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US 10,241,481 B2Granted
Methods and apparatus for controlling multiple valves as a single valve based on a coordinated control signal
AssigneeFisher Controls International LLC
InventorsKurtis Jensen, Roger Anders
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for controlling multiple valves as a single valve based on a coordinated control signal are disclosed. In some examples, an apparatus includes a valve controller to be operatively coupled to a first valve and a second valve. In some examples, the second valve is to be operatively positioned in series with the first valve. In some examples, the valve controller is to control a position of the first valve and a position of the second valve based on a coordinated control signal to be received by the valve controller.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a valve controller operatively coupled to an on/off valve and a control valve, the control valve being operatively positioned downstream from and in series with the on/off valve, the valve controller to:
- receive a coordinated control signal, the coordinated control signal being an analog signal having an associated amperage;
- determine a discrete control signal and a modulating control signal by comparing the amperage of the coordinated control signal to amperage values included in a correlation list accessible to the valve controller;
- control a position of the on/off valve by transmitting the discrete control signal from the valve controller to a first actuator operatively coupled to the on/off valve;
- and
- control a position of the control valve by transmitting the modulating control signal from the valve controller to a second actuator operatively coupled to the control valve.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- receiving a coordinated control signal at a valve controller, the valve controller being operatively coupled to an on/off valve and to a control valve, the control valve being operatively positioned downstream from and in series with the on/off valve, the coordinated control signal being an analog signal having an associated amperage;
- determining, via the valve controller, a discrete control signal and a modulating control signal by comparing the amperage of the coordinated control signal to amperage values included in a correlation list accessible to the valve controller;
- controlling a position of the on/off valve by transmitting the discrete control signal from the valve controller to a first actuator operatively coupled to the on/off valve;
- and
- controlling a position of the control valve by transmitting the modulating control signal from the valve controller to a second actuator operatively coupled to the control valve.
2 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a valve controller operatively coupled to an on/off valve and a control valve, the control valve being operatively positioned downstream from and in series with the on/off valve, the valve controller to:
- receive a coordinated control signal, the coordinated control signal being a digital signal having associated bits;
- determine a discrete control signal and a modulating control signal by comparing the bits of the coordinated control signal to bit values included in a correlation list accessible to the valve controller;
- control a position of the on/off valve by transmitting the discrete control signal from the valve controller to a first actuator operatively coupled to the on/off valve;
- and
- control a position of the control valve by transmitting the modulating control signal from the valve controller to a second actuator operatively coupled to the control valve.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- receiving a coordinated control signal at a valve controller, the valve controller being operatively coupled to an on/off valve and to a control valve, the control valve being operatively positioned downstream from and in series with the on/off valve, the coordinated control signal being a digital signal having associated bits;
- determining, via the valve controller, a discrete control signal and a modulating control signal by comparing the bits of the coordinated control signal to bit values included in a correlation list accessible to the valve controller;
- controlling a position of the on/off valve by transmitting the discrete control signal from the valve controller to a first actuator operatively coupled to the on/off valve;
- and
- controlling a position of the control valve by transmitting the modulating control signal from the valve controller to a second actuator operatively coupled to the control valve.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.