A controller for controlling a valve is disclosed including a manifold assembly, a valve position indicator and a trigger assembly. An operating media distribution system is disposed in the manifold assembly and an electronic control unit is disposed in the controller. The electronic control unit op
A controller for controlling a valve is disclosed including a manifold assembly, a valve position indicator and a trigger assembly. An operating media distribution system is disposed in the manifold assembly and an electronic control unit is disposed in the controller. The electronic control unit operates at least one electromagnetic valve to control operating media flow via the operating media distribution system to activate an actuator which opens or closes the valve. The trigger assembly includes a cylinder adapted to receive an actuator shaft and provide a self setting mechanism corresponding to the stroke length of the actuator shaft.
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1. A controller for controlling a valve actuator, the apparatus comprising: an enclosure;a cylinder, housed within said enclosure, having a vertical length and an internal cavity configured to receive a first end of an actuator shaft, said shaft vertically traversing at least a portion of the vertic
1. A controller for controlling a valve actuator, the apparatus comprising: an enclosure;a cylinder, housed within said enclosure, having a vertical length and an internal cavity configured to receive a first end of an actuator shaft, said shaft vertically traversing at least a portion of the vertical length of said cylinder corresponding to an operating stroke of said actuator shaft in response to opening and closing of a valve;a plunger disposed within said cylinder and adapted to engage said first end of said actuator shaft, said plunger traversing a vertical distance within said internal cavity corresponding to the distance traversed by said actuator shaft within said cavity, said plunger engageable within said internal cavity about at least one of a plurality of grooves such that said vertical placement of said plunger within said internal cavity corresponds to the operating stroke of said actuator shaft;wherein said plunger has a generally circular shape having a base and a plurality of teeth extending from said base, each of said teeth extending out from the perimeter of said base wherein each of said teeth are rigidly flexible to provide an outward retaining force from said base. 2. The controller in accordance with claim 1 further comprising: an operating media distribution system disposed in said enclosure, the operating media distribution system including:a manifold block having at least one cavity;an operating media distribution cartridge including: a cylinder positioned in said cavity and being exchangeable with respect to the manifold block; anda spool assembly disposed in the cylinder and being displaceable between a first and a second configuration relative to the cylinder; andan electronic control unit disposed in the enclosure, the electronic control unit operating an electromagnetic valve to control operating media flow in said operating media distribution system. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said manifold further comprises a plurality of ports which extend from an exterior surface of said block to an interior of said block. 4. The controller of claim 3 wherein said plurality of ports comprise a supply port, an energize port and an exhaust port. 5. The controller of claim 4 wherein said energize port communicates with said valve actuator and supplies operating media from said operating media cartridge to activate said actuator. 6. The controller of claim 4 wherein said supply port receives operating media from an external source. 7. The controller of claim 5 wherein said exhaust port receives said supply operating media from said operating media cartridge and allows said media to exit the controller. 8. The controller of claim 2 wherein said manifold block includes a first chamber adapted to house said electromagnetic valve used to allow supply media air to pass from a supply port to an energize port via said cartridge. 9. The controller of claim 8 further comprising a tube communicating with a valve switch at a first end and to said cartridge at a second end, said tube configured to allow operating media to pass there through. 10. The controller of claim 8 further comprising a tube communicating with said supply port at a first end and to a valve switch at a second end, said tube configured to allow operating media to pass therethrough. 11. The controller of claim 2 wherein said manifold block further comprises a centrally disposed aperture through which said actuator shaft traverses. 12. The controller of claim 2 wherein said manifold block further comprises a mounting plate for connecting said manifold block to said valve actuator. 13. