Method and device for controlling the switching movement of a valve

• US 7,032,878 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tuchenhagen GmbH (GEA Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Tuchenhagen GmbH (GEA Group AG)
• Inventors: Porath, Bernd, Gesikiewicz, Martin, Coura, Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEVORE, PETER T
• Application Number:
  US10/477,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20040211928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 251/56, 251/129.04, 251/284, 137/240, 137/554, 137/556, 137/614.16, 137/614.18, 137/614.19
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/446 with additional cleaning or venting means between the two seats
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/003 operated without a stable intermediate position, e.g. with snap action F16K31/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/1225 with a plurality of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0033 using a permanent magnet, e.g. in combination with a reed relays
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0083 by measuring valve parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8275 Indicator element rigidly carried by the movable element whose position is indicated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/88038 One valve head carries other valve head

Abstract

A method for the control of the switching operation of a valve by the fact that the two end positions and the intermediate position(s) of the valve are clearly determined each by the valve rod(s) bearing directly or indirectly on fixed position limiters, the fixed position limiters each are moved to in the course of the first switching operations of the valve, and the respective fixed position messages resulting therefrom are stored.

Claims

1. A method for the control of the switching operation of a valve which has two valve rods which are translationally moved and each carries a closing member, both closing members being designed to block a connection passage between two fluid lines or containers wherein the valve rod(s), by means of a drive to which a pressure medium is applied, is/are moved to two end positions resulting in a full stroke (H) wherein at least one valve rod is moved, to an intermediate position located between said end positions and forming a partially opened position of the associated closing member, wherein the actual position of at least one of the valve rods illustrating the movement of the valve rod is continuously detected via a position detector in relation to a reference system and the relevant position messages (y) are continuously stored, and a comparison is provided between this actually gained data and that which were stored prior to the first switching operation of the valve

characterized further in

that the two end positions and the intermediate position are clearly determined by the valve rod or closing members bearing on first, second, third and fourth metallic fixed position limiters, said third and fourth position limiters being at intermediate positions between said first and second position limiters,

that in the course of the first switching operations of the valve the respective resultant fixed position messages (y₁, y₂, y₃, y₄,) from the position detector on locations of first, second, third and fourth metallic fixed position limiters are stored,

that the fixed position messages (y₁, y₂ . . . ) have associated therewith a predetermined tolerance range each (Δ

T_1i, Δ

T_2i, Δ

T_3i, Δ

T_4i) and the two limiting values (y_1o, y_1u;

y_2o, Y_2u;

Y_3o, y_3u;

y_4o, y_4u) of the respective tolerance range (Δ

T_1i, Δ

T_2i, . . . ) are calculated therefrom,

that an actual fixed position message (y₁*, y₂*, y₃*, y₄*) associated with each of the actual end positions the actual intermediate position are resorted to during the subsequent switching operations of the valve and are compared to the two limiting values (y_1o, y_1u;

y_2o, y_2u;

. . . ) of the tolerance range concerned (Δ

T_1i, Δ

T_2i, . . . ), and that a switching signal message signal is generated when the actual fixed position messages values (y₁*, y₂*, y₃*, y₄*) approach the associated limiting values (Y_1o, y_1u;

y_2o, y_2u;

. . . ) or when the associated tolerance range (Δ

T_1i, Δ

T_2i, . . . ) is exited.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the data stored before the first switching operation of the valve are withdrawn from a record (DS) deposited in the control which identifies and monitors the respective configuration of the valve, its switching motions, and its switching algorithm.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that tolerance ranges (Δ

T_1i, Δ

T_2i, Δ

T_3i, Δ

T_4i)) of different quality levels (i=1, 2, 3, . . .) are contained in the data record (D) wherein each quality level (i) comprises a tolerance range set (Δ

T₁₁, Δ

T₂₁, (Δ

T₃₁, Δ

T₄₁;

Δ

T₁₂, Δ

T₂₂, (Δ

T₃₂, Δ

T₄₂;

Δ

T₁₃, Δ

T₂₃, . . . Δ

T₁₄, Δ

T₂₄;

. . . ).

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the fixed position messages (y₁, y₂, y₃, y₄) have associated therewith a tolerance range set.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the fixed position messages (y₁, y₂, y₃, y₄), respectively, have associated therewith tolerance ranges of different quality levels (i).

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the tolerance range (Δ

T_1i, Δ

T_2i, Δ

T_3i, Δ

T_4i) is arranged in asymmetry with and in favour of a most likely alteration of the associated fixed position message (y₁, y₂, y₃, y₄) to the latter (y_1o=y₁+φ

Δ

T_1i, y_1u=y₁₋

[1−

φ

]Δ

T_1i with a fraction factor φ

where 0≦

φ

≦

1;

. . . ).

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the tolerance range (Δ

T_1i, Δ

T_2i, Δ

T_3i, Δ

T_4i) is arranged in symmetry with the associated fixed position message (y₁, y₂, y₃, y₄)(y_1o=y₁+Δ

T_1i/2;

y_1u=y₁−

Δ

T_1i/2;

. . . , where φ

is 0.5).

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that when an approximation of the actual fixed position messages (y₂*, Y₂*, y₃* y₄* to the associated limiting values (Y_1o, y_1u, y_2o, y_2u;

. . . ) of the tolerance range (Δ

T_1i, Δ

T_2i, Δ

T_3i, Δ

T_4i) is effected a maintenance signal is generated where said approximation is defined by an approximation tolerance Δ

_tw each which joins the respective limiting values ((y_1o, y_1u, y_2o, y_2u;

. . . ).

