Valve-member monitoring system

• US 8,950,429 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2010
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TLV Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: TLV Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Oike, Tadashi, Nagase, Mamoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivell, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hicks, Angelisa
• Application Number:
  US12/804,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20110036424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• Field of Search: 137/883, 137/554, 137/557, 137/606, 137/558, 621/50, 622/72, 622/85
• US Class Current: 137/606
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0075 For recording or indicating the functioning of a valve in combination with test equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F16T 1/48 Monitoring arrangements for inspecting, e.g. flow of steam and steam condensate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87684 Valve in each inlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87877 Single inlet with multiple distinctly valved outlets

Abstract

Construction of a valve-member monitoring system using wireless communication is facilitated. The valve-member monitoring system is structured with operating-condition sensors each attached to each of multiple steam traps installed on a manifold. The manifold serves as a discharged condensate collecting pipe in which condensate is discharged through the multiple steam traps. The valve-member monitoring system further includes a sensor controlling terminal device that is attached to the manifold or in the vicinity of the manifold and exchanges information by radio with a central control apparatus. In the valve-member monitoring system, the terminal device is connected to the operating-condition sensors each attached to each of the steam traps installed on the manifold with lead lines. This reduces time and effort required to determine which operating-condition sensors are to be connected to the terminal device, and therefore facilitates the construction of the valve-member monitoring system, which are excellent results.

Claims

1. A valve-member monitoring system that monitors operating conditions of a plurality of valve members comprising:

operating-condition sensors each attached to each of the plurality of valve members installed on a manifold, the manifold serving as a discharged condensate collecting pipe in which condensate is discharged through a plurality of steam traps or the manifold serving as a fluid distribution pipe in which fluid is separated and delivered through a plurality of valves; and

a sensor controlling terminal device that is attached to the manifold or provided in the vicinity of the manifold such that the sensor controlling terminal device is proximate to each of the plurality of valve members and exchanges information by radio with a central control apparatus,

wherein the sensor controlling terminal device is directly connected to but physically separate from the operating-condition sensors each attached to each of the plurality of valve members installed on the manifold,

wherein the sensor controlling terminal device is arranged above each of the plurality of valve members installed on the manifold and each of the operating-condition sensors attached to each of the plurality of valve members installed on the manifold.

2. The valve-member monitoring system recited in claim 1, wherein the operating-condition sensors are at least one of (i) temperature and (ii) vibration sensors.

3. The valve-member monitoring system recited in claim 1, wherein a distance from the sensor controlling terminal device to a valve member of the plurality of valve members is approximate to a distance from the valve member to an operating-condition sensor of the operating-condition sensors.