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US 2025/0027575 A1Published application
Valve control apparatus and method
OwnerRonis PERDIOSinventor
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OwnerRonis PERDIOSinventor
Estimating the term…
In a valve control apparatus, a water pipe is designated P and a shut-off valve portion is designated V. The valve control apparatus comprises two main parts: a valve actuator part, shown generally at 100 and which is connected mechanically to the valve closure member inside the pipe, and a motor part, shown generally at 200 which is arranged to engage the actuator 100 to operate the valve in use. The actuator part 100 includes an actuator disc portion 110 through which passes a spindle 112 that engages, and is arranged to turn, the closure member. The spindle is connected to the disc by a nut 114. The disc 110 has an arcuate slot 116 for engaging with the motor part. Integral with the disc portion is a handle portion 120 which is sized and shaped to allow easy manual operation. The motor part 200 comprises a housing 210 in which is located an electric motor and control circuitry (not shown in this figure). The motor is arranged to drive a rotating drive disc 220 which has a drive pin 222 on an under side and which is radially spaced from the axis of rotation of the drive disc. A mounting portion 230, on the underside of the motor part 200 is arranged in use to grip the pipe P. The mounting portion comprises three resiliently deformable individual clips 232 which grip the pipe P via an optional intermediary sleeve S. The clips 222 are of plastics material and as they are introduced to the pipe/sleeve they initially deform to as to accommodate the width of the pipe/sleeve before closing again somewhat to form a tight engagement with the pipe/sleeve at spaced intervals along the pipe. Control buttons 240 and a comms/charging port 250 are located on the exterior of the housing 210. When the motor part is mounted on the pipe, the drive pin 222 locates in the arcuate slot 116 to allow the motor to drive the actuator.
A valve control apparatus, for controlling a valve in a fluid conduit, the valve comprising a closure member moveable between an open position, in which fluid may flow in the conduit, and a closed position, in which fluid may not flow in the conduit, wherein the apparatus comprises an actuator part, including an actuator connectable to the closure member and arranged, when so connected, to control the movement of the closure member, a motor part, including a motor for driving the actuator and a fluid-flow sensor for detecting the flow of fluid in the conduit, wherein when the sensor detects the flow of fluid in the conduit the motor drives the actuator, causing the closure member to move to the closed position, and wherein the apparatus includes a mounting member for mounting the apparatus on the conduit, the mounting member being arranged to engage the conduit on only one of an upstream side or a downstream side of the valve.
A valve control apparatus, for controlling a valve in a fluid conduit, the valve comprising a closure member moveable between an open position, in which fluid may flow in the conduit, and a closed position, in which fluid may not flow in the conduit, wherein the apparatus comprises an actuator part, including an actuator, connectable to the closure member and arranged, when so connected, to control the movement of the closure member, a motor part, including a motor for driving the actuator and a fluid-flow sensor for detecting the flow of fluid in the conduit, wherein when the sensor detects the flow of fluid in the conduit the motor drives the actuator, causing the closure member to move to the closed position, and wherein the sensor is an acoustic sensor arranged to sense the flow of fluid in the conduit acoustically.
A valve control apparatus, for controlling a valve in a fluid conduit, the valve comprising a closure member moveable between an open position, in which fluid may flow in the conduit, and a closed position, in which fluid may not flow in the conduit, wherein the apparatus comprises an actuator part including an actuator, connectable to the closure member and arranged, when so connected, to control the movement of the closure member, a motor part, including a motor for driving the actuator and a fluid-flow sensor for detecting the flow of fluid in the conduit, wherein when the sensor detects the flow of fluid in the conduit the motor drives the actuator, causing the closure member to move to the closed position, wherein the actuator and the motor are coupled by a pin, or peg, and slot arrangement, in which the pin travels within the slot, with one being arranged to urge the other to movement, wherein the slot has first and second extremities, and wherein the motor is arranged to move the actuator so that the pin is at a first extremity to close the valve and then to move the actuator so that the pin is spaced from the first extremity to allow the actuator to be moved manually.
-14. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.