GB2137313A - Valve position indication - Google Patents

Abstract

A valve such as a butterfly valve has a manual actuating handle (16) coupled to an actuator shaft for a valve closure member (12), and a switching means is incorporated in the actuator coupling to indicate fully open and fully closed states of the valve. The switching means comprises Hall effect switching circuits potted into an annular boss (20) fitted to the valve casing (10), the actuating handle having a hub (18) which seats on the boss and rotates relative thereto when the handle is lifted to raise the hub out of locking engagement with the boss, the boss carrying a magnet which actuates the appropriate Hall effect switch when brought into proximate relationship therewith, which occurs only when the handle is rotated and lowered into its fully home locked position corresponding to the fully open and fully closed states of the valve. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in valves This invention relates generally to valves and in particularto an arrangement in a valve, especially a manually operable valve, for indicating thatthe valve has been properly operated.

The invention is applicable to all types valve, for example ofthe butterfly type of lantern type, having a valve closure member which is movable either rotationally ortranslaterally in ordertochangethe stateofthevalve,forexamplefrom a fully open to a fully closed position.

In a valve according to one aspect of the invention, there is provided one or more magnets carried by a memberwhich is movable or integral with a valve closure member, and one or more magnetically responsive switching devices carried by a fixed part of thevalvesaid magnet or magnets and said switching device or devices being arranged so thatthey are brought into a proximate relationship in which an electrical signal is generated when the valve closure member occupies one or more predetermined positions in its range of movement.

Conveniently, the switching devices may be one or more Hail effect integrated circuits.

The invention is especially applicable to the case wherethe said member isa valve actuating member such as a manually operable handle.

Thus, in a valve according to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an actuator assembly including a rotatable actuator for operating a valve closure member, proximity switch means and switch actuating means arranged within the actuator assembly so that rotation of the actuator produces relative movement between the switch means and the switch actuating means to generate electrical position signals indicating the position of the valve closure member.As before,the switch means may be one or more Hall effect circuits and the switch actuating means can be one or more magnets. In accordance with the invention,these are incorporated within the actuator assembly and form parts ofthevalve, in distinction to external actuator operated mechanical switches such as microswitches.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a valve having a closure member operable by orthrough an actuator memberwhich has a relaxed condition in which it is located against movement in a given direction to operate the valve and is displaceable out of its relaxed condition in a direction otherthan said given direction,therebyto enable its movement in the given direction to operate the valve, said actuator member being able to displace backto its relaxed condition only in one or more selected positions of its valve operating range of movement, and switch means associated with the or each said selected position, operable only when the actuator member is in its relaxed condition, to produce electrical signals which indicate that the actuator memberisfully home in a selected position.

Each fully home position ofthe actuator corresponds to a selected position ofthevalveclosure member, e.g. the fully open orfullyclosed position thereof.

As before, the switch means may comprise one or more Hall effect switches and one or more magnets brought into proximate nelationship in orderto produce the electrical indicating signals.

In a preferred embodiment of the valve, the actuator member comprises a handle at least a part ofwhich is lifted out of its relaxed condition to enable rotation of the handlethrough at least partofa circle in orderto operate the valve. For example, the handle may be bodily liftable to enable operation ofthe valve, orthe handle may have a squeeze grip whereby a partotsaid handle is lifted to enable valve operation.

In accordance with all the above described aspects of the invention, the aGuatoror actuator member may seat on an annularbasewhichfitstcthe 6adVofthe valve, the annual base being partlyformed by annular resin mass in which the Hall effectswitches are potted, the magnets being carried bytheactuator oractuator member, which latter couples to the valve closure memberthrough said annularbase.

Furthermore, in all instances, the valve may carry indicator means operated by the produced electrical signals for indicating which of a plurality of selected positionsthe valve closure member is in. A preferred indicator means is a two colour LED which selectively indicates two positions ofthe valve closure member, for examplefully open and fully closed.

Afinal aspect of the invention concerns the above described valve, in any aspect thereof, in combination with a remote indicator display, such as a mimic diagram display panel,forindicating the state the valve.

A practical embodiment of valve in accordancewith the invention will now be described byway of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a butterfly valve having a manual actuator; Figure 2 is an enlarged, exploded, cross sectional view of an actuator assembly comprising a handle having a hub which seats on an annular boss; Figure 3 showsthetop ofthe actuator hub; Figure 4 shows the inside ofthe actuator hub; Figure 5 shows the top ofthe annular boss; Figure 6 shows the underside ofthe boss; Figure 7 is a cross sectional viewthrough the boss; and Figure 8 shows a Hall effect switching circuit.

