Off-axis position monitoring and control system and related methods
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F16K-037/00
F24F-011/00
출원번호
US-0038674
(2013-09-26)
등록번호
US-9341282
(2016-05-17)
발명자
/ 주소
Robson, Christopher J.
출원인 / 주소
Flow Control Industries, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Perkins Coie LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
3
초록▼
A flow control valve and a valve-position monitoring and control system coupled to the valve member and configured to precisely determine valve conditions related to the rotary position of the valve member. The system has an array of spaced apart transducers in an arcuate arrangement and in a fixed,
A flow control valve and a valve-position monitoring and control system coupled to the valve member and configured to precisely determine valve conditions related to the rotary position of the valve member. The system has an array of spaced apart transducers in an arcuate arrangement and in a fixed, non-moveable position relative to the valve's housing. A magnetic-field source is fixed to and rotates with the valve member as a unit. The magnetic-field source includes magnetic members adjacent to and out of physical engagement with the transducers. The magnetic member moves along an arcuate path parallel to the arcuate arrangement of the transducers as the valve member rotates through the plurality of rotary positions. The magnetic-field source provides magnetic flux detectable by at least a plurality of the transducers to precisely determine the rotational position of the magnetic-field source and/or the valve member, and the fluid flow rate through the control valve.
대표청구항▼
1. A control valve assembly, comprising: a valve housing;a valve member having a valve body rotatably contained in the housing and a valve stem connected to the valve body, the valve member rotationally moveable about an axis of rotation relative to the valve housing between a plurality of rotary po
1. A control valve assembly, comprising: a valve housing;a valve member having a valve body rotatably contained in the housing and a valve stem connected to the valve body, the valve member rotationally moveable about an axis of rotation relative to the valve housing between a plurality of rotary positions of the valve member;an off-axis valve-position monitoring and control system coupled to the valve member and configured to precisely determine valve conditions related to rotary positions of the valve member, the valve-position monitoring and control system comprising: a transducer array assembly having a plurality of spaced apart transducers in an arcuate arrangement disposed about the axis of rotation and spaced apart from the valve member, the transducers being in a fixed, non-moveable position relative to the valve housing;a magnetic-field source fixed to the valve member and rotatable with the valve member as a unit, the magnetic-field source includes at least one magnetic member adjacent to the array assembly and out of physical engagement with the transducers, the magnetic member being moveable along an arcuate path substantially parallel to the arcuate arrangement of the transducers as the valve member rotates through the plurality of rotary positions, wherein the magnetic-field source provides magnetic flux detectable by at least a plurality of the transducers to precisely determine at least one of the rotational positions of the magnetic-field source, the rotational position of the valve member, and a rate of flow through the control valve assembly,wherein the magnetic-field source includes Ferrous-based U-shaped member with a first magnet on a first leg and a second magnet on a second leg and aligned with the first magnet with at least a portion of the transducer array assembly positioned between the first and second magnetics. 2. The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the transducer array assembly has a mounting portion fixable relative to the housing, a support plate carried by the mounting portion, and a plurality of transducers attached to the support plate in the arcuate arrangement. 3. The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the transducers are arranged along a partially circular path, and wherein each transducer is an equal distance from the axis of rotation of at least a portion of the valve member. 4. The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the transducer array assembly comprises the plurality of transducers carried by a support member and an overmolding portion that encapsulates the transducers and at least a portion of the support member. 5. The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the magnetic-field source has opposing first and second magnets at least partially encased in an overmold portion and positioned so the transducers will move between the first and second magnets as the valve member moves through the plurality of rotary positions. 6. The valve assembly of claim 1 further comprising a controller operatively connected to the transducer array and configured to receive signals from the transducers related to the magnetic flux detected by one or more transducers, wherein the signals are useable to precisely determine the rate of flow through the control valve assembly. 7. The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the transducers are Hall effect sensors. 