System and a method for optimising and providing power to a core of a valve

A system for providing power to a movable core within a valve to secure a position of said core in the valve, said system comprising:

• a controller unit having a pair of valve control outputs for providing a valve control signal;
• and
• a valve comprising a pair of valve control inputs, a solenoid, and a core operable between a first position and a second position;
• wherein said pair of valve control inputs is connected to said solenoid and to said pair of valve control outputs;
• wherein said controller unit defines an inrush DC voltage level signal for forcing said core into said second position and a hold DC voltage level signal with a sufficiently high voltage level margin to securely retain said core in said second position;
• wherein said controller unit is operable to move the core of said valve into said second position by applying said inrush DC voltage level signal followed by said hold DC voltage level signal with said voltage level margin to said pair of valve control inputs, and said controller unit moving said core of said valve to said first position by applying substantially a zero voltage signal to said pair of valve control inputs;
• and
• wherein said controller unit provides said inrush DC voltage level signal, said hold DC voltage level and said zero voltage signal to said valve by supplying from said pair of valve control outputs a pulsed DC control signal to said pair of valve control inputs, said pulsed DC signal defining a maximum voltage in the range of 25V to 45V, a minimum voltage in the range of 0V to 5V, and a controller unit output pulse width in the range of 100 μs to 0.1 s, said controller unit output pulse width defining a first part having said maximum voltage and a second part having said minimum voltage, and wherein said pulsed DC signal constitutes said inrush DC voltage level signal by having said first part longer than or equal to said second part during a period in the range of 10 ms to 1 s, and constitutes said DC hold voltage level by having said first part shorter than said second part.

A system for providing power to a core of a valve to secure a position of said valve with use of a constant energy, said system comprising:

• a controller unit having a pair of valve control outputs for providing a valve control signal;
• and
• a valve comprising a pair of valve control inputs, a solenoid, and a core operable between a first and a second position;
• wherein said pair of valve control inputs is connected to said solenoid and to said pair of valve control outputs;
• wherein said controller unit defines an inrush DC voltage level signal for forcing said core in said second position and a hold DC voltage level signal for securely retaining said core in said second position;
• wherein said controller unit defines a resistance for said solenoid and a constant energy level for said hold DC voltage level signal, said constant energy level defined independently of said resistance for said solenoid;
• wherein said controller unit moves said core of said valve into said second position by applying said inrush DC voltage level signal followed by said hold DC voltage level signal adjusted to match said constant energy level to said pair of valve control inputs, and moves said core of said valve into said first position by applying substantially a zero voltage signal to said pair of valve control inputs;
• and
• wherein said controller unit provides said inrush DC voltage level signal, said hold DC voltage level and said zero voltage signal to said valve by supplying from said pair of valve control outputs a pulsed DC control signal to said pair of valve control inputs, said pulsed DC signal defining a maximum voltage in the range of 25V to 45V, a minimum voltage in the range of 0V to 5V, and a controller unit output pulse width in the range of 100 μs to 0.1 s, said controller unit output pulse width defining a first part having said maximum voltage and a second part having said minimum voltage, and wherein said pulsed DC signal constitutes said inrush DC voltage level signal by having said first part longer than or equal to said second part during a period in the range of 10 ms to 1 s, and constitutes said DC hold voltage level by having said first part shorter than said second part.

A method for optimizing power to a movable core within a valve, said comprising the steps of:

• providing a valve control signal from a controller unit having a pair of valve control outputs;
• providing a valve comprising a pair of valve control inputs, a solenoid, and a core operable between a first and a second position within the valve;
• connecting said pair of valve control inputs to said solenoid and to said pair of valve control outputs;
• defining by said controller unit an inrush DC voltage level signal for forcing said core in said second position;
• defining by said controller unit a hold DC voltage level signal for retaining said core in said second position;
• defining by said controller unit a zero voltage signal for moving said core to said first position;
• providing
• by said controller unit, in said first position of said core, said valve control signal with said hold DC voltage level and measuring a first self inductance representing said core in said first position;
• providing by said controller unit, in said first position of said core, said valve control signal with said inrush DC voltage level signal for forcing said core from said first position to said second position, and subsequently providing by said controller unit said valve control signal with said hold DC voltage level for retaining said core in said second position and measuring by said controller unit, in said second position of said core, a second self inductance representing said core in said second position;
• while providing by said controller unit, in said second position of said core, said valve control signal with said hold DC voltage level, gradually decreasing by said controller unit said hold DC voltage level and measuring by said controller unit a third self inductance representing the actual physical position of said core;
• determining by said controller unit, on the basis of one of said first and second self inductances in comparison with said third self inductance, whether said core is in said first or second position;
• applying, on the basis of said comparison, said gradually decreased hold DC voltage level by said controller unit for retaining said core in said second position provided said core is in said second position;
• and
• wherein said controller unit provides said inrush DC voltage level signal, said hold DC voltage level and said zero voltage signal to said valve by supplying from said pair of valve control outputs a pulsed DC control signal to said pair of valve control inputs, said pulsed DC signal defining a maximum voltage in the range of 25V to 45V, a minimum voltage in the range of 0V to 5V, and a controller unit output pulse width in the range of 100 μs to 0.1 s, said controller unit output pulse width defining a first part having said maximum voltage and a second part having said minimum voltage, and wherein said pulsed DC signal constitutes said inrush DC voltage level signal by having said first part longer than or equal to said second part during a period in the range of 10 ms to 1 s, and constitutes said DC hold voltage level by having said first part shorter than said second part.

