# US 10,502,238 B2 · Electropneumatic positioner and a field device having an electro-pneumatic positioner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,238 B2 - Document ID: US10502238B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/794,511 - Filed: 2017-10-26 - Published: 2018-04-26 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-26 - Assignees: Samson Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Samson Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Frank Valentin-Rumpel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502238B2 ## CPC - F15B 5/006: {with electrical means, e.g. electropneumatic transducer (F15B5/003 takes precedence)} - F15B 9/09: with electrical control means - F15B 13/0803: {Modular units} - F15B 13/0896: {using different types or sizes of valves} - F15B 21/003: {Systems with different interchangeable components, e.g. using preassembled kits} - F15B 21/08: Servomotor systems incorporating electrically operated control means (F15B21/02, {F15B21/065} take precedence) - G05B 19/44: pneumatic - F15B 13/0807: {Manifolds} - F15B 13/0825: {the modular elements being mounted on a common member, e.g. on a rail} - F15B 13/0839: {Stacked plate type valves} - F15B 19/005: {Fault detection or monitoring} - F15B 20/00: Safety arrangements for fluid actuator systems; Applications of safety devices in fluid actuator systems; Emergency measures for fluid actuator systems - F15B 20/008: {Valve failure} - F15B 2013/002: {Modular valves, i.e. consisting of an assembly of interchangeable components} - F15B 2013/006: {Modular components with multiple uses, e.g. kits for either normally-open or normally-closed valves, interchangeable or reprogrammable manifolds} - F15B 2211/30515: Load holding valves - F15B 2211/411: the positions being discrete - F15B 2211/41572: being connected to a pressure source and an output member - F15B 2211/50554: the pressure control means controlling a pressure downstream of the pressure control means, e.g. pressure reducing valve - F15B 2211/5158: being connected to a pressure source and an output member - F15B 2211/6306: representing a pressure - F15B 2211/6309: the pressure being a pressure source supply pressure - F15B 2211/6313: the pressure being a load pressure - F15B 2211/6336: representing a state of the output member, e.g. position, speed or acceleration - F15B 2211/6653: Pressure control - F15B 2211/6656: Closed loop control, i.e. control using feedback - F15B 2211/7052: Single-acting output members - F15B 2211/7053: Double-acting output members - F15B 2211/857: Monitoring of fluid pressure systems - F15B 2211/86: Control during or prevention of abnormal conditions - F15B 2211/863: the abnormal condition being a hydraulic or pneumatic failure - F15B 2211/8633: Pressure source supply failure - F15B 2211/8636: Circuit failure, e.g. valve or hose failure - F15B 2211/864: Failure of an output member, e.g. actuator or motor failure - F15B 2211/8855: Compressible fluids, e.g. specific to pneumatics - Y02P 80/10: Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract An electropneumatic positioner for a pneumatic actuator to operate a control device of a processing plant can include two modular pneumatic slots and a pneumatic control output. The two modular pneumatic slots can engage with a respective modular pneumatic component. The two pneumatic slots and the pneumatic components can be modularly matched to one another such that their respective pneumatic interfaces merge into one another when a pneumatic slot is engaged. The pneumatic control output can output a pneumatic control pressure signal to the pneumatic actuator. The two modular pneumatic slots and the pneumatic control output can form a pneumatic series connection. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electropneumatic positioner for a pneumatic actuator to operate a control device of a processing plant, comprising: two modular pneumatic slots configured to engage with a respective modular pneumatic component, the two pneumatic slots and the pneumatic components being modularly matched to one another such that their respective pneumatic interfaces merge into one another when a pneumatic slot is engaged, and a pneumatic control output configured to output a pneumatic control pressure signal to the pneumatic actuator, the two modular pneumatic slots and the pneumatic control output forming a pneumatic series connection, wherein a downstream pneumatic slot of the two pneumatic slots is engaged with a pneumatic switching device that is configured to operate in either a release state, in which the pneumatic switching device provides a pneumatic connection to transmit the pneumatic control pressure signal between at least one upstream pneumatic slot of the two pneumatic slots and the pneumatic control output, and a locked state in which the pneumatic switching device is configured to seal off the pneumatic connection. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electropneumatic positioner according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic switching device is configured to operate in the locked state in response to an error state or alarm state of a field device, the electropneumatic positioner, the actuator and/or the actuator part. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electropneumatic positioner according to claim 1, characterized in that the pneumatic switching device includes a pressure relieving slider or a poppet valve for achieving the locked state or the release state and/or in that the pneumatic switching device includes at least one soft-sealing sealing component such as an elastomer seal or a thermoplastic seal for realizing the locked state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electropneumatic positioner according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic switching device is configured such that in the release state, the pneumatic connection is released such that in the pneumatic switching device, a connection channel with a cross section is provided to allow the pneumatic control pressure signal to pass un-throttled, the cross section being not more than 20%, 10%, or 5% larger than necessary to allow the pneumatic control pressure signal to pass un-throttled. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electropneumatic positioner according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic switching device is configured to continuously detect the actual position of a blocking element of the switching device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electropneumatic positioner according to claim 5, wherein the blocking element is a slider or a valve member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The electropneumatic positioner according to claim 5, wherein the pneumatic switching device is configured to continuously detect the actual position of the blocking element with a position sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electropneumatic positioner according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic series connection upstream of the pneumatic control output is ventable exclusively at an upstream pneumatic slot of the two pneumatic slots. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electropneumatic positioner according to claim 1, wherein an upstream pneumatic slot of the two pneumatic slots is occupied with an electropneumatic signal transducer that is configured to emit the pneumatic control signal to control the actuator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electropneumatic positioner according to claim 1, further comprising: a pneumatic supply input configured to provide a pneumatic supply pressure signal to the pneumatic series connection to control an electropneumatic signal transducer; and/or an electric field input configured to receive a supply current and/or an electric positioning signal to control the electropneumatic signal transducer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electropneumatic positioner according to claim 1, further comprising: a modular electronics slot configured to engage with a respective modular electronic component, the modular electronics slot and the respective modular electronic component being modularly matched to one another such that their respective electronic interfaces merge into one another when the modular electronics slot is occupied. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electropneumatic positioner according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor configured to: detect at least one pressure value in the pneumatic series connection of: the pneumatic control pressure signal at the control output of the pneumatic series connection, and/or the pneumatic control pressure signal in the pneumatic series connection between an upstream pneumatic slot and a downstream pneumatic slot of the two pneumatic slots; and a generate pressure signal at the pneumatic supply input of the pneumatic series connection based on the detection of the at least one pressure value. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The electropneumatic positioner according to claim 1, further comprising: a housing that includes the pneumatic control output, and in which the series connection including the two modular pneumatic slots is accommodated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electropneumatic positioner according to claim 13, wherein the housing further comprises the electrical field input and/or the pneumatic supply input. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The electropneumatic positioner according to claim 1, wherein the modular pneumatic component includes an electropneumatic transducer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The electropneumatic positioner according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic switching device is an open/close valve. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) An electropneumatic field device, comprising: an electropneumatic positioner according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic actuator is connected to the control output. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The electropneumatic field device according to claim 17, wherein the pneumatic field device upstream from the pneumatic actuator is operationally ventable exclusively at an upstream pneumatic slot of the two pneumatic slots. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The electropneumatic field device according to claim 17, wherein the pneumatic actuator is a single-acting or double-acting pneumatic actuator.