The valve shown in Figure lisa butterflyvalve having a casing 10 and valve closure member 12. The member 12 is movable between fully open and fully closed positions by an actuator generally referenced 14. This comprises a handle 16 having a hub 18seated on a base 20 (see Figure 2). In the horizontal rest position ofthe handle shown in Figure 1, the hub 18 is locked against rotation relativetothe base 20,which, as shown in Figure 2, has a saddle 22 on its underside by which it fixedly securestothetop ofthevalve casing 10.However,the handle 16 can belifted, as indicated by the arrow 24 in Figure 1, whereupon the hub is unlocked from the base and the handle can be rotated, typically through 90 degrees and as indicated bythe arrow 26, to change the valve from the fully closed state to the fully open state. In both its extreme positions of rotation, but not in between, the handle can relax into its normal rest position to lock the hub to the base.

The form ofthe actuatorassemblycomprising handle hub 18 and base 20 will be clearfrom Figures 2 to5.

The hub 18 is hollow, being formed with a central aperture having a circular lowermost part 28 and a straight sided slot-shaped uppermost part 30. An actuator shaft 32 forthe valve closure member extends upwardly th rough the base 20 and cams a square sectioned extension 36 which is received in the slot30, whereby rotational displacement ofthe handle 16 rotates said actuator shaft. Securing ofthe hub 18 is effected by means of a screw threaded, adjustable securing member 38 extending through a slotted top wall 34 ofthe hub (see Figure 3) and which screws into a threaded axial hole 40 in the said shaft extension 36.

The engagement between the square shaft extension 36 and the slot 30, whilst maintaining the actuator handle and hub rotationally fast with the valve member actuatorshaft 32, permits the handle 16to be lifted, the hub 18 also being lifted and possibly also rocking about a horizontal axis, as permitted by movement ofthe extension 36 along the slot 30 (with corresponding movement ofthe securing member 38 along the slot34).

The base 20, as shown in Figure 2, comprises an annual boss, which, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, has a hollowed out interior. Hall effect transistor switches 42 are sunk into the underside ofthe annular top wall 44 ofthe boss 20 and secured in position by a heat sink resin in the form of an annular mass 46 thereof through which circuit leads 48 extend to exit through a spigot 50 fitted into an aperture in the sidewall of the boss.

The upper periphery ofthe boss 20, as will be clear from Figures 2 and 5, is cut away over an arc of 90 degrees between recesses 52,54 spaced 90 degrees apart.

For cooperating with the recesses 52,54, the peripheral interior ofthe hub 18 (see Figures 2 and 4) is cutaway at 56 to accommodate a spring loaded pin 58.

This pin 58 engages in the recesses 52,54 in the boss 20 atthe ends ofthe range of rotational movement of the actuator handle 16 corresponding to the fully open and fully closed states ofthe valve.

The handle 16 must be lifted to liftthe pin 58 above the level 60 marked in Figure 2 in orderto enable rotation ofthe handle to operate the valve.

The peripheral interiorofthe hub also has a recess in which a magnet 62 is fitted.

In the two end positions of rotational movement of the actuator, the magnet 62 is brought into proximate relationship with one of the Hall effect switches 42 in the interior ofthe boss 20. However, for a switch 42 to be operated, it is essential that the actuator handle should relax into its normal horizontal rest position, which is enabled only in the fully open and fully closed states ofthe valve when the pin 58 is able to engage into one ofthe recesses 52,54. In the lifted condition of the handle, which is maintained between end positions by the spring loaded pin 58, a sufficiently close proximate relationship between the magnet 62 and the switches 42 for switch actuation is not established and, even in the end position, switch actuation is not effected unless the handle is released to return to its relaxed condition.

Finally, Figure 8 shows the circuitry of the Hall effect switches 42 which take the form of integrated circuits potted in the boss 20. The circuit leads 48, which include two power supply leads, are referenced.

For completeness, Figure8showstwo Hall effect switches 42, which are identical, and the circuitry of one is shown in detail. The actual Hall effect device is referenced 70; this is a device sold under Radio Spares reference UGN 302 UT.Thesupplyvoltageisapplied through a voltage regulator 72. The electrical output signals are derived through transistor circuitry, including a Darlington driver referenced 74.

