# US 2013/0154841 A1 · Gas valve with valve leakage test > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0154841 A1 - Document ID: US20130154841A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/326,358 - Filed: 2011-12-15 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: David Kucera; Gregory Young; Donald J. Kasprzyk; Gregory Todd Filkovski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130154841A1 ## CPC - G01M 3/2876: {for valves (G01M3/30 takes precedence)} - F16K 37/0091: {by measuring fluid parameters} - F23N 1/005: {using electrical or electromechanical means (F23N1/04 - F23N1/10 take precedence)} - F23N 2235/14: electromagnetically operated - F23N 2235/24: Valve details - Y10T 137/87917: Flow path with serial valves and/or closures - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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 example, a valve leakage test may be performed on a valve assembly including a valve body with a first valve and a second valve, where the valves may be positioned across a fluid path in the valve body with an intermediate volume between the valves. A pressure sensor may be in fluid communication with the intermediate volume and may sense a measure that is related to the pressure in the intermediate volume. The pressure sensor may communicate with a controller to determine a measure that is related to a pressure change in the intermediate volume and compare the measure that is related to a pressure change to a first and/or second threshold value. The controller may output a signal if the measure meets and/or exceeds the first and/or second threshold value. ## 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 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 the pressure in the intermediate volume; a memory, the memory storing a first threshold value and a second threshold value; a controller in communication with the pressure sensor for determining a measure that is related to a pressure change rate in the intermediate volume; and the controller configured to comparing the measure that is related to a pressure change rate in the intermediate volume to the first threshold value during a first valve leakage test having a first duration, and comparing the measure that is related to a pressure change rate in the intermediate volume to the second threshold value during a second valve leakage test having a second duration that is longer than the first duration. ### 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 first valve leakage 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 first valve leakage 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 controller is configured to initiate and operate a first sub-test of the first valve leakage test by causing the first valve actuator to close the first valve, and then causing the second valve actuator to open the second valve to depressurize the intermediate volume and to close the second valve after depressurizing the intermediate volume. ### Claim 12 (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 first leakage test is occurring by detecting a predetermined sequence of the first control signal and the second control signal. ### Claim 13 (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 first leakage 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 first leakage 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 first leakage 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 first leakage test, wherein the first sub-test threshold value is different from the second sub-test threshold value. ### Claim 14 (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 fuel in the intermediate volume. ### Claim 15 A method of performing valve leakage test on a gas valve assembly coupled to a non-switched gas source that is under a positive pressure during the valve leakage test, the gas valve assembly having a first valve that is fluidly coupled to the gas source, 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, the method comprising: opening one of the first valve and the second valve, with the other of the first valve and the second valve closed; closing the opened one of the first valve and the second valve; sensing an initial pressure in the intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve using the pressure sensor; monitoring over time the pressure in the intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve using the pressure sensor, and determining a measure that is related to a pressure change rate; and outputting an output signal that is related to the measure that is related to the pressure change rate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the sensing step senses the initial pressure in the intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve after the opening step but before the closing step. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the output signal conveys when the determined measure that is related to the pressure change rate meets and/or exceeds a threshold value. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the outputting step includes storing the determined measure that is related to the pressure change rate in a non-volatile memory. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising repeating the opening, sensing, closing, sensing, monitoring and outputting step, as well as the storing step, two or more times, and identifying a trend in the two or more stored determined measures related to the pressure change rate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a visual and/or audible indicator to indicate if the valve assembly passed or failed the valve leakage test. ### Claim 21 A method of performing valve leakage test on a gas valve assembly 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 first valve that is fluidly coupled to the gas source, 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, the method comprising: manipulating the first valve and/or the second valve such that a first initial gas pressure is present in the intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve with both the first valve and the second valve in the closed position; 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 first measure that is related to a pressure change rate; manipulating the first valve and/or the second valve such that a second initial gas pressure is present in the intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve with both the first valve and the second valve in the closed position, wherein the second initial gas pressure is substantially different from the first initial gas pressure; 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 second measure that is related to a pressure change rate; and outputting a signal if either the first measure that is related to the pressure change rate meets and/or exceeds a first threshold value and/or the second measure that is related to the pressure change rate meets and/or exceeds a second threshold value. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, comprising outputting a first predetermined signal if the first measure that is related to the pressure change rate meets and/or exceeds the first threshold value, and outputting a second predetermined signal if the second measure that is related to the pressure change rate meets and/or exceeds the second threshold value. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the first threshold value is different from the second threshold value.