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a trigger assembly mounted inside said enclosure and capable of vertical displacement within said enclosure, said assembly comprising: a mounting bracket connected to said cylinder;a trigger housed within said bracket;at least one guide pin positioned through a first bore in said mounting bracket, a second bore vertically aligned with said first bore in said mounting bracket, and a hole through said trigger vertically aligned with said first and second bores; anda mounting plate, positioned below said cylinder and said mounting bracket, adapted to threadedly receive said guide pin. 14. The controller of claim 13 wherein said mounting bracket is a first mounting bracket, said controller further comprising an electrical switch mounted within a second mounting bracket, said second mounting bracket fixedly attached to said mounting plate, said electrical switch communicating with said trigger such that displacement of said trigger assembly along said guide pin activates said switch. 15. The controller of claim 14 wherein movement of said plunger within said internal cavity of said cylinder has a first resistive force and displacement of said trigger assembly along said guide pin has a second resistive force, said first resistive force is greater than said second resistive force such that movement of said actuator shaft within said internal cavity displaces said trigger assembly before displacing said plunger. 16. The controller of claim 13 wherein said displacement of said trigger assembly is vertical movement. 17. The controller of claim 14 further comprising an electronic control unit mounted on said mounting plate, said control unit electrically communicating with said electrical switch to provide information concerning the activation and deactivation of said switch. 18. The controller of claim 14 further comprising an adjustment means attached to said first mounting bracket, said adjustment means used to adjust the position of said trigger within said first mounting bracket in relation to said electrical switch. 19. The controller of claim 14 wherein said trigger is a first trigger and said guide pin is a first guide pin, said trigger assembly further comprising: a third mounting bracket connected to said cylinder;a second trigger housed within said third bracket; anda second guide pin positioned through a first bore in said third mounting bracket, a second bore vertically aligned with said first bore in said third mounting bracket, and a hole through said second trigger vertically aligned with said first and second bores, said second guide pin threadedly engages said mounting plate. 20. The controller of claim 19 wherein said switch is a first switch, said controller further comprising a second electrical switch mounted within said second mounting bracket, said second electrical switch communicating with said second trigger such that displacement of said trigger assembly along said first and second guide pins activates said switch. 21. The controller of claim 20 wherein said displacement of said trigger assembly is vertical movement. 22. The controller of claim 1 wherein said plurality of grooves are spaced along the length of said cylinder. 23. The controller of claim 1 wherein each of said teeth having outwardly extending portions which engage at least one of said plurality of grooves within said internal cavity of said cylinder. 24. The controller of claim 1 further comprising a beacon assembly indicating the position of a valve associated with said valve actuator, said beacon assembly comprising: a vain indicator having a substantially conical shape and a central aperture, said vain positioned on said enclosure; anda deflector having a substantially conical shape and a central aperture, said deflector positioned on top of and at least partially covering said vain such that rotation of said vain reveals an indicator portion of said vain. 25. The controller of claim 24 wherein said beacon assembly further comprises: a cam housing attached to said vain around said central aperture;a cam assembly adapted to engage a first end of said cylinder and at least a portion of which is disposed within said cam housing; anda dome having a substantially conical shape and positioned on top of and partially covering said deflector. 26. The controller of claim 25 wherein said vain indicator comprises a plurality of shields extending from said central aperture, each of said shields having a color easily noticeable by a human eye. 27. The controller of claim 24 wherein said deflector comprises a plurality of shields extending from said central aperture. 28. The controller of claim 25 wherein said cam assembly forces said vain indicator to rotate in response to an upward or downward vertical force applied to said cam assembly by said cylinder. 29. The controller of claim 28 wherein said cam assembly includes a cam portion having a substantially cylindrical shape and an inner and outer surface, said outer surface having a curved channel. 30. The controller of claim 29 wherein said cam assembly further comprising: a drum having a first end, a second end, an outer wall, an inner cavity and at least one pin extending from said outer wall into said inner cavity; anda guide fixedly disposed within said drum and having a first end communicating with said first end of said drum such that displacement of said cam in an upward or downward direction causes said pin to traverse said curved channel and turns said drum which rotates said guide. 31. The controller of claim 2 wherein said spool assembly reciprocates along a longitudinal axis of said cartridge. 32. The controller of claim 2 wherein said cylinder of said operating media distribution cartridge concentrically circumscribes the spool assembly. 