Device for indicating the position of a valve spindle

• US 9,518,676 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Buerkert Werke GmbH
• Original Assignee: Buerkert Werke GmbH
• Inventors: Feinauer, Markus, Jacob, Christof
• Primary Examiner(s): Schneider, Craig
• Assistant Examiner(s): HICKS, ANGELISA
• Application Number:
  US14/065,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20140116542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 137/553, 137/554, 251/63, 251/63.5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0041 for measuring valve parameters F16K37/0033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical

Abstract

Provision is made of a device for indicating the position of a valve spindle of a valve. The device comprises a valve spindle which can be shifted between a first position and a second position, and a sensor module for detecting at least the end positions of the valve spindle. The device further comprises at least a first optical display element (58), preferably a first LED, for indicating the first position, and a second optical display element (60), preferably a second LED, for indicating the second position. A first end position indication (66) is assigned to the first display element (58) and a second end position indication (68) is assigned to the second display element (60).

Claims

1. A device for indicating a position of a valve spindle of a valve, the device comprising:

the valve spindle and a spindle extension which are moveable between a first position and a second position;

first and second markings arranged on the spindle extension so as to be spaced in the direction of motion of the valve spindle;

a sensor module comprising first and second detectors arranged on a printed circuit board and respectively associated with the first and second markings such that the first detector is configured to detect the first position when the first marking lies opposite thereto and the second detector is configured to detect the second position when the second marking lies opposite thereto;

at least a first optical display element configured to indicate the first position, and a second optical display element configured to indicate the second position, wherein a first end position indication is assigned to the first optical display element and a second end position indication is assigned to the second optical display element; and

a cup-shaped housing module secured to the valve, wherein the valve spindle is movably guided in the cup-shaped housing module;

wherein the sensor module and the first and second optical display elements are arranged within the cup-shaped housing module, and

wherein the cup-shaped housing module comprises an end face provided with a partially transparent protuberance configured such that an end of the valve spindle projects into the partially transparent protuberance and is visible through the partially transparent protuberance when the valve spindle is in at least one of the first and second positions.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second optical display elements are two identical LEDs which are configured to emit light with same wavelength.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cup-shaped housing module comprises the printed circuit board, and the first and second optical display elements are arranged on the printed circuit board.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second end position indications include transparent or translucent portions on the end face of the cup-shaped housing module.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the first and second optical display elements each cooperates with an optical waveguide in order to guide light to the first and second end position indications.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second end position indications are arranged on an outer side of the cup-shaped housing module and are configured to output light from the first and second optical display elements arranged within the housing module.

7. The device according to claim 6, further comprising:

an additional identification means assigned to each of the first and second end position indications.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the additional identification means include labels.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the cup-shaped housing module comprises plastic, and the additional identification means are directly molded in the plastic by injection molding.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the partially transparent protuberance and the visible end of valve spindle represent a separate position indication formed independently of the sensor module.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor module includes a path length measuring system.