GB2614938A - Actuator with Bluetooth beacon - Google Patents

Actuator with Bluetooth beacon Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2614938A
GB2614938A GB2211306.2A GB202211306A GB2614938A GB 2614938 A GB2614938 A GB 2614938A GB 202211306 A GB202211306 A GB 202211306A GB 2614938 A GB2614938 A GB 2614938A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
actuator
actuators
condition
signals
control system
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
GB2211306.2A
Other versions
GB202211306D0 (en
Inventor
Nottingham Simon
Mills Jon
Gao Jun
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Rotork Controls Ltd
Original Assignee
Rotork Controls Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Rotork Controls Ltd filed Critical Rotork Controls Ltd
Priority to GB2211306.2A priority Critical patent/GB2614938A/en
Publication of GB202211306D0 publication Critical patent/GB202211306D0/en
Priority to PCT/GB2023/051773 priority patent/WO2024028566A1/en
Publication of GB2614938A publication Critical patent/GB2614938A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K37/00—Special means in or on valves or other cut-off apparatus for indicating or recording operation thereof, or for enabling an alarm to be given
    • F16K37/0025—Electrical or magnetic means
    • F16K37/0041—Electrical or magnetic means for measuring valve parameters
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
    • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F15B13/00—Details of servomotor systems ; Valves for servomotor systems
    • F15B13/02—Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors
    • F15B13/04—Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors for use with a single servomotor
    • F15B13/044—Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors for use with a single servomotor operated by electrically-controlled means, e.g. solenoids, torque-motors
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
    • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F15B13/00—Details of servomotor systems ; Valves for servomotor systems
    • F15B13/02—Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors
    • F15B13/06—Fluid distribution or supply devices characterised by their adaptation to the control of servomotors for use with two or more servomotors
    • F15B13/08—Assemblies of units, each for the control of a single servomotor only
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
    • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F15B19/00—Testing; Calibrating; Fault detection or monitoring; Simulation or modelling of fluid-pressure systems or apparatus not otherwise provided for
    • F15B19/005—Fault detection or monitoring
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
    • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F15B20/00—Safety arrangements for fluid actuator systems; Applications of safety devices in fluid actuator systems; Emergency measures for fluid actuator systems
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K31/00—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K31/00—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices
    • F16K31/02—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices electric; magnetic
    • F16K31/04—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices electric; magnetic using a motor
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
    • H02K11/00—Structural association of dynamo-electric machines with electric components or with devices for shielding, monitoring or protection
    • H02K11/30—Structural association with control circuits or drive circuits
    • H02K11/35—Devices for recording or transmitting machine parameters, e.g. memory chips or radio transmitters for diagnosis
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
    • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F15B2211/00—Circuits for servomotor systems
    • F15B2211/60—Circuit components or control therefor
    • F15B2211/63—Electronic controllers
    • F15B2211/6303—Electronic controllers using input signals
    • F15B2211/634—Electronic controllers using input signals representing a state of a valve
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
    • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F15B2211/00—Circuits for servomotor systems
    • F15B2211/80—Other types of control related to particular problems or conditions
    • F15B2211/857—Monitoring of fluid pressure systems
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
    • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F15B2211/00—Circuits for servomotor systems
    • F15B2211/80—Other types of control related to particular problems or conditions
    • F15B2211/86—Control during or prevention of abnormal conditions
    • F15B2211/863—Control during or prevention of abnormal conditions the abnormal condition being a hydraulic or pneumatic failure
    • F15B2211/8636—Circuit failure, e.g. valve or hose failure

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)

Abstract

An actuator A1 comprises: an actuator housing enclosing a motor M for operating a device to be actuated; a control system CS; and a series of sensors S for monitoring the condition of the actuator and the device to be actuated. The housing further comprises a Bluetooth (RTM) Low Energy beacon BLEb device that is connected to the control system CS and is configured to receive signals from the series of sensors S, and to output a signal indicative of the condition of the actuator A1. An actuator system comprises a number of actuators A1, A2, An spaced apart from each other and a portable device MOB configured to receive the output signals from each actuator and display the condition and identity of each actuator when the portable device MOB is moved within a predetermined range of each actuator.

