Non-contact torque sensing for valve actuators

• US 8,096,523 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flowserve Pte Ltd. (Flowserve Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Flowserve Management Company (Flowserve Corporation)
• Inventors: Dolenti, William T., Fleury, Byron A.
• Primary Examiner(s): FRISTOE JR, JOHN K
• Application Number:
  US12/070,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20080277609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.01, 251/129.04, 738/623.25
• US Class Current: 251/129.04
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0041 for measuring valve parameters F16K37/0033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0083 by measuring valve parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/165 with acoustic surface waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/255 using acoustic waves, or acoustic emission G01L1/10 and G01L1/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/12 for measuring axial thrust in a rotary shaft, e.g. of propulsion plants

Abstract

Non-contact torque, thrust, strain, and other data sensing of a valve actuator or valve is disclosed. A sensor may include a surface acoustic wave device.

Claims

1. An electrically driven valve actuator, comprising:

a rotating member; and

a sensor comprising at least one surface acoustic wave device, the at least one surface acoustic wave device attached to the rotating member, wherein the at least one surface acoustic wave device outputs a uniquely identifiable signal to a wireless receiver, wherein the surface acoustic wave device is configured to measure one or more of a torque and an axial thrust associated with the rotating member.

2. The valve actuator of claim 1, wherein the at least one surface acoustic wave device operates at a frequency range of about 3 megahertz to about 3 gigahertz.

3. The valve actuator of claim 1, wherein the at least one surface acoustic wave device comprises two surface acoustic wave devices placed at opposing angles to each other on the rotating member.

4. The valve actuator of claim 1, wherein the at least one surface acoustic wave device measures axial thrust.

5. The valve actuator of claim 1, wherein the at least one surface acoustic wave device measures torque.

6. The valve actuator of claim 1, wherein the rotating member is selected from the group consisting of a worm shaft, motor drive shaft, drive sleeve, handwheel adapter, teeth of worm gear, declutch mechanism, declutch handle, and input shaft for an encoder.

7. The valve actuator of claim 1, wherein the rotating member is a valve stem.

8. The valve actuator of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of surface acoustic wave devices and wherein each surface acoustic wave device of the plurality of surface acoustic wave devices outputs a uniquely identifiable signal to a wireless receiver.

9. The valve actuator of claim 1, wherein the rotating member is a linear moving valve stem.

10. The valve actuator of claim 1, wherein the at least one surface acoustic wave device comprises a first surface acoustic wave device that outputs a uniquely identifiable wireless signal within a first frequency range and a second surface acoustic wave device that outputs a uniquely identifiable wireless signal within a second frequency range wherein the second frequency range does not overlap the first frequency range.

11. The valve actuator of claim 1, further comprising a display that indicates output values associated with the at least one surface acoustic wave device.

12. The valve actuator of claim 11, further comprising electronics comprising an amplifier for each surface acoustic wave device, a converter associated with each surface acoustic wave device, or a wireless tag associated with an output produced by an output electrode.