US 8,947,242 B2Granted

Gas valve with valve leakage test

AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.

InventorsDavid Kucera, Gregory Young, Donald J. Kasprzyk, Gregory Todd Filkovski

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Abstract

This disclosure relates generally to valves, and more particularly, to gas valve assemblies. In one example, a valve leakage test may be performed on a valve assembly including a valve body with a first valve and a second valve, where the valves may be positioned across a fluid path in the valve body with an intermediate volume between the valves. A pressure sensor may be in fluid communication with the intermediate volume and may sense a measure that is related to the pressure in the intermediate volume. The pressure sensor may communicate with a controller to determine a measure that is related to a pressure change in the intermediate volume and compare the measure that is related to a pressure change to a first and/or second threshold value. The controller may output a signal if the measure meets and/or exceeds the first and/or second threshold value.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A valve assembly for controlling fuel flow to a combustion appliance, the valve assembly comprising:

a valve body having an inlet port and an outlet port, with a fluid path extending between the inlet port and the outlet port;
a first valve situated in the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port;
a second valve situated in the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port downstream of the first valve, with an intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve defined by the valve body;
a first valve actuator, secured relative to the valve body, for selectively moving the first valve between a closed position, which closes the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port, and an open position;
a second valve actuator, secured relative to the valve body, for selectively moving the second valve between a closed position, which closes the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port, and an open position;
a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve for sensing a measure that is related to the pressure in the intermediate volume;
a memory, the memory storing a first threshold value and a second threshold value;
a controller in communication with the pressure sensor for determining a measure that is related to a pressure change rate in the intermediate volume;
during a first valve leakage test having a first duration, the controller configured to compare a first measure that is related to a pressure change rate in the intermediate volume to the first threshold value;
and
during a second valve leakage test having a second duration, comparing a second measure that is related to a pressure change rate in the intermediate volume to the second threshold value, wherein the second duration is longer than the first duration.

8 more elements

A method of performing valve leakage test on a gas valve assembly coupled to a non-switched gas source that is under a positive pressure during the valve leakage test, the gas valve assembly having a first valve that is fluidly coupled to the gas source, a second valve downstream of the first valve, and a pressure sensor, where the pressure sensor is positioned to sense a measure that is related to a pressure in an intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve, the method comprising:

opening one of the first valve and the second valve, with the other of the first valve and the second valve closed;
closing the opened one of the first valve and the second valve;
once closing the opened one of the first valve and the second valve, sensing aa first initial pressure in the intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve using the pressure sensor;
monitoring over time the pressure in the intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve using the pressure sensor, and determining a measure that is related to a pressure change rate;
opening the opened first valve and the second valve, with the other of the first valve and the second valve closed;
once closing the opened one of the first valve and the second valve, sensing a second initial pressure in the intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve using the pressure sensor, wherein the second initial pressure is different from the first initial pressure;
monitoring over time the pressure in the intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve using the pressure sensor, and determining a second measure that is related to a pressure change rate;
and
outputting an output signal if the first measure that is related to a pressure change rate meets and/or exceeds a first threshold value and/or the second measure that is related to a pressure change rate meets and/or exceeds a second threshold value.

6 more elements

A method of performing valve leakage test on a gas valve assembly fluidly coupled to a gas source that provides a positive gas pressure to the gas valve assembly during the valve leakage test, the gas valve assembly having a first valve that is fluidly coupled to the gas source, a second valve downstream of the first valve, and a pressure sensor, where the pressure sensor is positioned to sense a measure that is related to a pressure in an intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve, the method comprising:

manipulating the first valve with the second valve in a closed position such that a first initial gas pressure is present in the intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve with both the first valve and the second valve in the closed position;
with both the first valve and the second valve in the closed position, monitoring over time the pressure in the intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve using the pressure sensor, and determining a first measure that is related to a pressure change rate;
manipulating the second valve with the first valve in a closed position such that a second initial gas pressure is present in the intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve with both the first valve and the second valve in the closed position, wherein the second initial gas pressure is substantially different from the first initial gas pressure;
with both the first valve and the second valve in the closed position, monitoring over time the pressure in the intermediate volume between the first valve and the second valve using the pressure sensor, and determining a second measure that is related to a pressure change rate;
and
outputting a signal if either the first measure that is related to the pressure change rate meets and/or exceeds a first threshold value and/or the second measure that is related to the pressure change rate meets and/or exceeds a second threshold value.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/326,358Filed 15 Dec 2011
Published: US 2013/0154841 A120 Jun 2013
Granted: 3 Feb 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

G01M 3/2876
For pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves ; for welds: for valves
F16K 37/0091
For recording or indicating the functioning of a valve in combination with test equipment: by measuring fluid parameters
F23N 1/005
Regulating fuel supply: using electrical or electromechanical means
F23N 2235/14
Fuel valves: electromagnetically operated