Control utilizing non-contact switching for control and current sensing technology for operating a valve

• US 20100090140A1
• Filed: 10/14/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: ESTRADA, Jesus, NAVAL, Rufino JR., PHILLIPS, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,474,788 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/129.01
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0083 by measuring valve parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 Programmer or timer

Abstract

The present invention provides a control device featuring a control module featuring one or more modules configured to provide a first control signal for controlling a first device in order to open or close a second device; and also configured to respond to a change in a parameter sensed in relation to controlling the first device, and to provide a second control signal for controlling the first device based at least partly on the change in the parameter in relation to time. The first device may be a motor; the second device is a valve; and the parameter may be current. In operation, the first control signal is for turning on the motor in order to open or close the valve, and the second control signal is for turning off the motor in order to open or close the valve.

Claims

1. A control module comprising:

one or more modules configured to provide a first control signal for controlling a first device in order to open or close a second device; and

also configured to respond to a change in a parameter sensed in relation to controlling the first device, and to provide a second control signal for controlling the first device based at least partly on the change in the parameter in relation to time.

2. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the first device is a motor.

3. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the second device is a valve, including where the valve has a motor for controlling the opening and closing of a valve gate.

4. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the parameter is current.

5. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the first control signal is for turning on a motor in order to open or close a valve, and the second control signal is for turning off the motor in order to open or close the valve.

6. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the one or more modules is configured to respond to a touch control by an operator or user and provide the first control signal so as to provide a touch control utilizing non-contact switching with no mechanical switching.

7. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the second control signal is for turning off a motor for controlling the opening and closing of the second device.

8. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the one or more modules is configured to provide the second control signal after a predetermined time has elapsed.

9. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the one or more modules is configured to provide the second control signal if the change in the parameter exceeds a predetermined value.

10. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the one or more modules is configured to measure a value of the parameter.

11. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the one or more modules is configured to measure the time that the first device is on in order to open or close the second device, to compare a measured value of the time to a time limit for the first device to be on in order to open or close the second device, and to provide the second control signal if the measured value exceeds the time limit.

12. A control module according to claim 11, wherein the one or more modules is configured to initially measure the time that the first device is on in order to open or close the second device, and to store the measured value as the time limit for the first device to be on in order to open or close the second device.

13. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the first device is a motor, and the second device is a valve, and wherein the one or more modules is configured to perform some combination of the following:

set a turn direction of the motor;

turn on the motor;

run a timer for ignoring an inrush of current being provided to the motor;

turn off the motor if a current value for opening/closing limit is reached.

14. A control module according to claim 5, wherein the one or more modules is configured to monitor if the motor or valve reaches a mechanical “

on”

stop or a mechanical “

off”

stop based at least partly on a sensed increase in a value of the current being provided to the motor, and shut off the motor based at least partly on the sensed increase in the value of the current.

15. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the one or more modules is configured to receive power from a power supply and provide the power to the first device.

16. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the one or more modules is configured to sense a touch control input by an operator or user based at least partly on a technique using capacitive, inductive or optic sensing.

17. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the one or more modules is configured to monitor a time of travel and correlate the time of travel to open and close the second device.

18. A control module according to claim 17, wherein the one or more modules is configured to alert a user with an audio and/or visual alert that the second device, including a valve, is not fully closed in the event that the travel time is less than a normal time of travel.

19. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the one or more modules is configured with an oscillator or oscillator circuit having capacitive sensors, including where each capacitive sensor has an inherent capacitive value that is increased when someone touches the capacitive sensor.

20. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the one or more modules is configured with an oscillator or oscillator circuit having capacitive sensors, including where each capacitive sensor is connected to a respective oscillator, so the number of oscillators in the oscillator circuit is substantially equal to the number of the capacitive sensors.

21. A control module according to claim 20, wherein the oscillator or oscillator circuit is configured so that the frequency of the oscillator depends on a touch sensor capacitance connected to the oscillator and is inversely proportional.

22. A control module according to claim 20, wherein the one or more modules is configured so that each time that a system is powered up the one or more modules realizes a frequency measurement for each oscillator, which is used as a base line or reference value to subsequent measurements.

23. A control module according to claim 20, wherein the one or more modules is configured so that after a first reading of each oscillator'"'"'s frequency, any subsequent reading can be compared to its reference value, if an oscillator'"'"'s frequency value is less than its reference value then the one or more modules is configured to determine that a corresponding touch sensor is being touched.

24. A control module according to claim 23, wherein the one or more modules is configured so there is a security band gap to discriminate substantially small or minor frequency variations due to components tolerance and electrical parameters, including frequency variation that depends on the environment.

25. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the one or more modules is configured to execute a software subroutine for the opening or closing of a valve in response to a touch sensor being touched.

26. A control module according to claim 1, wherein the one or more modules is configured to operate the opening and closing of a valve by controlling a motor.

27. A control module according to claim 25, wherein the one or more modules is configured to detect that the motor has reached a limit of opening or close.

28. A control module according to claim 25, wherein the one or more modules is configured to turn on the motor, run a subroutine to measure the current of the motor, detect that the current of the motor increases up to a value that depends on the electrical parameters of the electrical motor once the valve is completely closed or opened, and turn off the motor.

29. A control module according to claim 1, where the control modules comprises:

a touch pad module configured to respond to a touch by a user and provide a touch module signal to activate/deactivate a valve based on a change in a value of a touch sensing parameter, including capacitance.

31. A method according to claim 29, wherein the first device is a motor;

the second device is a valve; and

the parameter is current.

32. A method according to claim 29, wherein the method comprises providing the second control signal after a predetermined time has elapsed.

33. A method according to claim 29, wherein the method comprises providing the second control signal if the change in the parameter exceeds a predetermined value.

34. A method according to claim 29, wherein the method comprises providing the first control signal in response a touch pad input by a user or operator.

36. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the first control signal is turning on the motor;

the second control signal is for turning off the motor; and

the parameter being sensed is current.

30. A method comprising:

providing a first control signal for controlling a first device in order to open or close a second device;

responding to a change in a parameter sensed in relation to controlling the first device; and

providing a second control signal for controlling the first device based at least partly on the change in the parameter in relation to time.

35. Apparatus comprising:

a valve configured with a motor and a conduit for allowing the passage of a substance based at least partly on whether the valve is either open or closed; and

a control module having one or more modules configured to provide a first control signal for controlling the motor in order to open or close the valve; and

also configured to respond to a change in a parameter sensed in relation to controlling the motor, and to provide a second control signal for controlling the motor based at least partly on the change in the parameter in relation to time.