Relief valve with position indication
AssigneeDaniel Measurement and Control, Inc.
InventorsRaul H. Almazan, Michael Richard Adib Zahr, Jack Caruthers, Thomas Henry Loga, David J. Seiler, Justin Blake Crouch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surge relief valve includes a piston housing and a piston located within the housing for reciprocal motion. The surge relief valve also includes a position sensor to resolve the axial position of the piston relative to the piston housing. The position sensor includes a sensor body coupled to the piston housing and a movable element configured to move linearly relative to the sensor body and configured to move axially with the piston. At a least portion of the sensor body is located within the piston housing.
Claims16
A surge relief valve comprising:
- a piston housing having a longitudinal axis;
- a piston disposed within the housing and configured for reciprocal motion along the axis;
- and an electrical position sensor configured to resolve axial positions of the piston relative to the piston housing, the position sensor comprising:
- a sensor body coupled to the piston housing;
- and a movable electrical element including a plunger rod slidingly received by the sensor body to move linearly relative to the sensor body and axially with the piston, the plunger rod comprising a contact-end distal the sensor body to engage the piston;
- wherein at least a portion of the sensor body is disposed within the piston housing;
- and wherein the sensor is configured to generate an electrical response that correlates to the position of the piston relative to the piston housing.
A back-pressure valve for intermittently allowing fluid flow therethrough, the back-pressure valve comprising:
- a piston housing comprising a head portion and a hollow extension coupled thereto, the extension having an open end opposite the head portion;
- a valve seat disposed at the open end;
- a valve piston disposed in the housing, configured for reciprocal motion relative to the piston housing, and having a first end disposed proximal the head portion and a second end proximal the valve seat;
- a biasing member disposed between the valve piston and the piston housing and configured to bias the valve piston in a direction away from the head portion and toward the valve seat;
- an electrical position sensor comprising:
- a first sensor element disposed in a sensor body coupled to the piston housing;
- and a second sensor element including a plunger rod slidingly received by the sensor body to move linearly relative to the first sensor element, the plunger rod comprising a contact-end distal the sensor body to engage the valve piston and follow the reciprocal movements of the valve piston;
- wherein the first sensor element is configured to generate a response when the second sensor element moves relative to the piston housing;
- and wherein at least a portion of the first sensor element is disposed within the piston housing.
A surge relief valve system for coupling to a fluid source to protect against injury and damage due to a potential process-upset, surge relief valve system comprising:
- a surge relief valve for intermittently allowing fluid flow therethrough in response to the process-upset, the valve comprising:
- a piston housing having a longitudinal axis;
- a piston disposed within the housing and configured for reciprocal motion along the axis;
- and a linear transducer comprising a transducer body coupled to the piston housing, a sensor element coupled to the transducer body, and a plunger rod element slidingly received by the transducer body, the plunger rod element comprising a contact-end distal the transducer body to engage the piston;
- wherein at least a portion of the sensor element is disposed within the piston housing;
- and wherein the sensor element is configured to generate a response that correlates to the axial position of the piston relative to the piston housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.