Positive isolation through isolation of air supply to pneumatic valves
AssigneeFluor Technologies Corporation
InventorBuck Brouwer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for actuating a plurality of pneumatic valves to positively isolate one or more pieces of equipment. A manual valve can be disposed on a supply conduit that fluidly couples each of the pneumatic valves to a fluid supply source. To place the pneumatic valves in a safe position, the manual valve can be closed, which disrupts a flow of fluid from the source. Closing the manual valve can also open a drain conduit that allows the supply conduit to be depressurized.
Claims19
A system for actuating a plurality of pneumatic valves, comprising:
- first and second pneumatic valves coupled to a fluid source via a supply conduit, such that pressure of fluid from the fluid source causes the first and second pneumatic valves to open;
- and
- a manual valve coupled to the supply conduit between the fluid source and the first and second pneumatic valves, and configured such that closing the manual valve (a) isolates the first and second pneumatic valves from the fluid source and (b) shuts off a flow of the fluid from the fluid source to the first and second pneumatic valves.
A system for actuating a plurality of pneumatic valves, comprising:
- a plurality of pneumatic valves, each of which is coupled to a fluid source, such that pressure of fluid from the fluid source causes the pneumatic valves to open or close;
- and
- a manual valve fluidly coupled to the fluid source and the plurality of pneumatic valves, wherein the manual valve is disposed between the fluid source and each of the plurality of pneumatic valves and configured such that closing the manual valve (a) isolates each of the plurality of pneumatic valves from the fluid source, (b) shuts off a flow of the fluid from the fluid source to the pneumatic valves, and (c) drains fluid from a supply line between the manual valve and the plurality of pneumatic valves.
A method for actuating a plurality of pneumatic valves, comprising:
- providing a manual valve disposed intermediate between a plurality of pneumatic valves and a fluid source;
- and
- closing the manual valve to inhibit a flow of fluid from the fluid source to each of the plurality of pneumatic valves and depressurizing one or more conduits that fluidly couple the manual valve with the plurality of pneumatic valves, such that each of the plurality of pneumatic valves actuates to a safe position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.