Detecting pickup and dropout of solenoid valve
AssigneeAutomatic Switch Company
InventorJohn J. Haller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of operating a solenoid valve can include applying power to a coil of the solenoid valve, interrupting power to the coil upon a first increase in power consumption of the coil, detecting a first on-time when power is applied to the coil, re-applying power to the coil upon a first condition becoming satisfied, interrupting power to the coil upon a second increase in power consumption of the coil, detecting a second on-time when power is re-applied to the coil, comparing the first on-time with the second on-time, and detecting when an armature of the solenoid valve has physically shifted based at least in part on the comparing. Detecting when the armature of the solenoid valve has physically shifted can include determining that the second on-time is greater than the first on-time.
Claims20
A method of operating a solenoid valve, the method comprising:
- applying power to a coil of the solenoid valve;
- interrupting power to the coil upon a first increase in power consumption of the coil;
- detecting a first on-time when power is applied to the coil;
- re-applying power to the coil upon a first condition becoming satisfied;
- interrupting power to the coil upon a second increase in power consumption of the coil;
- detecting a second on-time when power is re-applied to the coil;
- comparing the first on-time with the second on-time;
- and
- detecting when an armature of the solenoid valve has physically shifted based at least in part on the comparing.
A method of operating a solenoid valve, the method comprising:
- applying power to a coil of the solenoid valve;
- interrupting power to the coil upon a power consumption of the coil meeting a first threshold;
- detecting a first on-time when power is applied to the coil;
- re-applying power to the coil upon the power consumption of the coil meeting a second threshold;
- interrupting power to the coil upon the power consumption of the coil meeting the first threshold;
- detecting a second on-time when power is re-applied to the coil;
- comparing the first on-time with the second on-time;
- and
- detecting when an armature of the solenoid valve has physically shifted based at least in part on the comparing.
A method of operating a solenoid valve, the method comprising:
- physically shifting an armature of the solenoid valve in a first direction by—applying power to a coil of the solenoid valve;
- interrupting power to the coil upon a first increase in power consumption of the coil;
- detecting a first on-time when power is applied to the coil;
- re-applying power to the coil upon a first condition becoming satisfied;
- interrupting power to the coil upon a second increase in power consumption of the coil;
- detecting a second on-time when power is re-applied to the coil;
- and
- comparing the first on-time with the second on-time;
- detecting when the armature of the solenoid valve has physically shifted in the first direction by determining that the second on-time is greater than the first on-time;
- holding the armature of the solenoid valve in position by—re-applying power to the coil of the solenoid valve;
- interrupting power to the coil upon a power consumption of the coil meeting a first threshold;
- detecting a third on-time when power is re-applied to the coil;
- re-applying power to the coil of the solenoid valve upon the power consumption of the coil meeting a second threshold;
- interrupting power to the coil upon the power consumption of the coil meeting the first threshold;
- detecting a fourth on-time when power is re-applied to the coil;
- and
- comparing the third on-time with the fourth on-time;
- and
- detecting when the armature of the solenoid valve has physically shifted in a second direction by determining that the fourth on-time is less than the third on-time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.