Position indicator for valves
AssigneeMueller International, LLC
InventorsKenneth A. Clark, Jared Aaron Brandt, Ralph William Vanderburg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for indicating the status of a valve includes a position indicator, wherein the position indicator includes a monitoring element, and a communication element. A method for indicating the status of at least one valve includes monitoring positions of a device enclosed by a first valve with a position indicator and communicating the positions of the device enclosed by the first valve with a communications element.
Claims20
A non-rising stem gate valve assembly, comprising:
- a valve housing configured to permit flow of fluid through the valve housing;
- a gate disposed within the valve housing;
- a valve stem defined by an elongated rod having a first external threading and a second external threading distal from the first external threading, the first external threading configured to engage the gate and to cause translational motion of the gate upon rotation of the valve stem;
- a position indicator, wherein the position indicator includes a monitoring element and a position couple engaging the valve, the position couple including a collar defining a bore with internal threading threadedly engaging the second external threading of the valve stem;
- and
- a communication element.
A method for indicating the status of at least one non-rising stem gate valve, comprising:
- causing translational motion of a gate within a valve housing by rotating a valve stem defined by an elongated rod having a first external threading engaging the gate;
- monitoring positions of the gate along the valve with a position indicator including a position couple engageable with the valve, the position couple including a collar having a bore with internal threading threadedly engaging a second external threading of the valve stem disposed distal from the first external threading;
- and
- communicating the positions of the gate enclosed by the valve with a communications element.
A non-rising stem gate valve assembly, comprising:
- a valve housing configured to permit flow of fluid through the valve housing;
- a gate disposed within the valve housing;
- a valve stem defined by an axially-fixed elongated rod having a first external threading and a second external threading distal from the first external threading, the first external threading configured to engage the gate and to cause translational motion of the gate upon rotation of the valve stem;
- a position indicator, wherein the position indicator includes a monitoring element and a position couple engaging the valve, the position couple including a collar defining a bore with internal threading threadedly engaging the second external threading of the valve stem, the collar being rotationally fixed and configured to translate along the second external threading of the valve stem upon rotation of the valve stem;
- and
- a communication element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.