8. A control valve assembly, comprising: a valve housing;a valve member having a valve body rotatably contained in the housing and a valve stem connected to the valve body, the valve member rotationally moveable about an axis of rotation relative to the valve housing between a plurality of rotary positions of the valve member;an off-axis valve-position monitoring and control system coupled to the valve member and configured to precisely determine valve conditions related to rotary positions of the valve member, the valve-position monitoring and control system comprising: a transducer array assembly having a plurality of spaced apart transducers in an arcuate arrangement disposed about the axis of rotation and spaced apart from the valve member, the transducers being in a fixed, non-moveable position relative to the valve housing;a magnetic-field source fixed to the valve member and rotatable with the valve member as a unit, the magnetic-field source includes at least one magnetic member adjacent to the array assembly and out of physical engagement with the transducers, the magnetic member being moveable along an arcuate path substantially parallel to the arcuate arrangement of the transducers as the valve member rotates through the plurality of rotary positions, wherein the magnetic-field source provides magnetic flux detectable by at least a plurality of the transducers to precisely determine at least one of the rotational positions of the magnetic-field source, the rotational position of the valve member, and a rate of flow through the control valve assembly;wherein the transducer array assembly has opposing first and second surfaces, and the magnetic-field source comprises a first portion with a first magnetic field member positioned immediately adjacent to and out of engagement with the first surface of the transducer array, and the magnetic-field source has a second portion with a second magnetic field member aligned with the first magnetic field member and positioned immediately adjacent to and out of engagement with the second surface of the transducer array, wherein the first and second magnetic-field members are on opposing sides of the transducer array assembly, and wherein the magnetic-field source being positionable so at least one transducer is positioned between the first and second magnetic-field members. 9. A control valve assembly, comprising: a valve housing;a valve member having a valve body rotatably contained in the housing and a valve stem connected to the valve body, the valve member being rotatably carried by the housing and being rotationally moveable between a plurality of rotary positions of the valve member;an off-axis valve-position monitoring and control system coupled to the valve member and configured to precisely determine valve conditions related to rotary positions of the valve member, the valve-position monitoring and control system comprising: a first portion coupled to the valve housing and being in a fixed, non-moveable position relative to the valve housing; anda second portion spaced apart from the first portion and connected to the valve member, wherein the second portion is rotatable with the valve member as a unit about relative to the valve housing;wherein a first one of the first and second portions comprises a transducer array assembly having a plurality of spaced apart transducers positioned in a planar and arcuate arrangement spaced apart from the valve member; andwherein a second one of the first and second control portions comprises a magnetic-field source that includes at least one magnetic member immediately adjacent to the transducer array assembly and spaced apart from and out of physical engagement with the transducers, the magnetic member being moveable along an arcuate path substantially parallel to the arcuate arrangement of the transducers as the valve member rotates through the plurality of rotary positions, wherein the magnetic-field source provides magnetic flux detectable by at least a plurality of the transducers to precisely determine at least one of the rotational position of the magnetic-field source, the rotational position of the valve member, and a rate of flow through the control valve assembly;wherein the magnetic-field source includes Ferris-based U-shaped member with a first magnet on a first leg and a second magnet on a second leg and aligned with the first magnet with at least a portion of the transducer array assembly positioned between the first and second magnetics. 10. The valve assembly of claim 9 wherein the transducer array assembly has a mounting portion fixable with one of the valve housing and the valve member, a support plate carried by the mounting portion, and a plurality of transducers attached to the support plate in the arcuate arrangement. 11. The valve assembly of claim 9 wherein the transducer array assembly comprises the plurality of transducers carried by a support member and an overmolding portion that encapsulates the transducers and at least a portion of the support member. 12. The valve assembly of claim 9 wherein the magnetic-field source has opposing first and second magnets at least partially encased in an overmold portion and positioned so the transducers will move between the first and second magnets as the valve member moves through the plurality of rotary positions. 13. The valve assembly of claim 9 further comprising a controller operatively connected to the transducer array and configured to receive signals from the transducers related to the magnetic flux detected by one or more transducers, wherein the signals are useable to precisely determine the rate of flow through the control valve assembly. 