Distribution valve monitor and distribution valve incorporating same
First Claim
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1. A distribution valve comprising:
- a housing having an internal fluid chamber;
at least one inlet to permit the ingress of fluid into said fluid chamber;
a plurality of outlets to permit the egress of fluid from said fluid chamber;
a valve member in said fluid chamber, said valve member carrying at least one position identifying element thereon, said valve member rotating and reciprocating in response to changes in pressure of fluid supplied to said at least one inlet; and
a plurality of non-contact sensors disposed at spaced locations about said fluid chamber to sense the presence of said at least one position identifying element at different positions within said fluid chamber.
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Abstract
A distribution valve monitor to monitor the operation of a distribution valve of the type having an inlet and a plurality of outlets, which couples the outlets to the inlet according to a desired fluid distribution pattern comprises a plurality of non-contact sensors disposed at spaced locations about the distribution valve to sense activation of the valve to different operating conditions. A controller communicates with the sensors and records data representing the operation of the valve. The recorded data is examined to detect improper operation of the distribution valve.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A distribution valve comprising:
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a housing having an internal fluid chamber; at least one inlet to permit the ingress of fluid into said fluid chamber; a plurality of outlets to permit the egress of fluid from said fluid chamber; a valve member in said fluid chamber, said valve member carrying at least one position identifying element thereon, said valve member rotating and reciprocating in response to changes in pressure of fluid supplied to said at least one inlet; and a plurality of non-contact sensors disposed at spaced locations about said fluid chamber to sense the presence of said at least one position identifying element at different positions within said fluid chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A distribution valve monitor to monitor the operation of a distribution valve that comprises at least one inlet delivering fluid to a housing having a fluid chamber therein, a plurality of outlets, and a valve mechanism in the fluid chamber and moveable to connect each of the outlets to the fluid chamber in succession in response to changes in inlet fluid pressure, comprising:
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a tubular housing removably receiving said distribution valve housing; a plurality of sensors arranged in a ring and accommodated by said tubular housing, said sensors sensing the presence of at least one position identifying element on said valve mechanism at different positions within said fluid chamber; and a controller communicating with the sensors and recording distribution valve operation data. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A distribution valve comprising:
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a housing; a fluid chamber within said housing; at least one inlet receiving fluid from a fluid source and delivering the fluid to the fluid chamber; a plurality of outlets communicating with said fluid chamber to permit the egress of fluid from said fluid chamber and deliver fluid to be distributed; a valve mechanism in said fluid chamber, said valve mechanism carrying at least one position indicator thereon and being actuable in response to changes in pressure of fluid supplied to said at least one inlet to connect said outlets to said at least one inlet in a desired sequence; and a monitor comprising a plurality of sensors arranged in a ring surrounding said fluid chamber, said sensors sensing said at least one position indicator at different positions in said fluid chamber. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification