Gas valve with fuel rate monitor

• US 8,905,063 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2011
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Young, Gregory, Kasprzyk, Donald J., Kucera, David, Filkovski, Gregory Todd, Yuen, Patrick, McCarthy, Tim, Welker, Patrick, Zabel, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Keasel, Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, MINH Q
• Application Number:
  US13/326,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20130153062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 137/487.5, 137/486, 137/487, 137/613, 137/614
• US Class Current: 137/487.5
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 1/002 using electronic means F23N1/04 - F23N1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2235/14 electromagnetically operated
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2235/16 variable flow or proportional valves
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2235/18 Groups of two or more valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7759 Responsive to change in rate of fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/776 Control by pressures across flow line valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8326 Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87917 Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87925 Separable flow path section, valve or closure in each

Abstract

This disclosure relates generally to valves, and more particularly, to gas valve assemblies. In one illustrative but non-limiting example, a valve assembly may include a flow module for sensing one or more parameters of a gas flowing through the fluid path of the gas valve, and may determine a measure that is related to a gas flow through the fluid path. A measure related to a gas flow may include, but is not limited to, a measure of fuel consumption by a device or appliance attached to an output port of the valve assembly. Illustratively, the flow module may include one or more valve controllers in communication with one or more pressure sensors, one or more flow sensors, one or more temperature sensors, one or more valve position sensors, and/or any other suitable sensors as desired.

Claims

1. A gas valve assembly for controlling a gas flow to a combustion appliance, the gas valve assembly comprising:

a valve body having an inlet port and an outlet port, with a fluid path extending between the inlet port and the outlet port;

a first gas valve member and a second gas valve member situated in the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port, the first gas valve member and the second gas valve member selectively movable between a closed position, which closes the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port, and an open position, which opens the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port;

a flow module for sensing one or more parameters of a gas flowing through the fluid path, and determining a measure that is related to a gas flow rate through the fluid path;

wherein the first gas valve member seals against a first valve seat situated in the fluid path between the inlet port to the outlet port;

wherein the second gas valve member seals against a second valve seat situated in the fluid path between the inlet port to the outlet port;

a characterized port that corresponds to the second valve seat;

wherein the valve assembly defines the characterized port in the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port; and

wherein the flow module includes a first pressure sensor for sensing a pressure upstream of the characterized port, and a second pressure sensor for sensing a pressure downstream of the characterized port.

2. The gas valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a valve controller coupled to the first gas valve member and the second gas valve member for controlling the position of the first gas valve member and the second gas valve member.

3. The gas valve assembly of claim 2, wherein the positions of the first gas valve member and the second gas valve member are movable between the closed position and one or more open positions.

4. The gas valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the flow module includes a flow sensor that is exposed to the gas in the fluid path in the valve body, the flow sensor sensing a measure related to the gas flow rate through the fluid path.

5. The gas valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the flow module determines the measure that is related to a gas flow rate through the fluid path based, at least in part, on the sensed pressure upstream of the characterized port and the sensed pressure downstream of the characterized port.

6. The gas valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the flow module includes a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the gas flowing through the fluid path, wherein the sensed temperature is used by the flow module to compensate the determined measure that is related to a gas flow rate through the fluid path for temperature.

7. The gas valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the flow module includes a non-volatile memory for storing one or more parameters that are used when determining the measure that is related to a gas flow rate through the fluid path.

8. A gas valve assembly for controlling a gas flow to a combustion appliance, the gas valve assembly comprising:

a valve body having an inlet port and an outlet port, with a fluid path extending between the inlet port and the outlet port;

a first gas valve member and a second gas valve member situated in the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port, the first gas valve member and the second gas valve member selectively movable between a closed position, which closes the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port, and an open position, which opens the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port;

a flow module for sensing one or more parameters of a gas flowing through the fluid path, and determining a measure that is related to a gas flow rate through the fluid path;

wherein the first gas valve member seals against a first valve seat situated in the fluid path between the inlet port to the outlet port;

wherein the second gas valve member seals against a second valve seat situated in the fluid path between the inlet port to the outlet port;

a characterized port that corresponds to the second valve seat;

wherein the valve assembly defines the characterized port in the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port; and

wherein the flow module includes a differential pressure sensor for measuring a differential pressure drop across the characterized port.

9. The gas valve assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

a valve controller coupled to the first gas valve member and the second gas valve member for controlling the position of the first gas valve member and the second gas valve member.

10. The gas valve assembly of claim 9, wherein the positions of the first gas valve member and the second gas valve member are movable between the closed position and one or more open positions.

11. The gas valve assembly of claim 8, wherein the flow module includes a flow sensor that is exposed to the gas in the fluid path in the valve body, the flow sensor sensing a measure related to the gas flow rate through the fluid path.

12. The gas valve assembly of claim 8, wherein the flow module includes a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the gas flowing through the fluid path, wherein the sensed temperature is used by the flow module to compensate the determined measure that is related to a gas flow rate through the fluid path for temperature.

13. The gas valve assembly of claim 8, wherein the flow module includes a non-volatile memory for storing one or more parameters that are used when determining the measure that is related to a gas flow rate through the fluid path.