Methods and apparatus to determine a position of a valve

• US 8,387,657 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2008
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Zhuang, Yin, Cang, Lu, Jun, Fan Jian
• Primary Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr., John K
• Assistant Examiner(s): FAULB, SETH J
• Application Number:
  US12/098,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20080308157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,793 Days
• Field of Search: 137/557, 137/629, 137/630, 137/487, 137/553, 137/554, 738/616.1, 738/616.2
• US Class Current: 137/557
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0066 Hydraulic or pneumatic means F16K37/0075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0379 By fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8225 Position or extent of motion indicator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8326 Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86485 Line condition change responsive release of valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86944 One valve seats against other valve [e.g., concentric valves]

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to indicate a position of a valve are described. An example apparatus includes a first pressure sensor to detect an inlet pressure of a valve, a second pressure sensor to detect an outlet pressure of the valve, and a controller operatively coupled to the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor to determine a position of the valve corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined operational states of the valve.

Claims

1. An internal valve system comprising:

a first pressure sensor to detect an inlet pressure of a valve;

a second pressure sensor to detect an outlet pressure of the valve;

a controller operatively coupled to the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor to determine a position of the valve corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined operational states of the valve including at least an open state, a closed state and a bleed state based on a comparison of the inlet pressure and the outlet pressure received by the respective first and second pressure sensors, the controller is to determine that the valve is in the closed state when a pressure differential between the inlet pressure and outlet pressure exceeds a valve opening differential pressure value, determine that the valve is in the bleed state when the differential pressure between the inlet pressure and the outlet is not equalized, and determine that the valve is in the open state when the pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet pressures reaches a valve opening differential pressure value; and

an indicator to provide an indication that the valve is prepared to receive a detachable fluid pipe when the valve is in the closed state, the indicator to provide an indication that the valve is in the bleed state to prevent pumping of fluid through the valve prior to an equalization of pressure across the valve, and the indicator to provide an indication that the valve is prepared to pump fluid through the fluid pipe when the valve is in the open state.

2. The internal valve system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a display operatively coupled to the controller.

3. The internal valve system as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller is to communicate a message associated with the position of the valve to a user.

4. The internal valve system as defined in claim 1, wherein the valve is to receive liquefied petroleum gas.

5. The internal valve system as defined in claim 1, wherein the valve comprises an internal excess flow valve.

6. The internal valve system of claim 1, wherein the pressure differential between the inlet pressure and the outlet pressure reaches the valve opening differential pressure value when the inlet pressure is substantially equal to the outlet pressure.

7. The internal valve system as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller calculates a differential pressure between the inlet pressure of the valve and the outlet pressure of the valve to determine the position of the valve.

8. The internal valve system as defined in claim 7, wherein the controller is to compare the differential pressure to a predetermined valve pressure value.

9. The internal valve system as defined in claim 1, wherein the valve comprises an internal valve configured to be installed in a tank.

10. The internal valve system as defined in claim 9, wherein the inlet pressure is substantially equal to a pressure in the tank.

11. The internal valve system of claim 1, further comprising a valve body defining a fluid flow passageway between an inlet and an outlet.

12. The internal valve system of claim 11, further comprising a main poppet disposed in the fluid flow passageway and movable relative to a first valve seat between an open position corresponding to the open state and a closed position corresponding to the closed state to control fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet.

13. The internal valve system of claim 12, further comprising an equalization member disposed in the fluid flow passageway and movable relative to a second valve seat to a bleed position corresponding to the bleed state to equalize the pressure between the inlet and the outlet.

14. The internal valve system of claim 13, wherein the internal valve includes a lever to manually operate the valve between the open position, the bleed position and the closed position.

15. A method for determining a position of an internal valve, the method comprising:

obtaining an inlet pressure of the internal valve;

obtaining an outlet pressure of the internal valve;

comparing the inlet pressure to the outlet pressure to determine a position of the internal valve corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined operational states of the internal valve that include an open state, a closed state and a bleed state;

determining that the internal valve is in a closed state when the pressure differential between the inlet pressure and outlet pressure exceeds a valve opening differential pressure value;

providing an indication that the internal valve is ready to receive a removable transport component when the internal valve is in the closed state;

determining that the internal valve is in the bleed state when a poppet of the valve is in a bleed position;

providing an indication that the internal valve is in the bleed state to prevent pumping of fluid through the internal valve;

determining that the internal valve is in the open position when the pressure differential between the inlet pressure and the outlet pressure reaches a valve opening differential pressure value; and

providing an indication that the internal valve is ready to pump fluid through the removable transport component when the internal valve is in the open state.

16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein comparing the inlet pressure to the outlet pressure comprises calculating a differential pressure between the inlet pressure and the outlet pressure of the internal valve.

17. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising communicating a message to a user associated with the plurality of predetermined operational states of the valve.

18. A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising manually coupling the removable transport component to an outlet of the internal valve when the internal valve is in the closed position.

19. A system comprising:

a tank having an internal valve to control a flow of fluid, the internal valve having an output to receive a removable tubing;

a first pressure sensor to detect an inlet pressure of the internal valve;

a second pressure sensor to detect an outlet pressure of the internal valve;

a controller operatively coupled to the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor, the controller is to calculate a differential pressure between the inlet pressure and the outlet pressure to determine a position of the internal valve corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined operational states of the internal valve including an open state, a closed state and a bleed state; and

a display operatively coupled to the controller to communicate the position of the internal valve to a user, wherein the closed state of the valve indicates that the valve is prepared to receive the removable tubing from the user, the bleed state of the valve indicates that a fluid pressure across the valve between the inlet and the outlet is in the process of equalizing and the valve is not ready to be positioned to an open position, and the open state indicates that the valve is ready to pump fluid through the removable tubing.

20. A system as defined in claim 19, wherein the inlet pressure is substantially equal to a pressure of the tank.