# US 5,704,586 A · Apparatus for controlling a valve

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- Number: US 5,704,586 A
- Document ID: US5704586A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/666,584
- Filed: 1996-06-21
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1993-12-21
- Inventors: Ole Cramer Nielsen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704586A

## CPC

- F16K 37/0083: {by measuring valve parameters}
- Y10T 137/8242: Electrical
- 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)}
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Known position indicators for magnetic valves are switches which may be activated by cams on the moving parts. Following installation an individual adjustment has to be performed in order to obtain a precise acknowledgment. This disadvantage is avoided and a better monitoring of the functioning of the valve is obtained by detecting the position by means of a continuous position signaler where the data obtained from the putting into service are used as reference data at later determinations of extreme positions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus for controlling movement of a valve between a number of fixed positions, comprising
a pressure cylinder for activating the valve;
magnetic valve means for controlling a supply of fluid from a source of pressurized fluid to said pressure cylinder;
a valve having a valve stem;
a linear position indicator which is connected to said valve and provides position indications relating to fixed positions of the valve occurring during movement of the valve stem;
means for storing desired ones of said fixed position indications in a data store; and
control means for comparing current position indications of said linear position indicator with fixed position indications stored in said data store;
wherein said control means has program means for determining, during repeated operation of the valve, the occurrence of changes in the position indications for the fixed positions of the valve and for compensating for such changes which are within a tolerance range around a stored position indication representative of correct operation of the valve.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said program means has a controlling relationship with a calculating unit for providing said tolerance range.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said calculating unit is a means for calculating an average value of a predetermined number of latest obtained and accepted position indications corresponding to a desired position for use as said stored position indication in subsequent position indication determinations.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for generating an error message in response to the occurrence of changes in the position indications which are outside of said tolerance range.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining a time function for obtaining of incremental data from the linear position indicator and for producing an error message when the time function determination is below a stored reference value.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a temperature sensor positioned in association with the valve for providing temperature data to the calculating unit; wherein said calculating unit includes means for providing temperature compensation of said position indications on the basis of said temperature data.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control means is located at a distance from the valve and is connected thereto by a twin lead field bus.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the linear position indicator is an optical position indicator.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said optical position indicator is operable on the basis of a coded scale.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the linear position indicator comprises a difference transformer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the linear position indicator is cast into an insulating and sealing compound which firmly and fluid-sealingly connects the position indicator to the valve.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for generating an error message in response to the occurrence of changes in the position indications which are outside of said tolerance range.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means is located at a distance from the valve and is connected thereto by a twin lead field bus.