Description

ACTUATOR WITH BLUETOOTH BEACON
This invention relates to actuators, systems, and methods that use a Bluetooth Low Energy beacon to allow the status of actuators to be monitored.
Background
In many industrial systems, devices such as valves are operated using powered actuators. Large installations, particularly industrial installations handling liquids or gases, can have many actuators distributed over a wide area or can have actuators in remote of difficult to access locations. Monitoring such actuators can be a difficult job. While some actuators can be networked, many are not, requiring visual inspection to determine if there are any faults or any remedial action is needed.
Many actuators have on-board control systems that provide status signals and fault detection. While such devices can be configured remotely using a Bluetooth Setting Tool or a wireless PC application, it is still necessary for an operator to go to each actuator in turn, connect to that actuator, and configure or interrogate the actuator. Even where the actuators are networked, it is often necessary to inspect each one to fully understand any issues.
This invention seeks to provide a convenient way to obtain status updates in relation to actuators that does not require an operator to devote significant time to each actuator just to understand its status.
Summary of the Invention
One aspect of the invention comprises an actuator, comprising: an actuator housing enclosing a motor for operating a device to be actuated, a control system, and a series of sensors for monitoring the condition of the actuator and the device to be actuated; wherein the housing further comprises a Bluetooth Low Energy beacon device that is connected to the control system and is configured to receive signals from the series of sensors, and to output a signal indicative of the condition of the actuator.
By using the BLE beacon, an operator can get updates of actuator status when in the vicinity of the actuator and can then follow up, if necessary, after reviewing a display of the received signals.
The signal indicative of the condition of the actuator can indicate that a remedial action is required by the actuator.
The control system can be configured to generate alarm signals in response to sensor signals indicative of problems with the actuator.
The actuator can further comprise a power supply for operating the motor and the Bluetooth Low Energy beacon is connected to the power supply. The beacon can also include its own battery. Access to the actuator power supply (including any batteries used to power the actuator) can provide a longer beacon life that just its own internal battery, avoiding the need to replace the beacon battery so frequently.
The Bluetooth Low Energy beacon can be configured to include data uniquely identifying the actuator in the output signal.
Another aspect of the invention comprises a system comprising a number of actuators which are spaced apart from each other, and a portable device configured to receive the output signals from each actuator and display the condition and identity of each actuators when the portable device is moved within a predetermined range of each actuator.
The portable device can be configured to display when an actuator is in need of remedial action based on the received signals.
A further aspect of the invention comprises a method of monitoring the status of a series of actuators, the method comprising: moving a portable device configured to receive the output signals from the actuators near to the actuators; receiving the output signals from individual actuators when the portable device comes within a predetermined distance of the individual actuators; and generating a display indicting the condition of the actuators based on the output signals.
Further aspects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description.
Description of Drawings
Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a system according to the invention.
Detailed Description
This invention provides apparatus, systems and methods that allow the status of actuators to be monitored remotely. Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic installation comprising a number of actuators distributed over a relatively large area. One example of an installation is in an oil installation in which there are numerous valves, each with its own actuator. Not only are the actuators distributed over a large area, they can also be relatively inaccessible within the installation. In another installation, the actuators may be far apart and in remote areas.
Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an actuator installation. The installation comprises a number of actuators Al -An. Each actuator A has a housing H which enclose the various parts of the actuator, and which is connected to a valve V as the device being actuated. The housing H encloses an eletric motor M, a power supply PS, a control system CS, and a series of sensors S. The motor M is connected to the valve V by a drive shaft (not shown).
The control system CS is configured to operate the actuator and valve according to certain predetermined conditions. For example, in the IQ3 range of actuators, a Bluetooth Setting Tool (not shown) can be used to configure the control system CS to operate the actuator. The Bluetooth Setting Tool must be paired with each control system CS and the configuration uploaded and stored for that actuator. Once configured, the control system will ensure that the actuator A operated according to the desired conditions.
The sensors S allow the control system CS to monitor operation of the actuator A and valve V to ensure that they operate correctly and to allow the status of the valve V and actuator A to be understood by an operator. The sensors S will also detect if any faults have occurred, and the control system CS can generate alarm signals in response to any faults detected by the sensors S While some installations have the actuators A networked together so that their status can be monitored continuously online, in many cases, there is either no network or insufficient capacity to allow continuous monitoring. In such cases, the only option is to visually inspect each actuator to determine status by either examination of a display or by connecting a remote monitoring tool to each actuator and interrogating the control system CS. For a large and dispersed installation, this is time consuming and expensive.
The actuators according to the invention have a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon BLED installed within the housing H and connected to the control system CS. The beacon BLEb will receive the status signals from the control system CS, including any fault signals and will broadcast its own signal, including a unique identifier of the actuator. The repetition of the broadcast signal can be set within the normal BLE environment. The beacon BLED can be powered from the actuator power supply PS and an on-board battery can be provided for backup in case of power failure.
The second part of the system comprises a Bluetooth enabled mobile device MOB such as a mobile phone, tablet, or other computing device that can be configured to receive BLE signals. The mobile device has an app BLEr that interprets any received BLE signals and provides a display indicating the status of the actuator from which they originated. When ever the device MOB comes within range of a beacon BLEb, it will receive the BLE signals and generate a record that can be displayed on the device. In its simplest form, the display might be a simple identification of the particular actuator A and an indication that there is or is not a fault.
The app BLEr does not require the user of the mobile device MOB to specifically connect to each actuator A. Instead, it is active all of the time and will receive signals from each beacon BLEb when it is in range. The operator simply needs to be within range of the actuators to receive the signal and does not have to inspect each one to determine its status. Therefore, it is possible for the operator to monitor some or all of the actuators in an installation while performing other activities. Once an actuator with a fault has been detected, the operator can then go to that specific actuator and determine what remedial action must be taken.
The faults that can be reported can include the standard faults available from the control system of an IQ3 range actuator and can include, for example, issues relating to operation of the motor, the position of the valve, or problems with the power supply or control system.
Various changes can be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