The valve is conveniently provided with a built-in indicator (not shown) in the form of a redigreen LED, fed with electrical signals outputfromthe Hall effect switches, and indicating one colourforthefully open valve state and anotherforthefully closed valve state.

The valve is especially useful for incorporation in fluid carrying pipelines, such as in a milk collecting andlor processing plant, the potted switches being fully protected from the fluid passing through the valve. In such asituation,a largenumberofthevalves will commonly be employed and, to enable remote monitoring oftheplant,theelectricaloutputsignals from the valves can betaken to a remote display panel in a control room, conveniently a mimic display panel.

CLAIMS (Filed on 615i83) 1. In avalve, one or more magnets carried bya memberwhich is movable orintegralwithavalve closure member, and one or more magnetically responsive switching devices carried by a fixed part ofthevalve,said magnet or magnets and said switching device or devices being arranged so that they are brought into a proximate relationship in which an electrical signal is generated when the valve closure member occupies one or more predetermined positions in its range of movement.

2. Avalve according to claim 1,whereinthe switching devices are one or more Hall effect integrated circuits.

3. Avalve according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the said member is a valve actuating member.

4. In a valve having an actuator assembly including a rotatable actuatorfor operating a valve closure member, proximity switch means and switch actuating means arranged within the actuatorassemblyso that rotation of the actuator produces relative move ment between the switch means and the switch actuating means to generate electrical position sig nals indicating the position ofthevalveclosure member.

5. Avalve according to claim 4, wherein the switch means are one or more Hall effect circuits and the switch actuating means are one or magnets.

6. Avalve having a closure member operable by

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (14)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. indicated by the arrow 24 in Figure 1, whereupon the hub is unlocked from the base and the handle can be rotated, typically through 90 degrees and as indicated bythe arrow 26, to change the valve from the fully closed state to the fully open state. In both its extreme positions of rotation, but not in between, the handle can relax into its normal rest position to lock the hub to the base. The form ofthe actuatorassemblycomprising handle hub 18 and base 20 will be clearfrom Figures 2 to5. The hub 18 is hollow, being formed with a central aperture having a circular lowermost part 28 and a straight sided slot-shaped uppermost part 30. An actuator shaft 32 forthe valve closure member extends upwardly th rough the base 20 and cams a square sectioned extension 36 which is received in the slot30, whereby rotational displacement ofthe handle 16 rotates said actuator shaft. Securing ofthe hub 18 is effected by means of a screw threaded, adjustable securing member 38 extending through a slotted top wall 34 ofthe hub (see Figure 3) and which screws into a threaded axial hole 40 in the said shaft extension 36. The engagement between the square shaft extension 36 and the slot 30, whilst maintaining the actuator handle and hub rotationally fast with the valve member actuatorshaft 32, permits the handle 16to be lifted, the hub 18 also being lifted and possibly also rocking about a horizontal axis, as permitted by movement ofthe extension 36 along the slot 30 (with corresponding movement ofthe securing member 38 along the slot34). The base 20, as shown in Figure 2, comprises an annual boss, which, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, has a hollowed out interior. Hall effect transistor switches 42 are sunk into the underside ofthe annular top wall 44 ofthe boss 20 and secured in position by a heat sink resin in the form of an annular mass 46 thereof through which circuit leads 48 extend to exit through a spigot 50 fitted into an aperture in the sidewall of the boss. The upper periphery ofthe boss 20, as will be clear from Figures 2 and 5, is cut away over an arc of 90 degrees between recesses 52,54 spaced 90 degrees apart. For cooperating with the recesses 52,54, the peripheral interior ofthe hub 18 (see Figures 2 and 4) is cutaway at 56 to accommodate a spring loaded pin 58. This pin 58 engages in the recesses 52,54 in the boss 20 atthe ends ofthe range of rotational movement of the actuator handle 16 corresponding to the fully open and fully closed states ofthe valve. The handle 16 must be lifted to liftthe pin 58 above the level 60 marked in Figure 2 in orderto enable rotation ofthe handle to operate the valve. The peripheral interiorofthe hub also has a recess in which a magnet 62 is fitted. In the two end positions of rotational movement of the actuator, the magnet 62 is brought into proximate relationship with one of the Hall effect switches 42 in the interior ofthe boss 20. However, for a switch 42 to be operated, it is essential that the actuator handle should relax into its normal horizontal rest position, which is enabled only in the fully open and fully closed states ofthe valve when the pin 58 is able to engage into one ofthe recesses 52,54. In the lifted condition of the handle, which is maintained between end positions by the spring loaded pin 58, a sufficiently close proximate relationship between the magnet 62 and the switches 42 for switch actuation is not established and, even in the end position, switch actuation is not effected unless the handle is released to return to its relaxed condition. Finally, Figure 8 shows the circuitry of the Hall effect switches 42 which take the form of integrated circuits potted in the boss 20. The circuit leads 48, which include two power supply leads, are referenced. For completeness, Figure8showstwo Hall effect switches 42, which are identical, and the circuitry of one is shown in detail. The actual Hall effect device is referenced 70; this is a device sold under Radio Spares reference UGN 302 UT.Thesupplyvoltageisapplied through a voltage regulator 72. The electrical output signals are derived through transistor circuitry, including a Darlington driver referenced 74. The valve is conveniently provided with a built-in indicator (not shown) in the form of a redigreen LED, fed with electrical signals outputfromthe Hall effect switches, and indicating one colourforthefully open valve state and anotherforthefully closed valve state. The valve is especially useful for incorporation in fluid carrying pipelines, such as in a milk collecting andlor processing plant, the potted switches being fully protected from the fluid passing through the valve. In such asituation,a largenumberofthevalves will commonly be employed and, to enable remote monitoring oftheplant,theelectricaloutputsignals from the valves can betaken to a remote display panel in a control room, conveniently a mimic display panel. CLAIMS (Filed on 615i83)

