# US 2013/0153042 A1 · Gas valve with high/low gas pressure detection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153042 A1 - Document ID: US20130153042A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/326,357 - 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 - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153042A1 ## CPC - F23N 1/005: {using electrical or electromechanical means (F23N1/04 - F23N1/10 take precedence)} - F16K 31/0655: {Lift valves} - F16K 37/0041: {for measuring valve parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence)} - F17D 5/02: Preventing, monitoring, or locating loss - G01M 3/2876: {for valves (G01M3/30 takes precedence)} - G05D 7/0635: {by action on throttling means (G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence)} - G05D 16/2033: {the plurality of throttling means being arranged in series} - F23N 2223/04: Memory - F23N 2225/04: pressure - F23N 2231/10: for component failures - F23N 2235/14: electromagnetically operated - F23N 2235/16: variable flow or proportional valves - F23N 2235/18: Groups of two or more valves - F23N 2235/24: Valve details - Y10T 137/0396: Involving pressure control - 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) - 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)} - F17D: PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES (pumps or compressors F04; fluid dynamics F15D; valves or the like F16K; pipes, laying pipes, supports, joints, branches, repairing, work on the entire line, accessories F16L; steam traps or the like F16T; fluid-pressure electric cables H01B9/06) - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - 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, the valve assembly may include a valve body with a fluid path, one or more valves or valve sealing members positioned across the fluid path, and one or more pressure sensors in fluid communication with a fluid path of the valve assembly. The valve assembly may include a valve controller in communication with the pressure sensors, where the valve controller may be configured to compare a measure related to a pressure sensed by the one or more pressure sensors to a pressure threshold value (e.g., a high pressure threshold value, a low pressure threshold value, or other pressure threshold value). If the measure surpasses the threshold value, the valve controller may provide a predetermined output signal indicating a pressure event has occurred, such as a high or low gas pressure event. ## 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 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 first pressure sensor positioned upstream of the first valve, the first pressure sensor sensing a pressure in the valve body upstream of the first valve; and a controller in communication with the first pressure sensor, the controller configured to compare a first measure, which at least tracks the sensed pressure in the valve body upstream of the first valve, with a first pressure threshold, and to provide a predetermined first output signal if the first measure surpasses the first pressure threshold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to compare the first measure with a second pressure threshold, and to provide a predetermined second output signal if the first measure surpasses the second pressure threshold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a second pressure sensor positioned downstream of the second valve, the second pressure sensor sensing the pressure in the valve body downstream of the second valve; and the controller in communication with the second pressure sensor, the controller configured to compare a second measure, which at least tracks the sensed pressure in the valve body downstream of the second valve, with a second pressure threshold, and to provide a predetermined second output signal if the second measure surpasses the second pressure threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The valve assembly of claim 3, wherein: the predetermined first output signal causes the first valve actuator to close the first valve and causes the second valve actuator to close the second valve; and the predetermined second output signal causes the first valve actuator to close the first valve and causes the second valve actuator to close the second valve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The valve assembly of claim 3, wherein the first threshold relates to a low gas pressure threshold, and the second threshold relates to a high gas pressure threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the predetermined first output signal causes the first valve actuator to close the first valve and causes the second valve actuator to close the second valve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller does not provide the predetermined first output signal during at least one time period, even if the first measure surpasses the first pressure threshold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The valve assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one time period is associated with a status of the first valve actuator and/or the second valve actuator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a non-volatile memory, and the controller is configured to store data related to the first measure in the non-volatile memory. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller is physically secured to the valve body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller includes an I/O interface for communicating with a remote device that is located remotely from the valve assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The valve assembly of claim 11, wherein the I/O interface includes a wired and/or wireless interface. ### Claim 13 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 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 positioned downstream of the second valve, the pressure sensor sensing a pressure in the valve body downstream of the second valve; and a controller in communication with the pressure sensor, the controller configured to compare a measure, which at least tracks the sensed pressure in the valve body downstream of the second valve, with a first pressure threshold, and to provide a predetermined output signal if the measure surpasses the first pressure threshold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The valve assembly of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to compare the measure with a second pressure threshold, and to provide a predetermined second output signal if the measure surpasses the second pressure threshold. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The valve assembly of claim 14, wherein the first threshold relates to a low gas pressure threshold, and the second threshold relates to a high gas pressure threshold. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The valve assembly of claim 13, wherein the predetermined output signal causes the first valve actuator to close the first valve and causes the second valve actuator to close the second valve. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The valve assembly of claim 13, wherein the controller does not provide the predetermined output signal during at least one time period, even if the measure surpasses the first pressure threshold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The valve assembly of claim 17, wherein the at least one time period is associated with a status of the first valve actuator and/or the second valve actuator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The valve assembly of claim 13, wherein the controller includes a non-volatile memory, and the controller is configured to store data related to the measure in the non-volatile memory. ### Claim 20 A method of monitoring for the occurrence of pressure events in a valve that is configured to control fuel flow to a combustion appliance, the valve having a valve body with an inlet port and an outlet port, and at least one movable valve member situated between the inlet port and outlet port, the method comprising: sensing an inlet pressure in the valve body upstream of the movable valve member with a first pressure sensor integrated with the valve body and communicating with a controller and/or sensing an outlet pressure in the valve body downstream of the movable valve member with a second pressure sensor integrated with the valve body and communicating with the controller; comparing a measure related to the inlet pressure and/or the outlet pressure to one or more pressure thresholds, and if the inlet pressure and/or outlet pressure surpasses the one or more pressure threshold, providing a signal that indicates a pressure event has occurred. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein if the signal is provided that indicates a pressure event has occurred, closing the at least one movable valve member. ### Claim 22 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 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; one or more pressure sensors positioned downstream of the first valve and upstream of the second valve, the pressure sensor sensing a pressure in the intermediate volume of the valve body; and a controller in communication with the pressure sensor, the controller configured to compare a measure, which at least tracks the sensed pressure in the valve body downstream of the first valve and upstream of the second valve, with a first pressure threshold, and to provide a predetermined output signal if the measure surpasses the first pressure threshold. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The valve assembly of claim 22, wherein the one or more pressure sensors includes a plurality of pressure sensors positioned downstream of the first valve and upstream of the second valve. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The valve assembly of claim 23, wherein at least one of the plurality of pressure sensors positioned downstream of the first valve and upstream of the second valve may sense pressure over a first pressure sensing sub-range that differs from a second pressure sensing sub-range over which at least one other of the plurality of pressure sensors senses pressure.