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US 8,347,920 B2Granted
Pressurized fluid positioner control system
AssigneeFlexibility Engineering, LLC
InventorJoseph W. Pawelski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The inventive technology, in embodiments, may include a controller configured to coordinate operation of valves and remotely controllable regulators that are fluidically communicative therewith, allowing the control of positioners of positioner zones that are fluidically communicative with such remotely controllable regulators. Preferred embodiments may find application as, e.g., a pneumatic system to control positioners, whether such positioner find use in bottling applications or elsewhere. Additional aspects of the inventive technology may relate to methods for pressurized fluid positioner control.
Claims52
A position control apparatus comprising:
- an electronic pressure regulator established downflow of and in fluidic communication with a compressed air source;
- valves established downflow of and in fluidic communication with said electronic pressure regulator;
- a plurality of remotely controllable regulators established downflow of and in fluidic communication with said valves;
- a plurality of positioner zones established downflow of and in fluidic communication with said remotely controllable regulators;
- and
- a controller configured to coordinate operation of said electronic pressure regulator with said valves,
- wherein each of said remotely controllable regulators is in fluidic communication with a different one of said positioner zones.
4 more elements
A positioner control method, comprising the steps of:
- remotely controlling a first piloted pressure regulator so as to apply a first pressure to a first positioner zone that comprises a plurality of first zone positioners that position items traveling along a conveyor;
- positioning said items using said first zone positioners;
- remotely controlling a second piloted pressure regulator so as to apply a second pressure to a second positioner zone that comprises a plurality of second zone positioners that position said items traveling along said conveyor;
- and
- positioning said items using said second zone positioners,
- wherein said first zone positioners each have a bias constant within a first range, said second zone positioners each have a bias constant within a second range, and said first range is different from said second range.
3 more elements
A positioner control method, comprising the steps of:
- remotely controlling a first piloted pressure regulator so as to apply a first pressure to a first positioner zone;
- then
- operating a controller to terminate application of said first pressure to said first positioner zone and initiate application of a second pressure to a second positioner zone, and then
- remotely controlling a second piloted pressure regulator so as to apply said second pressure to said second positioner zone,
- wherein said step of operating a controller comprises the step of operating a controller to change an electronic pressure regulator output from said first pressure to said second pressure.
2 more elements
A positioner control method, comprising the steps of:
- remotely controlling a first piloted pressure regulator by inputting two pressure inputs to said first piloted pressure regulator so as to apply a first pressure to a first positioner zone;
- then
- remotely controlling a second piloted pressure regulator so as to apply a second pressure to a second positioner zone,
- wherein one of said inputs is an insufficiently regulated input that is in fluidic communication with input to an electronic pressure regulator established upflow of a first valve and the other of said inputs is a pilot input that is in fluidic communication with an output from said electronic pressure regulator.
1 more element
A positioner control method, comprising the steps of:
- remotely controlling a first piloted pressure regulator so as to apply a first pressure to a first positioner zone;
- then
- remotely controlling a second piloted pressure regulator by inputting two pressure inputs to said second piloted pressure regulator so as to apply a second pressure to a second positioner zone,
- wherein one of said inputs is an insufficiently regulated input that is in fluidic communication with input to an electronic pressure regulator established upflow of a second valve and the other of said inputs is a pilot input that is in fluidic communication with an output from said electronic pressure regulator.
1 more element
A positioner control method, comprising the steps of:
- remotely controlling a first piloted pressure regulator so as to apply a first pressure to a first positioner zone that comprises a plurality of first zone positioners that position items for proper operation of a system;
- positioning said items using said first zone positioners;
- then
- remotely controlling a second piloted pressure regulator so as to apply a second pressure to a second positioner zone that comprises a plurality of second zone positioners that position said items;
- and
- positioning said items using said second zone positioners,
- wherein said first zone positioners each have a helical spring having a bias constant within a first range, said second zone positioners each have a helical spring having a bias constant within a second range, and said first range is different from said second range.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.