially spanning a range of movement of said electrically conductive/magnetically permeable valving element.
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25. A system for detecting the position of a moveable valving element within a valve housing comprising:
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a means for inducing a pulsed electromagnetic field in said valve housing and said valving element; means for sensing at a plurality of locations a transient secondary electromagnetic field generated in said valve housing and said valving element by said pulsed electromagnetic field; means for analyzing a characteristic of said transient secondary electromagnetic field to determine the presence or absence of said valving element at a predetermined location within its range of movement within said valve housing; output means for indicating the presence or absence of said valving element at said predetermined location.
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Specification