A method for providing power to a core of a valve to secure a position of said valve, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a valve control signal from a controller unit having a pair of valve control outputs;
• providing a valve comprising a pair of valve control inputs, a solenoid, and a core operable between a first and a second position;
• connecting said pair of valve control inputs to said solenoid and to said pair of valve control outputs;
• defining by said controller unit an inrush DC voltage level signal for forcing said core in said second position;
• defining by said controller unit a hold DC voltage level signal with a sufficiently high voltage level margin to securely retaining said core in said second position;
• moving said core of said valve into said second position by said controller unit by applying said inrush DC voltage level signal followed by said hold DC voltage level signal with said voltage level margin to said pair of valve control inputs, and moving said core of said valve into said first position by said controller unit by applying substantially a zero voltage signal to said pair of valve control inputs;
• and
• wherein said controller unit provides said inrush DC voltage level signal, said hold DC voltage level and said zero voltage signal to said valve by supplying from said pair of valve control outputs a pulsed DC control signal to said pair of valve control inputs, said pulsed DC signal defining a maximum voltage in the range of 25V to 45V, a minimum voltage in the range of 0V to 5V, and a controller unit output pulse width in the range of 100 μs to 0.1 s, said controller unit output pulse width defining a first part having said maximum voltage and a second part having said minimum voltage, and wherein said pulsed DC signal constitutes said inrush DC voltage level signal by having said first part longer than or equal to said second part during a period in the range 10 ms to 1 s, and constitutes said DC hold voltage level by having said first part shorter than said second part.

A method for providing power to a core movable within a valve to secure a position of said valve with use of a constant energy, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a valve control signal from a controller unit having a pair of valve control outputs;
• providing a valve comprising a pair of valve control inputs, a solenoid, and a core operable between a first and second position;
• connecting said pair of valve control inputs to said solenoid and to said pair of valve control outputs;
• defining by said controller unit an inrush DC voltage level signal for forcing said core in said second position;
• defining by said controller unit a hold DC voltage level signal for securely retaining said core in said second position;
• defining by said controller unit a resistance for said solenoid;
• defining by said controller unit a constant energy level for said hold DC voltage level signal, said constant energy level being defined independently of said resistance for said solenoid;
• adjusting by said controller unit said hold DC voltage level signal to match said constant energy level;
• moving said core of said valve into said second position by said controller unit said valve by applying said inrush DC voltage level signal followed by said adjusted hold DC voltage level signal to said pair of valve control inputs, and moving said core of said valve into said first position by said controller unit by applying a substantially zero voltage signal to said pair of valve control inputs;
• and
• wherein said controller unit provides said inrush DC voltage level signal, said adjusted hold DC voltage level and said substantially zero voltage signal to said valve by supplying from said pair of valve control outputs a pulsed DC control signal to said pair of valve control inputs, said pulsed DC signal defining a maximum voltage in the range of 25V to 45V, a minimum voltage in the range of 0V to 5V, and a controller unit output pulse width in the range of 100 μs to 0.1 s, said controller unit output pulse width defining a first part having said maximum voltage and a second part having said minimum voltage, and wherein said pulsed DC signal constitutes said inrush DC voltage level signal by having said first part longer than or equal to said second part during a period in the range 10 ms to 1 s, and constitutes said DC hold voltage level by having said first part shorter than said second part.

