US 7,451,644 B2Granted

Method for verifying the performance of a test of the functionality of a safety valve

AssigneeSamson Aktiengesellschaft

InventorThomas Karte

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Abstract

The invention pertains to a method for verifying the performance of a test of the functionality of an actuator (1) with a drive (2) and a valve (3a), where the valve (3a) can be moved by the drive (2), which uses a drive element (3) acting on the valve (3a); where the drive element (3) and thus the actuating element of the valve can be moved by means of a position controller (5) over a portion of the actuating distance to perform the partial-stroke freedom-of-movement test and thus to test the functionality of the actuator (1), and where the position controller (5) has a distance sensor (7)—the primary sensor—and a first evaluation unit (8) for evaluating and storing the signals of the distance sensor (7). According to the invention, a second evaluation unit (13a) is used, which detects the movement of the actuator (1) and simultaneously acquires and records a protocol of this movement, and in that a second sensor (11) connected to the second evaluation unit (13a) is used independently to detect the movement of the actuating element.

Claims20

Dependent claims

Method for verifying the performance of a partial-stroke-freedom-of-movement test on valve (3a), said valve (3a) controlled by an actuator (1), utilizing a drive (2), a drive element (3), an actuating element, a position controller (5), said position controller includes a first distance sensor (7), a first evaluation unit (8), a second distance sensor (11), and, a second evaluation unit (13a), comprising the following steps:

moving said valve (3a) with said drive (2), said drive uses said drive element (3) to act on said valve (3a), said drive element is connected to said actuating element, said drive element capable of moving said valve (3a) an actuating distance;
moving said drive element (3) including said actuating element with said position controller (5) over a portion of said actuating distance;
evaluating and storing signals from said first distance sensor (7) with and in said first evaluation unit (8);
detecting, independently, movement of said drive element (3) of said actuator (1) using said second distance sensor (11), said second distance sensor (11) connected to said second evaluation unit (13a);
and,
acquiring and recording, simultaneously, movement of said drive element (3) of said actuator (1) as sensed by said first and second distance sensors (7, 11).

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.