# US 11,306,843 B2 · Commissioning a diaphragm valve

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- Number: US 11,306,843 B2
- Document ID: US11306843B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/869,072
- Filed: 2020-05-07
- Published: 2020-12-03
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2019-05-29
- Assignees: Georg Fischer Rohrleitungssysteme AG
- Applicants: Georg Fischer Rohrleitungssysteme AG
- Inventors: Manuel Schwarz; Novica Lalevic
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306843B2

## CPC

- F16K 31/046: {with electric means, e.g. electric switches, to control the motor or to control a clutch between the valve and the motor (F16K31/041 takes precedence)}
- F16K 7/16: the diaphragm being mechanically actuated, e.g. by screw-spindle or cam
- F16K 7/12: with flat, dished, or bowl-shaped diaphragm
- F16K 31/02: electric {(F16K31/004 takes precedence)}; magnetic
- F16K 37/0041: {for measuring valve parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence)}
- F16K 37/0075: {For recording or indicating the functioning of a valve in combination with test equipment}
- G01B 7/003: {for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination (coordinate measuring G01B7/004)}
- 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)}
- G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS

## Abstract

A method for determining the end-of-travel positions of a diaphragm in a diaphragm valve having an actuator: initiating displacement of the diaphragm into a first end-of-travel position; ascertaining the first end-of-travel position of the diaphragm, wherein said first end-of-travel position is ascertained by monitoring an actuating current value, wherein the first end-of-travel position is reached when a predefined current value is reached; saving the first end-of-travel position; moving autonomously, preferably in the opposite direction, towards a second end-of-travel position of the diaphragm; ascertaining the second end-of-travel position of the diaphragm, wherein said second end-of-travel position is ascertained by means of a predefined travel length (a) of the diaphragm from the first end-of-travel position; saving the second end-of-travel position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for determining the end-of-travel positions of a diaphragm (11) in a diaphragm valve (10) having an actuator, comprising:
initiating displacement of the diaphragm into a first end-of-travel position (1);
ascertaining the first end-of-travel position (1) of the diaphragm, wherein said first end-of-travel position (1) is ascertained by monitoring an actuating current value, wherein the first end-of-travel position (1) is reached when a predefined current value is reached;
saving the first end-of-travel position (1);
moving autonomously, preferably in the opposite direction, towards a second end-of-travel position (2) of the diaphragm;
ascertaining the second end-of-travel position (2) of the diaphragm, wherein said second end-of-travel position (2) is ascertained by means of a predefined travel length (a) of the diaphragm from the first end-of-travel position (1);
saving the second end-of-travel position (2); and
preferably detecting the actuating current value (I) at the second end-of-travel position (2) in order to verify and ensure the reached second end-of-travel position (2).

### Claim 2

A method for determining the end-of-travel positions of a diaphragm (11) in a diaphragm valve (10) having an actuator, comprising:
initiating displacement of the diaphragm into a first end-of-travel position (1);
ascertaining the first end-of-travel position (1) of the diaphragm, wherein said first end-of-travel position (1) is ascertained by monitoring an actuating current value, wherein the first end-of-travel position (1) is reached at a predefined current value;
saving the first end-of-travel position (1);
moving autonomously, preferably in the opposite direction, towards a second end-of-travel position (2) of the diaphragm;
ascertaining an advance end-of-travel position (3) of the diaphragm, wherein said advance end-of-travel position (3) is ascertained by monitoring an actuating current value, wherein the advance end-of-travel position (3) is reached when a predefined current value is reached;
reaching and ascertaining the second end-of-travel position (2) by additionally completing a predefined adjustment length (c) of the diaphragm;
saving the second end-of-travel position (2).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein the actuating current value (I) for detecting and ascertaining the first end-of-travel position (1) of the diaphragm changes as a result of a mechanical resistance, wherein the actuating current value (I) rises to a specified maximum current value.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein the first end-of-travel position (1) of the diaphragm (11) defines the maximum opening state of the diaphragm valve (10).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein the second end-of-travel position (2) of the diaphragm (11) constitutes the closed state of the diaphragm valve (10).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method according claim 1, wherein a running current (IL) establishes itself during the travel length (b) of the diaphragm between the first end-of-travel position (1) and the second end-of-travel position (2) or respectively the advance end-of-travel position (3), wherein the running current (b) is not meant to exceed a specified current value.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein the position of the diaphragm (11) is adjusted by means of a threaded stem, and the diaphragm is moved towards the first end-of-travel position (1) by clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the threaded stem, and the adjustment of the diaphragm into the second end-of-travel position (2) or into the advance end-of-travel position (3) is performed in the opposite direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A diaphragm valve (10) comprising a positioning actuator (12), wherein during commissioning according to the method according to claim 1, the diaphragm valve (10) self-adjusts the end-of-travel positions (1, 2) of the diaphragm (11).