9. A device for the implementation of the method according to claim 1, comprising

a valve having two valve rods which are translationally moved and each carries a closing member, both closing members being designed to block a connection passage between two fluid lines of containers,

a valve drive, to which a pressure medium is applied, for the valve rod(s),

mechanism for controlling the pressure medium for the valve drive,

a position detector which is associated with the valve rods and continuously detects the actual position of the valve rod that illustrates the valve rod movements in relation to a fixed reference system and provides relevant actual position messages (y),

mechanism for the continuous storage of said actual position messages (y), and

mechanism for the calculation and comparison between data from data predetermined prior to the first switching operation of the valve and/or in the course of the valve operations, characterized further in

that two end positions (y₁, y₂) of the valve rods which result in a full stroke (H) are clearly determined by the valve rods or closing members bearing on first and second metallic fixed position limiters,

that an intermediate position (y₃, y₄) each of the valve rod between the end positions (y₁, y₂) are clearly determined by the valve rod(s) bearing directly or indirectly on third and fourth metallic fixed position limiters to define a partially opened position of the respective closing member,

that the position detector is formed as a non-contacting position indicator which operates in a non-contacting way and which, in a sensor unit, has a number of stationary magnetic-field converters in a series array in parallel with and in the vicinity of a valve rod movement to be detected, and a magnet which is connected to the valve rod is displaceable along the magnetic-field converters

and that all of the mechanisms required for the control of the valve are arranged in a control head which is provided on the side of the valve drive which faces away from the valve.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the position detector (5), in a sensor unit (5.1), has a number of stationary magnetic-field converters (5.1a) which are arranged in a series array in parallel with and in the vicinity of a valve rod movement to be detected, and that a magnet (4) which is connected to the valve rod (3) is displaceable along the magnetic-field converters (5.1a).

11. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the first, second, third and fourth metallic fixed position limiters are formed as metallic stops in said valve.

12. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the control head has provided therein an installation block including pilot valves, said installation block receives the entire distribution system for the pressure medium in itself and carries pilot valves for the control of the pressure medium and the position detector comprising the sensor unit and a communication unit.

13. The device according to claim 11, further includin gan installtion block, characterized in that the installation block is designed for the highest completion stage of the control of a valve (the control of the two end positions and the intermediate positions each of the valve disk and double disk) and that completion is performed in a modular way.

14. A device for the implementation of the method according to claim 1, comprising

a valve having at least one valve rod which is translationally moved and carries a closing member,

a valve drive, to which a pressure medium is applied, for the valve rod(s),

mechanism for controlling the pressure medium for the valve drive,

a position detector which is connected to the valve rod and continuously detects the actual position of the valve rod that illustrates the valve rod movement in relation to a fixed reference system and provides relevant actual position messages (y),

mechanism for the continuous storage of said actual position messages (y), and

mechanism for the calculation and comparison between data from data predetermined prior to the first switching operation of the valve and/or in the course of the valve operations,

characterized in

that two end positions (y₁, y₂) of the valve rod which result in a full stroke (H) are clearly determined by the valve rod bearing directly or indirectly on first and second metallic fixed position limiters,

that an intermediate position (y₃, y₄) each of the valve rods between the end positions (y₁, y₂) are clearly determined by the valve rod(s) bearing directly or indirectly on third and fourth metallic fixed position limiters to define a partially opened position of the respective closing member,

that the position detector is formed as a non-contacting position indicator which operates in a non-contacting way and which, in a sensor unit, has a number of stationary magnetic-field converters in a series array in parallel with and in the vicinity of a valve rod movement to be detected, and a magnet which is connected to the valve rod is displaceable along the magnetic-field converters and that all of the mechanisms means for the control of the valve are arranged in a control head which is provided on the side of the valve drive which faces away from the valve characterized in that the pressure medium which triggers the valve drive for the generation of the full stroke (H) is fed via a valve rod bore in the valve rod.

15. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the pressure medium for triggering the valve drive for the generation of the full stroke (H) is fed to the valve drive from outside via a first pressure medium connection.

16. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the valve drive has a fourth pressure medium connection via which, when the valve is in the closed position, the closing force onto the valve rod is increased by a supply of pressure medium.

17. A device for the implementation of the method according to claim 1, comprising

a valve having at least one valve rod which is translationally moved and carries a closing member,

a valve drive, to which a pressure medium is applied, for the valve rod(s),

mechanism for controlling the pressure medium for the valve drive,

a position detector which is connected to the valve rod and continuously detects the actual position of the valve rod that illustrates the valve rod movement in relation to a fixed reference system and provides relevant actual position messages (y),

mechanism for the continuous storage of said actual position messages (y), and

mechanism for the calculation and comparison between data from data predetermined prior to the first switching operation of the valve and/or in the course of the valve operations,

characterized in

that two end positions (y₁, y₂) of the valve rod which result in a full stroke (H) are clearly determined by the valve rod bearing directly or indirectly on first and second fixed position limiters,

that an intermediate position (y₃, y₄) each of the valve rod between the end positions (y₁, y₂) are clearly determined by the valve rod(s) bearing directly or indirectly on third and fourth fixed position limiters to define a partially opened position of the respective closing member,

that the position detector is formed as a non-contacting position indicator which operates in a non-contacting way and which, in a sensor unit, has a number of stationary magnetic-field converters in a series array in parallel with and in the vicinity of a valve rod movement to be detected, and a magnet which is connected to the valve rod is displaceable along the magnetic-field converters

and that all of the mechanisms required for the control of the valve are arranged in a control head which is provided on the side of the valve drive which faces away from the valve, characterized in that the position detector is equipped with more than one indicator lamp of different colorations, the indicator lamp being visible all around (through 360°

) via a stray light lens which is disposed in the closed front-end face of a covering hood locking the control head.