14. The valve assembly of claim 9 further comprising a controller operatively connected to the transducer array assembly and configured to receive signals from the transducers related to the magnetic flux detected by one or more transducers, wherein the controller is calibrated to determine the at least one of the rotational positions of the magnetic-field source, the rotational position of the valve member, and a rate of flow through the control valve assembly based upon the position of the magnetic-field source relative to the transducers in the transducer array assembly. 15. A control valve assembly, comprising: a valve housing;a valve member having a valve body rotatably contained in the housing and a valve stem connected to the valve body, the valve member being rotatably carried by the housing and being rotationally moveable between a plurality of rotary positions of the valve member;an off-axis valve-position monitoring and control system coupled to the valve member and configured to precisely determine valve conditions related to rotary positions of the valve member, the valve-position monitoring and control system comprising: a first portion coupled to the valve housing and being in a fixed, non-moveable position relative to the valve housing; anda second portion spaced apart from the first portion and connected to the valve member, wherein the second portion is rotatable with the valve member as a unit about relative to the valve housing;wherein a first one of the first and second portions comprises a transducer array assembly having a plurality of spaced apart transducers positioned in a planar and arcuate arrangement spaced apart from the valve member; andwherein a second one of the first and second control portions comprises a magnetic-field source that includes at least one magnetic member immediately adjacent to the transducer array assembly and spaced apart from and out of physical engagement with the transducers, the magnetic member being moveable along an arcuate path substantially parallel to the arcuate arrangement of the transducers as the valve member rotates through the plurality of rotary positions, wherein the magnetic-field source provides magnetic flux detectable by at least a plurality of the transducers to precisely determine at least one of the rotational position of the magnetic-field source, the rotational position of the valve member, and a rate of flow through the control valve assembly,wherein the transducer array assembly has opposing first and second surfaces, and the magnetic-field source comprises a first source portion with a first magnetic field member positioned immediately adjacent to and out of engagement with the first surface of the transducer array assembly, and the magnetic-field source has a second source portion with a second magnetic field member aligned with the first magnetic field member and positioned immediately adjacent to and out of engagement with the second surface of the transducer array, wherein the first and second magnetic-field members are on opposing sides of the transducer array assembly, and wherein the magnetic-field source is positionable so at least one transducer is positioned between the first and second magnetic-field members. 16. An off-axis position monitoring and control system usable with a control valve assembly having a first valve portion and a second valve portion rotatable about an axis of rotation and relative to the first valve portion, wherein the second valve portion is rotatable between a plurality of rotary positions, the position monitoring and control system comprising: a transducer array assembly having a plurality of spaced apart transducers arranged in an arcuate arrangement about the axis of rotation and spaced from the second valve member and being in a fixed, non-moveable position relative to the first valve portion;a magnetic-field source fixed to the second valve portion and rotatable as a unit with the second valve portion, the magnetic-field source includes at least one magnetic member adjacent to the array assembly and out of physical engagement with the transducers, the magnetic member being moveable along an arcuate path substantially parallel to the arcuate arrangement of the transducers as the valve member rotates through the plurality of rotary positions, wherein the magnetic-field source provides magnetic flux detectable by at least a plurality of the transducers to precisely determine at least one of the rotational positions of the magnetic-field source, the rotational position of the valve member, and a rate of flow through the control valve assembly;wherein the magnetic-field source includes Ferrous-based U-shaped member with a first magnet on a first leg and a second magnet on a second leg and aligned with the first magnet with at least a portion of the transducer array assembly positioned between the first and second magnetics. 17. The position monitoring and control system of claim 16 wherein the first valve portion is a valve housing and the transducer array assembly is in a fixed position relative to the first valve portion, and wherein the second valve portion is a valve member having a valve stem and a valve body, and the magnetic-field source is in a fixed position relative to the valve stem and is rotationally movable relative to the valve housing.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (3)
Hennemann Thomas L. ; Brady Daniel F., Dispensing system with multi-port valve for distributing use dilution to a plurality of utilization points and position sensor for use thereon.
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