Human-machine interface for gas valve
First Claim
1. A valve assembly having a gas inlet and a gas outlet, the valve assembly comprising:
- a first valve fluidly coupled to the gas inlet;
a second valve downstream of the first valve, operatively coupled to the gas outlet;
a pressure sensor positioned to sense a pressure in an intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve,a controller operatively coupled to the first valve, the second valve and the pressure sensor;
the controller is configured to open the first valve and the second valve to allow gas to flow from the gas inlet to the gas outlet, and close one or more of the first valve and the second valve to prevent gas from flowing from the gas inlet to the gas outlet;
the controller is further configured to execute a valve leak test, which comprises;
closing the first valve and opening the second valve;
with the first valve still closed, closing the second valve for a first predetermined amount of time;
monitoring for a first valve leak rate during the first predetermined amount of time by monitoring the pressure in the intermediate volume;
a human machine interface (HMI) operatively coupled to the controller, the human machine interface including a user interface with a display; and
once the valve leak test has is initiated, the HMI displays on the display a graph of the pressure in the intermediate volume over time covering at least part of the initiated valve leak test.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure relates generally to valves, and more particularly, to gas valve assemblies. In one example, a valve leakage test and/or other tests may be performed on a valve assembly including a valve body with a first valve and a second valve, where the valves may be positioned across a fluid path in the valve body with an intermediate volume between the valves. A human machine interface (HMI) may be in communication with the valve assembly to initiate and/or monitor tests on the valve assembly. The HMI may include a start button on a user interface for initiating the tests on valve assembly. The HMI may receive results of the tests (e.g., valve leakage tests) in real time during the test and display the results of the tests on a display of the HMI in real time.
456 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A valve assembly having a gas inlet and a gas outlet, the valve assembly comprising:
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a first valve fluidly coupled to the gas inlet; a second valve downstream of the first valve, operatively coupled to the gas outlet; a pressure sensor positioned to sense a pressure in an intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve, a controller operatively coupled to the first valve, the second valve and the pressure sensor; the controller is configured to open the first valve and the second valve to allow gas to flow from the gas inlet to the gas outlet, and close one or more of the first valve and the second valve to prevent gas from flowing from the gas inlet to the gas outlet; the controller is further configured to execute a valve leak test, which comprises; closing the first valve and opening the second valve; with the first valve still closed, closing the second valve for a first predetermined amount of time; monitoring for a first valve leak rate during the first predetermined amount of time by monitoring the pressure in the intermediate volume; a human machine interface (HMI) operatively coupled to the controller, the human machine interface including a user interface with a display; and once the valve leak test has is initiated, the HMI displays on the display a graph of the pressure in the intermediate volume over time covering at least part of the initiated valve leak test. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A human machine interface (HMI) for interacting with a valve assembly to initiate and monitor a valve test on the valve assembly, wherein the valve assembly is fitted to regulate a flow of gas to a combustion chamber or burner, the human machine interface (HMI) comprising:
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an interface for sending and receiving information; a memory; a user interface including a display; and a HMI controller operatively coupled with the interface, the memory, and the user interface, the HMI controller is configured to; receive an initiation of a test for the valve assembly via the user interface; send a signal to the valve assembly over the interface in response to receiving the initiation of the test for the valve assembly, wherein the signal is configured to initiate the valve test on the valve assembly that is fitted to regulate a flow of gas to the combustion chamber or burner, the valve test including two or more sequential test steps; and display a valve test monitoring screen on the display after initiation of the test, the valve test monitoring screen including a test status portion that displays in a text format a current test step of the two or more sequential test steps that is currently being performed as well as at least one completed test step, if any. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of initiating a valve leakage test on a gas valve assembly coupled to a non-switched gas source that is under a positive pressure during the valve leakage test, the gas valve assembly having a first valve that is fluidly coupled to the gas source, a second valve downstream of the first valve, and a pressure sensor, where the pressure sensor is positioned to sense a measure that is related to a pressure in an intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve, the method comprising:
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initiating a valve leakage test of the gas valve assembly by a user selecting a start button on a user interface of a HMI; receiving results of the valve leakage test in real time and displaying the received results of the valve leakage test on a display of the HMI during the valve leakage test, the results of the valve leakage test including a valve leakage rate; and displaying a diagnostics screen via the HMI, wherein the diagnostic screen includes an active faults selectable option and a trends selectable option, wherein selection of the active faults selectable options results in displaying an active faults list for the gas valve assembly, and selection the trends selectable option results in displaying a trend over time for the valve leakage rate based on past valve leakage tests.
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Specification