# US 2013/0153035 A1 · Gas valve with electronic cycle counter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153035 A1 - Document ID: US20130153035A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/326,361 - Filed: 2011-12-15 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: Gregory Young; David Kucera; Donald J. Kasprzyk - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153035A1 ## CPC - F23N 1/005: {using electrical or electromechanical means (F23N1/04 - F23N1/10 take precedence)} - F23N 2223/04: Memory - F23N 2223/08: Microprocessor; Microcomputer - F23N 2235/18: Groups of two or more valves - F23N 2235/24: Valve details - Y10T 137/0318: Processes - Y10T 137/8158: With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means - Y10T 137/8242: Electrical - Y10T 137/8359: Inspection means - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A gas valve assembly may include an electronic valve controller secured relative to a valve body. The electronic controller may be configured to count each operational cycle of the gas valve and maintain a cumulative count of the number of operational cycles experienced by the gas valve in a memory, such as a non-volatile memory. In some cases, the non-volatile memory may also store one or more operational cycle threshold values that may be retrieved and compared to the cumulative count of the number of operational cycles experienced by the gas valve. In some instances, where the cumulative count of the number of operational cycles experienced by the gas valve meets and/or exceeds the threshold number of operational cycles, the gas valve may be prevented from opening. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel valve assembly for controlling fuel flow to a combustion appliance, the fuel 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 fuel valve member situated in the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port; a fuel valve actuator for selectively moving the fuel valve member between a closed position, which closes the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port, and an open position; the fuel valve actuator actuating the fuel valve member from the closed position to the open position and then back to the closed position during each of a plurality of operational cycles during a lifetime of the fuel valve assembly; an electronic controller secured relative to the valve body, the electronic controller having a non-volatile memory; and wherein the electronic controller maintains in the non-volatile memory a measure that is related to a total number of operational cycles experienced by the fuel valve member during the lifetime of the fuel valve assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fuel valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic controller includes a counter that is configured to count each of the operational cycles during the lifetime of the fuel valve assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fuel valve assembly of claim 2, further comprising: a valve position sensor; and wherein the electronic controller monitors the valve position sensor to determine when an operational cycle occurs. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The fuel valve assembly of claim 2, further comprising: one or more control signals provided to the fuel valve actuator, the one or more control signals controlling when the fuel valve actuator selectively moves the fuel valve member; and wherein the electronic controller monitors the one or more control signals to determine when an operational cycle occurs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fuel valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory stores a threshold number of operational cycles, and the electronic controller is configured to compare the total number of operational cycles to the threshold number of operational cycles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fuel valve assembly of claim 5, wherein the electronic controller is configured to prevent the fuel valve actuator from selectively moving the fuel valve member after the total number of operational cycles meets and/or exceeds the threshold number of operational cycles. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fuel valve assembly of claim 6, wherein the electronic controller is configured to cut power to the fuel valve actuator after the total number of operational cycles meets and/or exceeds the threshold number of operational cycles. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fuel valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is configured to output the total number of operational cycles to a remote device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fuel valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is configured to output the total number of operational cycles to a remote device via a wired interface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fuel valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is configured to output the total number of operational cycles to a remote device via a wireless interface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fuel valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is configured to display the total number of operational cycles on a display. ### Claim 12 A 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 fuel valve member situated in the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port; a fuel valve actuator for selectively moving the fuel valve member between a closed position, which closes the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port, and an open position; the fuel valve actuator actuating the fuel valve member from the closed position to the open position and then back to the closed position during each of a plurality of operational cycles of the valve; an electronic controller secured relative to the valve body, the electronic controller accessing a non-volatile memory; and wherein the electronic controller maintains in the non-volatile memory a measure that is related to a number of operational cycles experienced by the fuel valve member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The valve assembly of claim 12, wherein the electronic controller is configured to output the number of operational cycles to a remote device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The valve assembly of claim 12, wherein the electronic controller is configured to output the number of operational cycles to a remote device via a wired interface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The valve assembly of claim 12, wherein the electronic controller is configured to output the number of operational cycles to a remote device via a wireless interface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The valve assembly of claim 12, wherein the electronic controller is configured to display the number of operational cycles on a display. ### Claim 17 A method of operating a fuel valve that has a non-volatile memory, the method comprising: opening the fuel valve to allow a flow of fuel through the fuel valve and then closing the fuel valve, during each of a plurality of operational cycles of the fuel valve; maintaining a count of the number of operational cycles experienced by the fuel valve in the non-volatile memory of the fuel valve. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: retrieving a threshold number of operational cycles from the non-volatile memory; and comparing the count of the number of operational cycles to the threshold number of operational cycles. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: preventing the opening of the fuel valve if the count of the number of operational cycles meets and/or exceeds the threshold number of operational cycles. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: communicating the count of the number of operational cycles to a remote device.