33. The controller of claim 9 wherein said cylinder of said operating media distribution cartridge further comprises at least one circumferential groove circumscribing the cartridge axis and adapted to receive said operating media from said tube and deliver said operating media to said spool assembly. 34. The controller of claim 5 wherein said cylinder of said operating media distribution cartridge further comprises at least one groove port oriented perpendicular to the axis of said cartridge, said groove port configured to receive operating media via said spool assembly and supply said media to said energize port. 35. The controller of claim 5 wherein said cylinder of said operating media distribution cartridge further comprises: at least one longitudinal recess extending longitudinally along a portion of the cylinder, said longitudinal recess receiving operating media from said supply port; anda groove port oriented perpendicular to the axis of said cartridge and connected to said longitudinal recess, said groove port supplying operating media from said longitudinal recess to said spool assembly. 36. The controller of claim 2 wherein said cartridge has an inner surface, said spool assembly comprising: a spool having a longitudinal axis extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of said cartridge, said spool having alternating large and small diameter bands circumscribing said longitudinal spool axis;an annular sleeve circumscribing the spool, the sleeve having a plurality of radial perforations and a plurality of sleeve O-rings, each of said radial perforations and ones of said plurality of sleeve O-rings alternatingly disposed along said longitudinal cartridge axis; anda plurality of spacers circumscribing the annular sleeve, each of said spacers adapted to engage said inner surface of said cylinder. 37. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said operating media distribution cartridge further comprises a resilient element biasing the spool assembly with respect to the cylinder. 38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the resilient element comprises a compression spring. 39. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said operating media distribution cartridge comprises a cylinder cap engaging said cylinder and confining said spool assembly to reciprocating between said first and second configurations within said cylinder. 40. A controller for controlling a valve actuator, the apparatus comprising: an enclosure including a cylinder having a length and an internal cavity configured to receive a first end of an actuator shaft, the actuator shaft for traversing at least a portion of the length of said cylinder corresponding to an operating stroke of the actuator shaft in response to opening and closing of a valve;a plunger in the cylinder, the plunger adapted to engage the first end of the actuator shaft for traversing a distance within the internal cavity corresponding to the distance traversed by the actuator shaft within the cavity, the plunger engageable with the internal cavity via at least one of a plurality of grooves such that the location of the plunger within the internal cavity corresponds to the operating stroke of the actuator shaft; anda media distribution system in the enclosure, the media distribution system including:a manifold block having a cavity;a media distribution cartridge including a cylinder in the cavity, the cylinder exchangeable with the manifold block; and a spool assembly in the cylinder, the spool assembly displaceable between first and second configurations relative to the cylinder; andan electronic control unit operating a valve to control media flow in the media distribution system. 41. A controller for controlling a valve actuator, the apparatus comprising: an enclosure including a cylinder having a length and an internal cavity configured to receive a first end of an actuator shaft, the actuator shaft for traversing at least a portion of the length of said cylinder corresponding to an operating stroke of the actuator shaft in response to opening and closing of a valve;a plunger in the cylinder, the plunger adapted to engage the first end of the actuator shaft for traversing a distance within the internal cavity corresponding to the distance traversed by the actuator shaft within the cavity, the plunger engageable with the internal cavity via at least one of a plurality of grooves such that the location of the plunger within the internal cavity corresponds to the operating stroke of the actuator shaft; anda beacon assembly indicating the position of a valve associated with the valve actuator, the beacon assembly including a vain having a central aperture, the vain positioned on the enclosure; and a deflector having a central aperture, the deflector at least partially covering the vain indicator so that rotation of the vain reveals an indicator portion of the vain.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (12)
Trevisan Giovanni (Via Enrico Fermi ; 13 20090 Cusago (Milano) ITX), Angular position indicator for remotely displaying the positions of value elements, actuators and the like.
Stommes Wallace F. (Fergus Falls MN) Nelson Gerald J. (Fergus Falls MN) Cuhel Gerald A. (Richville MN) Kunz Ross S. (Callaway MN), Valve position indicator.
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