US 2013/0152673 A1Published application

Gas valve with electronic valve proving system

AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.

InventorsGregory Young, Donald J. Kasprzyk, David Kucera, Jos Praat

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

This disclosure relates generally to valves, and more particularly, to gas valve assemblies. In one example, a valve assembly may be configured to perform a valve proving test as part of an operational cycle of a combustion appliance coupled to the valve assembly. The valve assembly may include a valve body having a fluid path, first and second valve sealing members translatable between an opened position and a closed position, and one or more pressure sensors in fluid communication with an intermediate volume of the fluid path between the first and second valve sealing members. A valve controller may be in communication with the pressure sensor and may monitor a measure related to a pressure change rate in the intermediate volume. The valve controller may then output a signal if the measure related to a pressure change rate in the intermediate volume meets and/or exceeds a threshold value.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A valve assembly for controlling fuel flow to a combustion appliance, the combustion appliance cycling on and off during a sequence of operational cycles, at least some of the operational cycles of the combustion appliance each performing a valve proving test prior to and/or after igniting the fuel during the operational cycle, the valve assembly comprising:

a valve body having an inlet port and an outlet port, with a fluid path extending between the inlet port and the outlet port;
a first valve situated in the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port;
a second valve situated in the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port downstream of the first valve, with an intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve defined by the valve body;
a first valve actuator, secured relative to the valve body, for selectively moving the first valve between a closed position, which closes the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port, and an open position;
a second valve actuator, secured relative to the valve body, for selectively moving the second valve between a closed position, which closes the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port, and an open position;
a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve for sensing a measure that is related to a pressure in the intermediate volume;
and
a controller, secured relative to the valve body and in communication with the pressure sensor, the controller configured to determine a measure that is related to a pressure change rate in the intermediate volume during each valve proving test that is performed as part of at least some of the operational cycles of the combustion appliance.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.