HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE FOR GAS VALVE

• US 20180106698A1
• Filed: 10/19/2016
• Published: 04/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Karg, Karen, Kasprzyk, Donald J., Dharwada, Pallavi
• Granted Patent: US 10,564,062 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0091 by measuring fluid parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 2900/05002 Valves for gaseous fuel supply lines
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 5/007 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 1/002 using electronic means F23N1/04 - F23N1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2223/08 Microprocessor; Microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2225/04 pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2235/12 Fuel valves
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2241/08 Household apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2900/05005 Mounting arrangements for sensing, detecting or measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2876 for valves G01M3/30 takes precedence

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.

Claims

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; and

a human machine interface (HMI) operatively coupled to the controller, the human machine interface including a user interface with a display, the user interface including a start selection that when selected initiates the valve leak test.

2. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve leak test further comprises:

closing the second valve and opening the first valve;

with the second valve still closed, closing the first valve for a second predetermined amount of time; and

monitoring for a second valve leak rate during the second predetermined amount of time.

3. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein after the valve leak test is initiated, the HMI displays on the display the current positions of the first valve and the second valve during the valve leak test.

4. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein after the valve leak test is initiated, the HMI updates a current status of the on-going valve leak test while the controller is executing the valve leak test.

5. The valve assembly of claim 4, wherein the current status identifies a pressure stabilization phase of the valve leak test.

6. The valve assembly of claim 4, wherein the current status identifies a leakage rate verification phase of the valve leak test.

7. The valve assembly of claim 4, wherein the current status identifies whether the valve leak test passed or failed.

8. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein after the valve leak test is initiated, the HMI displays on the display a measure related to the first valve leak rate.

9. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein once the valve leak test is initiated, the HMI displays on the display a graph of the pressure in the intermediate volume over time.

10. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein after the valve leak test is initiated, the HMI displays on the display a table of the pressure in the intermediate volume over time.

11. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the HMI is operatively coupled to the controller via a wired connection.

12. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the HMI is operatively coupled to the controller via a wireless connection.

13. A human machine interface (HMI) for interacting with a valve assembly to initiate and monitor a valve test on the valve assembly, the human machine interface (HMI) comprising:

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; and

send a signal to the valve assembly over the interface, wherein the signal is configured to initiate the valve test on the valve assembly.

14. The human machine interface (HMI) of claim 13, wherein the user interface includes a start button and a selection of the start button initiates sending the signal to initiate the valve test on the valve assembly.

15. The human machine interface (HMI) of claim 13, wherein after the valve test is initiated, the HMI controller is configured to display on the display a current position of a valve of the valve assembly during the valve test.

16. The human machine interface (HMI) of claim 13, wherein after the valve test is initiated, the HMI controller is configured to update a current status of the on-going valve test.

17. The human machine interface (HMI) of claim 16, wherein the valve test includes a valve leak test, and the current status of the on-going valve test identifies a pressure stabilization phase of the valve leak test.

18. The human machine interface (HMI) of claim 16, wherein the valve test includes a valve leak test, and the current status of the on-going valve test identifies a leakage rate verification phase of the valve leak test.

19. The human machine interface (HMI) of claim 16, wherein the current status of the on-going valve test identifies whether the valve test passed or failed.

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:

initiating a valve leakage test of the gas valve assembly by selecting a start button on a user interface of a HMI; and

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.