# US 2013/0152673 A1 · Gas valve with electronic valve proving system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0152673 A1 - Document ID: US20130152673A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/326,353 - Filed: 2011-12-15 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: Gregory Young; Donald J. Kasprzyk; David Kucera; Jos Praat - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152673A1 ## CPC - F23N 1/002: {using electronic means (F23N1/04 - F23N1/10 take precedence)} - F23N 2231/18: Detecting fluid leaks - F23N 2235/18: Groups of two or more valves - G01M 3/2876: {for valves (G01M3/30 takes precedence)} - Y10T 137/7761: Electrically actuated valve - F23N: REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION (control devices specially adapted for combustion apparatus in which combustion takes place in a fluidised bed of fuel or other particles F23C10/28; condition responsive controls for regulating combustion in domestic stoves with open fires for solid fuel F24B1/187) - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising: an inlet pressure sensor positioned upstream of the first valve for sensing a measure related to the pressure upstream of the first valve; and the controller is coupled to the inlet pressure sensor and receives the measure related to the pressure upstream of the first valve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The valve assembly of claim 2, further comprising: an outlet pressure sensor positioned downstream of the second valve for sensing a measure related to the pressure downstream of the second valve; and the controller is coupled to the outlet pressure sensor and receives the measure related to the pressure downstream of the second valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising: an outlet pressure sensor positioned downstream of the second valve for sensing a measure related to the pressure downstream of the second valve; and the controller is coupled to the outlet pressure sensor and receives the measure related to the pressure downstream of the second valve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to identify a first sub-test of the valve proving test when the first valve actuator closes the first valve, and the second valve actuator opens the second valve to depressurize the intermediate volume and then closes the second valve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The valve assembly of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to compare the measure that is related to the pressure change rate in the intermediate volume during the first sub-test to a first sub-test threshold value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The valve assembly of claim 6, wherein the controller outputs a signal if the measure that is related to the pressure change rate in the intermediate volume during the first sub-test meets and/or exceeds the first sub-test threshold value. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The valve assembly of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to identify a second sub-test of the valve proving test when after the second valve actuator closes the second valve, and the first valve actuator opens the first valve to pressurize the intermediate volume and then closes the first valve. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The valve assembly of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to compare the measure that is related to the pressure change rate in the intermediate volume during the second sub-test to a second sub-test threshold value. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The valve assembly of claim 9, wherein the controller outputs a signal if the measure that is related to the pressure change rate in the intermediate volume during the second sub-test meets and/or exceeds the second sub-test threshold value. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first valve actuator is controlled by a first control signal (MV1) and the second valve actuator is controlled by a second control signal (MV2), and wherein the controller is configured to detect if the valve proving test is occurring by detecting a predetermined sequence of the first control signal and the second control signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein: the first valve actuator is controlled by a first control signal (MV1); the second valve actuator is controlled by a second control signal (MV2); the controller is configured to detect if a first sub-test of the valve proving test is occurring by detecting a first predetermined sequence of the first control signal and the second control signal; the controller is configured to detect if a second sub-test of the valve proving test is occurring by detecting a second predetermined sequence of the first control signal and the second control signal; the controller is configured to compare the measure that is related to the pressure change rate in the intermediate volume against a first sub-test threshold value if the controller detects the first sub-test of the valve proving test; and the controller is configured to compare the measure that is related to the pressure change rate in the intermediate volume against a second sub-test threshold value if the controller detects the second sub-test of the valve proving test, wherein the first sub-test threshold value is different from the second sub-test threshold value. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor for sensing a measure that is related to the temperature of the fluid in the intermediate volume, wherein the controller receives the measure that is related to the temperature of the fluid in the intermediate volume. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to compare the measure that is related to the pressure change rate in the intermediate volume to a threshold value, and output a predetermined signal if the measure that is related to the pressure change rate in the intermediate volume meets and/or exceeds the threshold value. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The valve assembly of claim 14, wherein the controller calculates the threshold value based on one or more parameters. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The valve assembly of claim 15, wherein the one or more parameters are selected from a sensed pressure, a sensed temperature, and a test duration. ### Claim 17 A method of testing a gas valve assembly for leaks, the method comprising: performing a valve proving test on the gas valve assembly, the gas valve assembly including a first valve, a second valve downstream of the first valve, and a pressure sensor, where the pressure sensor is positioned to sense a measure that is related to a pressure in an intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve; closing the first valve; opening the second valve to depressurize the intermediate volume; closing the second valve; determining a first measure that is related to a pressure change rate in the intermediate volume; comparing the first measure that is related to a pressure change rate in the intermediate volume to a first threshold value; and outputting a first predetermined signal if the first measure that is related to a pressure change rate in the intermediate volume meets and/or exceeds the first threshold value. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: closing the second valve; opening the first valve to pressurize the intermediate volume; closing the first valve; determining a second measure that is related to a pressure change rate in the intermediate volume; comparing the second measure that is related to a pressure change rate in the intermediate volume to a second threshold value; and outputting a second predetermined signal if the second measure that is related to a pressure change rate in the intermediate volume meets and/or exceeds the second threshold value. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the second threshold value is different from the first threshold value. ### Claim 20 A method of performing a valve proving test of a gas valve assembly that is fluidly coupled to a gas source that provides a positive gas pressure to the gas valve assembly during the valve leakage test, the gas valve assembly having a valve body, a first valve, a second valve downstream of the first valve, a pressure sensor, and a valve controller coupled to the valve body and in electronic communication with the pressure sensor, where the pressure sensor is positioned to sense a measure that is related to a pressure in an intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve, the method comprising: opening one of the first valve and the second valve while the other one of the first valve and the second valve is closed; closing the opened one of the first valve and the second valve with both the first valve and the second valve in the closed position, sensing an initial pressure in the intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve using the pressure sensor; with both the first valve and the second valve in the closed position, monitoring over time the pressure in the intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve using the pressure sensor, and determining a pressure change rate; and outputting an output signal that is related to the pressure change rate. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the output signal conveys the determined pressure change. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the output signal conveys when the determined pressure change rate meets and/or exceeds a threshold value. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the outputting step includes storing the determined pressure change rate in a non-volatile memory. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising repeating the opening, closing, sensing, monitoring and outputting step, as well as the storing step, two or more times, and identify a trend in the two or more stored determined pressure change rates. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, further comprising providing a visual and/or audible indicator to indicate if the valve assembly passed and/or failed the valve proving test.