A system for optimizing power to a movable core within a valve, said system comprising:

• a controller unit having a pair of valve control outputs for providing a valve control signal;
• and
• a valve comprising a pair of valve control inputs, a solenoid, and a core operable between a first position and a second position;
• wherein said pair of valve control inputs is connected to said solenoid and to said pair of valve control outputs;
• wherein said controller unit defines an inrush DC voltage level signal for forcing said core into said second position and a hold DC voltage level signal for retaining said core in said second position and a zero voltage signal for moving said core to said first position;
• wherein
• said controller unit, in said first position of said core, provides said valve control signal with said hold DC voltage level, measures a first self inductance representing said core in said first position, and provides said valve control signal with said inrush DC voltage level signal for forcing said core from said first position to said second position;
• wherein said controller unit subsequently provides said valve control signal with said hold DC voltage level for retaining said core in said second position;
• wherein said controller unit measures, in said second position of said core, a second self inductance representing said core in said second position;
• wherein said controller unit, in said second position of said core, while providing said valve control signal with said hold DC voltage level, gradually decreases said hold DC voltage level and measures a third self inductance representing the actual physical position of said core;
• wherein said controller unit determines, on the basis of one of said first and second self inductances in comparison with said third self inductance, whether said core is in said first or second position;
• wherein said controller unit increases said gradually decreased hold DC voltage level, provides said valve control signal with said inrush DC voltage level signal for forcing said core from said first position to said second position, and applies said increased gradually decreased hold DC voltage level for retaining said core in said second position if said core is in said first position;
• and
• wherein said controller unit provides said inrush DC voltage level signal, said hold DC voltage level and said zero voltage signal to said valve by supplying from said pair of valve control outputs a pulsed DC control signal to said pair of valve control inputs, said pulsed DC signal defining a maximum voltage in the range of 25V to 45V, a minimum voltage in the range of 0V to 5V, and a controller unit output pulse width in the range of 100 μs to 0.1 s, said controller unit output pulse width defining a first part having said maximum voltage and a second part having said minimum voltage, and wherein said pulsed DC signal constitutes said inrush DC voltage level signal by having said first part longer than or equal to said second part during a period in the range 10 ms to 1 s, and constitutes said DC hold voltage level by having said first part shorter than said second part.

A method for optimizing power to a movable core within a valve, said comprising the steps of:

• providing a valve control signal from a controller unit ving a pair of valve control outputs;
• providing a valve comprising a pair of valve control inputs, a solenoid, and a core operable between a first and a second position within the valve;
• connecting said pair of valve control inputs to said solenoid and to said pair of valve control outputs;
• defining by said controller unit an inrush DC voltage level signal for forcing said core in said second position;
• defining by said controller unit a hold DC voltage level signal for retaining said core in said second position;
• defining by said controller unit a zero voltage signal for moving said core to said first position;
• providing
• by said controller unit, in said first position of said core, said valve control signal with said hold DC voltage level and measuring a first self inductance representing said core in said first position;
• providing by said controller unit, in said first position of said core, said valve control signal with said inrush DC voltage level signal for forcing said core from said first position to said second position, and subsequently providing by said controller unit said valve control signal with said hold DC voltage level for retaining said core in said second position and measuring by said controller unit, in said second position of said core, a second self inductance representing said core in said second position;
• while providing by said controller unit, in said second position of said core, said valve control signal with said hold DC voltage level, gradually decreasing by said controller unit said hold DC voltage level and measuring by said controller unit a third self inductance representing the actual physical position of said core;
• determining by said controller unit, on the basis of one of said first and second self inductances in comparison with said third self inductance, whether said core is in said first or second position;
• increasing by said controller unit said gradually decreased hold DC voltage level, providing said valve control signal with said inrush DC voltage level signal for forcing said core from said first position to said second position, and applying by said controller unit said increased gradually decreased hold DC voltage level for retaining said core in said second position provided said core is in said first position;
• and
• wherein said controller unit provides said inrush DC voltage level signal, said hold DC voltage level and said zero voltage signal to said valve by supplying from said pair of valve control outputs a pulsed DC control signal to said pair of valve control inputs, said pulsed DC signal defining a maximum voltage in the range of 25V to 45V, a minimum voltage in the range of 0V to 5V, and a controller unit output pulse width in the range of 100 μs to 0.1 s, said controller unit output pulse width defining a first part having said maximum voltage and a second part having said minimum voltage, and wherein said pulsed DC signal constitutes said inrush DC voltage level signal by having said first part longer than or equal to said second part during a period in the range of 10 ms to 1 s, and constitutes said DC hold voltage level by having said first part shorter than said second part.