# US 2013/0153036 A1 · Gas valve with electronic proof of closure system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153036 A1 - Document ID: US20130153036A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/326,366 - Filed: 2011-12-15 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: Gregory Young; Donald J. Kasprzyk - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153036A1 ## CPC - F16K 37/0033: {using a permanent magnet, e.g. in combination with a reed relays} - F16K 37/0041: {for measuring valve parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence)} - F23N 1/005: {using electrical or electromechanical means (F23N1/04 - F23N1/10 take precedence)} - F23N 2235/14: electromagnetically operated - F23N 2235/18: Groups of two or more valves - F23N 2235/24: Valve details - Y10T 137/0318: Processes - Y10T 137/8225: Position or extent of motion indicator - Y10T 137/8242: Electrical - Y10T 137/8275: Indicator element rigidly carried by the movable element whose position is indicated - Y10T 137/87917: Flow path with serial valves and/or closures - 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)} - 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 This disclosure relates generally to valves, and more particularly, to gas valve assemblies. In one illustrative but non-limiting example, a valve assembly may include a valve body having an interior and an exterior, a valve or valve sealing member positioned in the valve body, a sensor element (e.g., a magnet and/or a ferrous core) secured relative to the valve sealing member and a sensor (e.g., a magnetic field sensor) positioned outside of the interior of the valve body. The valve sealing member may be movable between an opened position and a closed position, and the sense element may move with the valve sealing member. The sensor may be configured to detect a position of the valve sealing member and communicate that position to a valve controller. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve assembly for controlling fuel flow to a combustion appliance, 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 relative to a first axis, 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 relative to a first axis, between a closed position, which closes the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port, and an open position; a first sensor fluidly isolated from the fluid path by the valve body, and radially spaced from the first axis, where the first sensor senses whether the first valve is in the closed position; a second sensor fluidly isolated from the fluid path by the valve body, and radially spaced from the second axis, where the second sensor senses whether the second valve is in the closed position; a first switch having a first switched signal path and a first control input, wherein the first control input sets the state of the first switched signal path to either a first state or a second state; and a controller coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor and the control input of the switch, the controller sets the state of the first switched signal path to the first state when the first sensor senses that the first valve is not in the closed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to set the state of the first switched signal path to the first state when the second sensor senses that the second valve is not in the closed position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a second switch having a second switched signal path and a second control input, wherein the second control input sets the state of the second switched signal path to either a first state or a second state; the controller is configured to set the state of the second switched signal path to the first state when the second sensor senses that the second valve is not in the closed position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The valve assembly of claim 3, wherein the first switch is a first relay and the second switch is second relay. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first switch is a relay. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first valve includes a magnet, and the first sensor includes a magnetic field sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first valve includes a ferrous core, and the first sensor includes a Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first sensor includes an optical sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first valve actuator selectively moves the first valve longitudinally along the first axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first valve actuator selectively rotates the first valve about the first axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is concentrically positioned about the first axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first valve has a range of travel, and wherein the first sensor is configured to sense a current position of the first valve anywhere along the range of travel of the first valve. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a visual position indicator; and the controller causes the visual position indicator to visually indicate when the first valve is not in the closed position. ### Claim 14 A valve, comprising: a valve body having an interior and an exterior; a valve positioned in the valve body, the valve translatable along or about an axis between a closed position and an open position; a sensor element secured relative to the valve, the sensor element translates with the valve; and a magnetic field sensor positioned outside the interior of the valve body and radially spaced from the axis; and wherein the magnetic field sensor is configured to detect a position of the valve along or about the axis within the valve body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The valve of claim 14, wherein the magnetic field sensor is a linear variable differential transformer, and is positioned concentrically around and radially spaced from the valve. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The valve of claim 14, further comprising: an electronic circuit board positioned adjacent the exterior of the valve body; and a communication link providing communication between the magnetic field sensor and the electronic circuit board. ### Claim 17 A method of detecting a position of a valve of a valve assembly having a valve body and a valve stem enclosed within an interior of the valve body, the valve translatable with respect to the valve body along a translation axis, the method comprising: positioning the valve stem at a first position within the interior of the valve body along the translation axis; sensing a location of the valve stem along the translation axis with a position sensor positioned exterior to the valve body and radially spaced from the valve stem. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: sending the sensed location of the valve stem to a valve controller via a communications link; and wherein the valve controller and the communications link are located exterior of the valve body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: electronically calibrating a closed position of the valve stem using the controller; and wherein the first position is one of any open position, and a second position is the closed position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein sensing the location of the valve stem along the translation axis includes sensing the location of a sensor element secured relative to the valve stem of the valve within the interior of the valve body.