Position indicator for submerged valves

• US 6,822,577 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2002
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alfonso Ferrer Figueroa, S. L. Servinge
• Original Assignee: Alfonso Ferrer Figueroa, S. L. Servinge
• Inventors: Sañudo Tofiño, José Luis, Barcelo, Gerardo Bonnin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, John
• Application Number:
  US10/060,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20020092863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 340/686.1, 137/491, 137/315.18, 137/315.38, 251/159, 251/161, 251/164
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0066 Hydraulic or pneumatic means F16K37/0075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6035 Rotary ball valve

Abstract

The position indicator is applicable to submerged valves forming part of hydraulic systems for the transfer of liquids or gas, based on that the corresponding signal which is obtained as a consequence of the state or position (open or closed) of the valve is transmitted by hydraulic pressure, from a long distance and transformed into an analog or digital signal which can be viewed on a display screen. The position of the valve (2) is set by the position of an actuator shaft (3′) to which are secured cams (11) so that the rotation of the shaft causes the cams (11) to act on hydraulic cartridges (12), thereby regulating the position of said cartridges, and as a consequence, regulating the pressure of a secondary hydraulic system to provide said pressure signal which can be converted to any type of reliable indication, corresponding to the real position of the valve (2).

Claims

1. A position indicator for a submerged valve, said valve forming part of a main hydraulic system for transfer of fluids, the position indicator comprising

a pressure signal generating means for generating a pressure signal being indicative of a position of the valve;

said pressure signal being convertible into an indication being displayable on a visualization screen;

wherein said pressure signal generating means comprises at least one hydraulic cartridge;

a pressure signal transmitting means for transmitting the pressure signal over long distances;

a mechanical means for detecting the position of the valve;

wherein

said mechanical means comprises at least one cam fixedly positioned on a rotating actuator shaft of the valve for acting upon the pressure signal generating means upon rotation of the rotating actuator shaft which actuates the valve, the mechanical means converting a circular motion of the actuator shaft into a rectilinear motion of a part of the pressure signal generating means, thereby generating the pressure signal indicative of a position of the valve.

2. A position indicator according to claim 1, wherein said pressure signal transmitting same transmits the pressure signal to a converter, said converter converting the pressure signal into a signal selected from analog and digital signals that are indicative of the position of the valve for displaying thereof on a screen.

3. A position indicator according to claim 1, wherein said pressure signal transmitting means is a secondary hydraulic system being associated to the main hydraulic system.

4. A position indicator according to claim 2 wherein said pressure signal transmitting means is a secondary hydraulic system associated with the main hydraulic system.