Detecting and signaling system
AssigneeO.M.T. OFFICINA MECCANICA TARTINI S.r.I.
InventorsStefano Zecchi, Omero Borghesani, Andrea Monti
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described is a system for remotely detecting and signalling the open and/or closed state of the shutter (O) of an element (3) for controlling the flow of gas along a gas distribution line (2), comprising an electric switch (17; 18) configured to generate an electrical signal representing at least one of the open and closed states.
Claims21
A system for remotely detecting and signaling the open and/or closed state of a shutter of a control element for controlling the flow of gas along a gas distribution line, comprising:
- first and second electric switches configured to generate first and second electrical signals representing, respectively, the open and closed states of the shutter of the control element,
- a pneumatic detecting device supporting the first and second electric switches and comprising a body which is movable inside the pneumatic detecting device, the body designed to reach an end conditioning position of the first electric switch at which the first electric switch generates the first electrical signal, and the body further designed to reach an end conditioning position of the second electric switch at which the second electric switch generates the second electrical signal,
- means for remotely transmitting the first and second electrical signals,
- an element for controlling the control element, and
- pneumatic connection means configured for connecting the pneumatic detecting device at least to the control element.
A unit for controlling the flow of gas, comprising:
- a gas distribution line,
- a control element for controlling the flow of gas along the gas distribution line, the control element having a shutter movable between an open state, in which the shutter permits passage of gas through the gas distribution line, and a closed state, in which the shutter prevents the passage of the gas through the gas distribution line, and
- a system for remotely detecting and signaling the open and/or closed state of the shutter, wherein the system includes:
- a pneumatic detecting device comprising a casing, a cap removably coupled to and partially disposed within one end of the casing, and a body which is movable inside the casing, the cap having a central through bore;
- an electric switch supported by the pneumatic detecting device, the electric switch extending through the central through bore of the cap and configured to generate an electrical signal representing at least one of the open and closed states, wherein the body is designed to reach at least an end conditioning position of the electric switch at which the electric switch generates the electrical signal;
- means for remotely transmitting the electrical signal;
- an element for controlling the control element;
- and
- pneumatic connection means configured for connecting the pneumatic detecting device at least to the control element, wherein the pneumatic connecting means comprises:
- a first pneumatic conduit designed to connect the pneumatic detecting device to the gas distribution line, downstream of the control element, at a first operating pressure, and
- a second pneumatic conduit designed to connect the pneumatic detecting device to a drive conduit of the control element, wherein a drive pressure exists in the second pneumatic conduit, the pneumatic detecting device being of the differential type and configured to cause the body to adopt the end conditioning position of the electric switch in the passage from a condition of inequality between the pressure values of the gas in the first and second pneumatic conduits to a condition of equality between the pressure values of the gas in the first and second pneumatic conduits, or vice versa,
- wherein the drive conduit extends from the control element.
A unit for controlling the flow of gas, comprising:
- a gas distribution line,
- a control element for controlling the flow of gas along the gas distribution line, the control element having a shutter movable between an open state, in which the shutter permits passage of gas through the gas distribution line, and a closed state, in which the shutter prevents the passage of the gas through the gas distribution line, and
- a system for remotely detecting and signaling the open and/or closed state of the shutter, wherein the system includes:
- a pneumatic detecting device comprising a casing, a cap removably coupled to and partially disposed within one end of the casing, and a body which is movable inside the casing, the cap having a central through bore;
- a first electric switch supported by the pneumatic detecting device, the first electric switch extending through the central through bore of the cap and configured to generate a first electrical signal representing the open state, wherein the body is designed to reach at least an end conditioning position of the first electric switch at which the first electric switch generates the first electrical signal;
- a second electric switch supported by the pneumatic detecting device, the second electric switch configured to generate a second electrical signal representing the closed state;
- means for remotely transmitting the electrical signal;
- an element for controlling the control element;
- and
- pneumatic connection means configured for connecting the pneumatic detecting device at least to the control element, wherein the pneumatic connecting means comprises:
- a pneumatic conduit designed to directly or indirectly connect the control element to the distribution line, the pneumatic conduit also being in communication with the pneumatic detecting device;
- the pneumatic detecting device being configured such that the body adopts the end conditioning position of the first electric switch upon reaching the open state of the shutter and the body adopts the end conditioning position of the second electric switch upon reaching the closed state of the shutter.
A system for remotely detecting and signaling the open and/or closed state of a shutter of a control element for controlling the flow of gas along a gas distribution line, comprising:
- an electric switch configured to generate an electrical signal representing at least one of the open state and the closed state of the shutter of the control element,
- a pneumatic detecting device supporting the electric switch and comprising a body which is movable inside the pneumatic detecting device, the body designed to reach at least an end conditioning position of the electric switch at which the switch generates the electrical signal,
- means for remotely transmitting the electrical signal,
- an element for controlling the control element, and
- pneumatic connection means configured for connecting the pneumatic detecting device at least to the control element,
- wherein the pneumatic connecting means comprises:
- a first pneumatic conduit designed to connect the pneumatic detecting device to the distribution line, downstream of the control element, at a first operating pressure, and
- a second pneumatic conduit designed to connect the pneumatic detecting device to a drive conduit of the control element, wherein a drive pressure exists in the second conduit;
- the pneumatic detecting device being of the differential type and configured to cause the body to adopt the end conditioning position of the electric switch in the passage from a condition of inequality between the pressure values of the gas in the first and second pneumatic conduits to a condition of equality between the pressure values of the gas in the first and second pneumatic conduits, or vice versa,
- wherein the drive conduit extends from the control element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.