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Control device for a flow of fluid

  • US 6,848,474 B2
  • Filed: 03/06/2002
  • Issued: 02/01/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A control and safety device for a flow of fluid through a fluid circulation path through a main body of the device, which includes:

  • an axial displacement sealing valve cooperating with a seat to determine, in the fluid passage, a fluid passage section adjustable between a fully open position and a shut-off position, a linear actuator directly mechanically connected to the sealing valve by an axial displacement connecting rod, for continuously and axially moving the sealing valve facing the seat between its fully open and shut-off positions, enabling continuous adjustment of the position of the sealing valve facing the seat, wherein;

    the connecting rod includes a first segment and a second segment which are coaxial and independent, the first segment being integral with the sealing valve, the second segment being driven by the linear actuator, and the two segments being able to move axially relative to each other between a relatively close together position and a relatively far apart position relative to an airgap, each of the first and second segments of the connecting rod comprises at least one respective ferromagnetic material connecting portion, two respective contact surfaces of the two connecting portions facing each other, a return spring urges the sealing valve and the first segment of the connecting rod away from the second segment of the connecting rod to spring-load the sealing valve into the shut-off position, a magnetic coupling circuit with an excitation coil is magnetically coupled to the connecting portions of the segments of the connecting rod and is shaped to generate selectively a magnetic field circulating between the two connecting portions of the segments of the connecting rod, said magnetic field causing mutual magnetic attraction of the segments of the connecting rod toward each other against a return force exerted by the return spring, said magnetic attraction being greater than the return force of the return spring when the two segments are in the relatively close together position, the magnetic coupling circuit and the excitation coil are components of the main body of the device, with the result that energization of the excitation coil maintains the magnetic attraction of the segments of the connecting rod, ensuring the mechanical coupling of the sealing valve to the linear actuator for its functional movements, and interruption of the supply of power to the excitation coil causes the segments of the connecting rod to be released from each other, ensuring the decoupling of the sealing valve, which is then returned to the shut-off position by the return spring, regardless of the status of the linear actuator.

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