# US 8,783,283 B2 · Heating device for valve to prevent internal accumulation of condensate > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,283 B2 - Document ID: US8783283B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/362,692 - Filed: 2012-01-31 - Published: 2013-08-01 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-31 - Assignees: Control Components, Inc. - Applicants: Davor Kriz; Tobias Zieger; Peter Baumann; Muhamed Murati - Inventors: Davor Kriz; Tobias Zieger; Peter Baumann; Muhamed Murati - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783283B2 ## CPC - F16K 49/002: {Electric heating means} - Y10T 137/0318: Processes - Y10T 137/6416: With heating or cooling of the system - Y10T 137/6606: With electric heating element - 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 In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a valve assembly wherein a heating modality such as an induction heater is cooperatively engaged to a prescribed location on a valve housing or body of a valve to effectively maintain the temperature of the valve above the saturation temperature of the related system pressure. Maintaining this temperature differential effectively avoids the accumulation of condensate within the interior of the valve body and/or on other internal structural features thereof. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve assembly for use with a fluid in a prescribed pressure range and having a corresponding saturation temperature, the valve assembly comprising: a valve body defining a primary flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end; a valve piston disposed within the valve body and selectively movable along a piston axis between a closed position wherein the piston effectively blocks direct fluid flow from the inlet end to the outlet end of the flow passage, and an open position wherein fluid is able to flow over the piston directly from the inlet end to the outlet end; and a heating device cooperatively engaged to the valve body and operative to radiate heat along and radially outward from the piston axis to maintain at least the valve body and the valve piston at a prescribed temperature level which exceeds the saturation temperature of the fluid; wherein the heating device is provided in a size, shape, and location on the valve body such that the activation of the heating device is operative to maintain at least the valve body and the valve piston at a temperature which is in the range of about 5° F. to about 15° F. above the saturation temperature of the fluid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the heating device is an electrically powered induction heater. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the heating device has a generally annular configuration defining an outer circumference smaller than an outer circumference of the valve body and is positioned on the valve body to circumvent at least one other structural feature of the valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein: the valve piston defines at least one piston chamber; the valve body includes at least one discharge path which communicates with the piston chamber; the valve includes at least one pilot vale which is operative to selectively vent the piston chamber via the discharge path; and the heating device is provided in a size, shape, and location on the valve body such that the activation of the heating device is operative to prevent the formation of condensate in at least the piston chamber of the valve piston. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The valve assembly of claim 4 wherein the heating device has a generally annular configuration and is positioned on t e valve body to circumvent at least one other structural feature of the valve. ### Claim 6 In a valve assembly for use with a fluid in a prescribed pressure range and having a corresponding saturation temperature, and including at least a valve body and a valve piston movably disposed within the valve body along a piston axis, the improvement comprising: a heating device cooperatively engaged the valve body and operative to radiate heat along and radially outward from the piston axis to maintain at least the valve body and the valve piston at a prescribed temperature level which exceeds the saturation temperature of the fluid; wherein the heating device is provided in a size, shape, and location on the valve body such that the activation of t e heating device is operative to maintain at least the valve body and the valve piston at a temperature which is in the range of about 5° F. to about 15° F. above he saturation temperature of the fluid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The valve assembly of claim 6 wherein the heating device is an electrically powered induction heater. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The valve assembly of claim 6 wherein the heating device a generally annular configuration and is positioned on the valve body to circumvent at least one other structural feature of the valve. ### Claim 9 A method of preventing the formation of condensate within a valve for use with a fluid in a prescribed pressure range and having a corresponding saturation temperature, and including at least a valve body and a valve piston movably disposed within the valve body and moveable along a piston axis, the method comprising the steps of: (a) cooperatively engaging a heating device to the valve body; and (b) activating the heating device to radiate heat along and radially outward from the piston axis to maintain at least the valve body and the valve piston at a prescribed temperature level which exceeds the saturation temperature of the fluid; wherein step (a) comprises providing the heating device in a size, shape, and location on the valve body such that the activation of the heating device in step (b) is operative to maintain at least the valve body and the valve piston at a temperature which is in the range of about 5° F. to about 15° F. above the saturation temperature of the fluid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein step (a) comprises cooperatively engaging the heating device to the valve body at a location wherein heat generated by the heating device is able to radiate symmetrically through the valve body and into the valve piston. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein step (a) comprises providing the heating device in a generally annular configuration and positioning it on the valve body to circumvent at least one other structural feature of the valve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein step (a) comprises cooperatively engaging an electrically powered induction heater to the valve body.