# US 11,028,941 B2 · Methods and apparatus for monitoring solenoid valve health > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,028,941 B2 - Document ID: US11028941B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/544,496 - Filed: 2019-08-19 - Published: 2021-02-25 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-19 - Assignees: General Equipment and Manufacturing Company, Inc. - Applicants: General Equipment and Manufacturing Company, Inc. - Inventors: Thiago Caetano Ferreira; Patrick B. Mullaney; Bruce S. Rigsby - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028941B2 ## CPC - F16K 37/0041: {for measuring valve parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence)} - F16K 31/0627: {with movable valve member positioned between seats} - F16K 37/0033: {using a permanent magnet, e.g. in combination with a reed relays} - F16K 37/005: {for measuring fluid parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence)} - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract Methods and apparatus for monitoring solenoid valve health are disclosed. A switchbox includes a state manager, a position detector, and a notification generator. The state manager changes an activation state of a solenoid valve between a first state and a second state in response to an initiation signal of a solenoid valve test. The position detector determines, based on position data obtained at the switchbox from an integrated position sensor of the solenoid valve, whether a core of the solenoid valve has moved by at least a threshold change in position within a predetermined time period following the change of the activation state of the solenoid valve. The notification generator generates a notification in response to the position detector determining that the core did not move by at least the threshold change in position within the predetermined time period. The notification indicates that the solenoid valve failed the solenoid valve test. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A switchbox, comprising: a state manager configured to change an activation state of a solenoid valve between a first state and a second state in response to an initiation signal of a solenoid valve test, the solenoid valve operatively coupled to the switchbox; a position detector configured to determine, based on position data obtained at the switchbox from an integrated position sensor of the solenoid valve, whether a core of the solenoid valve has moved by at least a threshold change in position within a predetermined time period following the change of the activation state of the solenoid valve from the first state to the second state; and a notification generator configured to generate a notification in response to the position detector determining that the core did not move by at least the threshold change in position within the predetermined time period, the notification to indicate that the solenoid valve failed the solenoid valve test; wherein the state manager is configured to change the activation state of the solenoid valve from the second state back to the first state in response to the position detector determining that the core moved by at least the threshold change in position within the predetermined time period. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The switchbox of claim 1, wherein the state manager is configured to initiate a timer of the switchbox in response to the change of the activation state of the solenoid valve from the first state to the second state, the timer having a duration corresponding to the predetermined time period. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The switchbox of claim 2, wherein the state manager is configured to change the activation state of the solenoid valve from the second state back to the first state in response to an expiration of the duration of the timer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The switchbox of claim 2, wherein the duration of the timer is configured to expire prior to an actuator operatively coupled to the solenoid valve moving in response to the change of the activation state of the solenoid valve from the first state to the second state. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The switchbox of claim 1, wherein the first state is an activated state in which the switchbox is configured to provide power to the solenoid valve, and the second state is a deactivated state in which the switchbox is configured not to provide power to the solenoid valve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The switchbox of claim 1, wherein the first state is a deactivated state in which the switchbox is configured not to provide power to the solenoid valve, and the second state is an activated state in which the switchbox is configured to provide power to the solenoid valve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The switchbox of claim 1, wherein the notification is a first notification, and wherein the notification generator is further configured to generate a second notification in response to the position detector determining that the core moved by at least the threshold change in position within the predetermined time period, the second notification to indicate that the solenoid valve passed the solenoid valve test. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The switchbox of claim 1, wherein the notification is a first notification, and wherein the notification generator is further configured to generate a second notification in response to a voltage detector of the switchbox determining that a voltage supplied to the solenoid valve does not satisfy a voltage threshold, the second notification to indicate that the solenoid valve failed the solenoid valve test. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The switchbox of claim 1, wherein the notification is a first notification, and wherein the notification generator is further configured to generate a second notification in response to a current detector of the switchbox determining that a current drawn by the solenoid valve does not satisfy a current threshold, the second notification to indicate that the solenoid valve failed the solenoid valve test. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The switchbox of claim 1, further comprising a display configured to present the notification at the switchbox. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The switchbox of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit the notification from the switchbox to a control system operatively coupled to the switchbox. ### Claim 12 A method, comprising: changing, via a switchbox, an activation state of a solenoid valve between a first state and a second state in response to an initiation signal of a solenoid valve test, the solenoid valve operatively coupled to the switchbox; determining, at the switchbox, based on position data obtained from an integrated position sensor of the solenoid valve, whether a core of the solenoid valve has moved by at least a threshold change in position within a predetermined time period following the changing of the activation state of the solenoid valve from the first state to the second state; changing, via the switchbox, the activation state of the solenoid valve from the second state back to the first state in response to determining that the core moved by at least the threshold change in position within the predetermined time period; and generating, at the switchbox, a notification in response to determining that the core did not move by at least the threshold change in position within the predetermined time period, the notification indicating that the solenoid valve failed the solenoid valve test. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising initiating a timer of the switchbox in response to the changing of the activation state of the solenoid valve from the first state to the second state, the timer having a duration corresponding to the predetermined time period. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising changing, via the switchbox, the activation state of the solenoid valve from the second state back to the first state in response to the duration of the timer expiring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the duration of the timer is configured to expire prior to an actuator operatively coupled to the solenoid valve moving in response to the changing of the activation state of the solenoid valve from the first state to the second state. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the first state is an activated state in which the switchbox provides power to the solenoid valve, and the second state is a deactivated state in which the switchbox does not provide power to the solenoid valve. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the first state is a deactivated state in which the switchbox does not provide power to the solenoid valve, and the second state is an activated state in which the switchbox provides power to the solenoid valve. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the notification is a first notification, the method further comprising generating, at the switchbox, a second notification in response to determining that the core moved by at least the threshold change in position within the predetermined time period, the second notification indicating that the solenoid valve passed the solenoid valve test. ### Claim 19 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of a switchbox to at least: change an activation state of a solenoid valve between a first state and a second state in response to an initiation signal of a solenoid valve test, the solenoid valve operatively coupled to the switchbox; determine, based on position data obtained from an integrated position sensor of the solenoid valve, whether a core of the solenoid valve has moved by at least a threshold change in position within a predetermined time period following the change of the activation state of the solenoid valve from the first state to the second state; change the activation state of the solenoid valve from the second state back to the first state in response to determining that the core moved by at least the threshold change in position within the predetermined time period; and generate a notification in response to determining that the core did not move by at least the threshold change in position within the predetermined time period, the notification to indicate that the solenoid valve failed the solenoid valve test. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to initiate a timer in response to the change of the activation state of the solenoid valve from the first state to the second state, the timer having a duration corresponding to the predetermined time period. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to change the activation state of the solenoid valve from the second state back to the first state in response to the duration of the timer expiring. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the duration of the timer is configured to expire prior to an actuator operatively coupled to the solenoid valve moving in response to the change of the activation state of the solenoid valve from the first state to the second state.