Modulating pressure regulator with shape memory alloy actuator
AssigneeHoneywell Inc.
InventorPaul Dietiker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrically controlled modulating pressure regulator in which a main valve regulates fluid flow between an inlet and an outlet in response to a control pressure produced by a servo valve which is responsive to the outlet pressure and the force applied by a regulator spring to a diaphragm carrying the servo valve closure element. Deformation of the regulator spring can be varied by an electrical actuator in the form of a wire segment of a shape memory alloy through which electric current can be passed to vary its temperature and length.
Claims20
A modulating pressure regulator, comprising:
- housing means defining fluid inlet and fluid outlet passageways and a main valve seat providing for flow between the fluid inlet and fluid outlet passageways;
- a main valve closure member mounted in said housing means for movement relative to the main valve seat for varying the flow between the fluid inlet and outlet passageways;
- a main valve actuator operable to vary the position of said main valve closure member relative to the valve seat in response to variations in a control pressure;
- servo valve means for producing the control pressure in response to the pressure in the fluid outlet passageway, the control pressure further being dependent on variable biasing means having a servo valve actuator formed of shape memory alloy material, the servo valve actuator acting through a spring element and adapted to change deformation of the spring element in response to varying temperature;
- and
- heating means for varying the temperature of the servo valve actuator in response to an electrical control signal.
A method of electrically varying the set point pressure of a pressure regulator in which fluid flow between an inlet and an outlet is controllable by a main valve in response to a control pressure produced by a servo valve, the servo valve being responsive to fluid pressure at the regulator outlet and the relative compression of a servo valve spring, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a servo valve actuator formed of shape memory alloy material in an arrangement adapted to change deformation of a servo valve spring in response to increases in temperature of the servo valve actuator;
- and
- variably heating the servo valve actuator in response to an electrical control signal.
In a pressure regulator of the type having a main valve for controlling fluid flow between an inlet and an outlet, the main valve being controllable by a control pressure produced by a servo valve in response to pressure magnitude at the regulator outlet and the amount of force applied by a servo regulator spring element, the improvement which-comprises:
- a servo valve actuator formed of shape memory alloy which changes from a first configuration to a second configuration as its temperature is increased;
- mechanical linkage connecting said servo valve actuator to the servo regulator spring element so that deformation of the spring element is varied as said servo actuator changes from its first configuration to its second configuration;
- and
- heating means associated with said servo valve actuator for changing the temperature thereof in response to an electrical control signal, whereby the outlet pressure of the pressure regulator can be electrically modulated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.