1. In avalve, one or more magnets carried bya memberwhich is movable orintegralwithavalve closure member, and one or more magnetically responsive switching devices carried by a fixed part ofthevalve,said magnet or magnets and said switching device or devices being arranged so that they are brought into a proximate relationship in which an electrical signal is generated when the valve closure member occupies one or more predetermined positions in its range of movement.

2. Avalve according to claim 1,whereinthe switching devices are one or more Hall effect integrated circuits.

3. Avalve according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the said member is a valve actuating member.

4. In a valve having an actuator assembly including a rotatable actuatorfor operating a valve closure member, proximity switch means and switch actuating means arranged within the actuatorassemblyso that rotation of the actuator produces relative move ment between the switch means and the switch actuating means to generate electrical position sig nals indicating the position ofthevalveclosure member.

5. Avalve according to claim 4, wherein the switch means are one or more Hall effect circuits and the switch actuating means are one or magnets.

6. Avalve having a closure member operable by

orthrough an actuator member which has a relaxed condition in which it is located against movement in a given direction to operate the valve and is displaceable out of its relaxed condition in a direction other than said given direction, thereby to enable its movement in the given direction to operate the valve, said actuator member being able to displace back to its relaxed condition only in one or more selected positions of its valve operating range of movement, and switch means associated with the or each said selected position, operable only when the actuator member is in its relaxed condition,to produce electrical signals which indicate that the actuator member isfully home in a selected position.

7. Avalve according to claim 6, wherein the switch means comprise one or more Hall effect switches and one or more magnets brought into proximate relationship in order to produce the electrical indicating signals.

8. Avalve according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the actuatormembercomprises a handle at least a part of which is lifted out of its relaxed condition to enable rotation ofthe handlethrough at least part of a circle in orderto operate the valve.

9. Avalveasclaimedin anyofclaims2and3, claim 4or claim 6, wherein the actuator or actuator member seats on an annular base which fits to the body ofthe valve, the annular base being partly formed by annular resin mass in which the Hall effect switches are potted, the magnets being carried bythe actuator or actuator member, which latter couples to the valve closure memberthrough said annular base.

10. Avalve according to any ofclaims 1 to 9, having indicator means operated by the produced electrical signals for indicating which of a plurality of selected positionsthevalve closure member is in.

11. Avalve according to claim 10, wherein the indicator means is a two colour LED which selectively indicates two positions of the valve closure member, for example fully open and fully closed.

12. Avalve according to any of claims 1 to 11, in combinationwitha remoteindicatordisplayfor indicating the state ofthe valve.

13. The combination according to claim 12, wherein the remote indicator display is a mimic diagram display panel.

14. Avalve substantially as hereinbefore de- scribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.