# US 11,441,697 B2 · Valve diagnostic and performance system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,697 B2 - Document ID: US11441697B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/061,384 - Filed: 2020-10-01 - Published: 2022-04-07 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-01 - Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company - Inventors: Pablo Daniel Genta; Essam Ahmed Al-Arfaj - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441697B2 ## CPC - F16K 37/0041: {for measuring valve parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence)} - F16K 37/0083: {by measuring valve parameters} - B08B 9/0325: {Control mechanisms therefor} - F16K 5/06: with plugs having spherical surfaces; Packings therefor - F16K 5/0689: {between housing and plug} - F16K 37/0033: {using a permanent magnet, e.g. in combination with a reed relays} - F16L 55/48: Indicating the position of the pig or mole in the pipe or conduit - G01M 3/246: {using pigs or probes travelling in the pipe} - F16L 2101/30: Inspecting, measuring or testing - 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)} - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A ball valve for use in industrial pipelines is described. The ball valve includes: a valve body; an inlet closure piece attached to the valve body; an outlet closure piece, the valve body, the inlet closure piece, and the outlet closure piece together defining an interior cavity; a ball disposed in the interior cavity, the ball defining a bore extending through the ball; a valve seat adjacent the ball; a first strain sensor mounted on the inlet closure piece; a second strain sensor mounted on the outlet closure piece; a seat misalignment sensor system including a ring sensor and a magnetized insert ring disposed in the valve seat; and an electronic controller system in communication with the first strain sensor and the second strain sensor, the electronic control system configured: to estimate the position of a pig passing through the valve; and to identify valve seat misalignment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A ball valve for use in industrial pipelines, the valve comprising: a valve body; an inlet closure piece attached to the valve body; an outlet closure piece attached to the valve body, the valve body, the inlet closure piece, and the outlet closure piece together defining an interior cavity; a ball disposed in the interior cavity, the ball defining a bore extending through the ball; a valve seat adjacent the ball; a first strain sensor mounted on the inlet closure piece; a second strain sensor mounted on the outlet closure piece; a seat misalignment sensor system comprising a ring sensor incorporated in a closure piece body of the outlet closure piece and a magnetized insert ring disposed in the valve seat; and an electronic controller system in communication with the first strain sensor and the second strain sensor, the electronic control system configured: to estimate a position of a pig passing through the valve by comparing an arrival time of the pig at the inlet closure piece and the outlet closure piece based on signals from the first strain sensor and the second strain sensor; and to identify valve seat misalignment based on signals from the ring sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ball valve of claim 1, wherein output cables for the ring sensor pass through a first conduit defined in the closure piece body of the outlet closure piece, the first conduit extending from the ring sensor to a pressure isolation threaded plug. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The ball valve of claim 2, further comprising a sensor conditioning electronic board with output terminals that terminate directly in a pressure isolation threaded plug. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ball valve of claim 1, further comprising a piezoelectric sensor assembly responsive to pressure applied by movement of the valve seat. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The ball valve of claim 4, wherein the piezoelectric sensor assembly comprises a fiber optic insert with an embedded fiber is seated in a groove machined on a seat pocket area of the outlet closure piece. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The ball valve of claim 5, wherein the piezoelectric sensor assembly further comprises a spring attached to the valve seat and extending between the valve seat and the fiber optic insert such that movement of the valve seat translates into a mechanical load on the fiber optic insert. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The ball valve of claim 5, wherein the inlet closure piece and the outlet closure piece each comprise a closure piece body, an inner flange, and an outer flange and the first strain sensor includes a strain gage in direct contact with the closure piece body of the inlet closure piece and a transducer circuit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The ball valve of claim 7, wherein the strain gage is seated in a weld boss inner cavity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The ball valve of claim 8, wherein the strain gage includes strain gage cable connected to the transducer circuit by rotary contact. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The ball valve of claim 4, wherein the piezoelectric sensor assembly comprises a plurality of the fiber optic inserts and associated springs and a piezoelectric sensor output signal cable extends between plurality of the fiber optic inserts through an annular conduit around the valve seat. ### Claim 11 A ball valve for use in industrial pipelines, the valve comprising: a valve body; an inlet closure piece attached to the valve body; an outlet closure piece attached to the valve body, the valve body, the inlet closure piece, and the outlet closure piece together defining an interior cavity; a ball disposed in the interior cavity, the ball defining a bore extending through the ball; a first strain sensor mounted on the inlet closure piece; a second strain sensor mounted on the outlet closure piece; and an electronic controller system in communication with the first strain sensor and the second strain sensor, the electronic control system configured to estimate the position of a pig passing through the valve by comparing an arrival time of the pig at the inlet closure piece and the outlet closure piece based on signals from the first strain sensor and the second strain sensor, wherein the inlet closure piece and the outlet closure piece each comprise a closure piece body, an inner flange, and an outer flange and the first strain sensor includes a strain gage in direct contact with the closure piece body of the inlet closure piece and a transducer circuit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The ball valve of claim 11, wherein the strain gage is seated in a weld boss inner cavity. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The ball valve of claim 12, wherein the strain gage includes strain gage cable connected to the transducer circuit by rotary contact.