  1. Claims 1. An actuator, comprising: an actuator housing enclosing a motor for operating a device to be actuated, a control system, and a series of sensors for monitoring the condition of the actuator and the device to be actuated; wherein the housing further comprises a Bluetooth Low Energy beacon device that is connected to the control system and is configured to receive signals from the series of sensors, and to output a signal indicative of the condition of the actuator.
  2. 2. An actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal indicative of the condition of the actuator indicates that a remedial action is required by the actuator.
  3. 3. An actuator as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the control system is configured to generate alarm signals in response to sensor signals indicative of problems with the actuator.
  4. 4. An actuator as claimed in any of claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein the actuator further comprises a power supply and/or battery for operating the motor and the Bluetooth Low Energy beacon is connected to the power supply and/or battery.
  5. 5. An actuator as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the Bluetooth Low Energy beacon is configured to include data uniquely identifying the actuator in the output signal.
  6. 6. A system comprising a number of actuators as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the actuators are spaced apart from each other, and a portable device configured to receive the output signals from each actuator and display the condition and identity of each actuators when the portable device is moved within a predetermined range of each actuator.
  7. 7. A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the portable device is configured to display when an actuator is in need or remedial action based on the received signals.
  8. 8. A method of monitoring the status of a series of actuators as claimed in claims 1-5, the method comprising: moving a portable device configured to receive the output signals from the actuators near to the actuators; receiving the output signals from individual actuators when the portable device comes within a predetermined distance of the individual actuators; and generating a display indicting the condition of the actuators based on the output signals.
GB2211306.2A 2022-08-03 2022-08-03 Actuator with Bluetooth beacon Pending GB2614938A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2211306.2A GB2614938A (en) 2022-08-03 2022-08-03 Actuator with Bluetooth beacon
PCT/GB2023/051773 WO2024028566A1 (en) 2022-08-03 2023-07-05 Actuator with bluetooth beacon

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2211306.2A GB2614938A (en) 2022-08-03 2022-08-03 Actuator with Bluetooth beacon

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB202211306D0 GB202211306D0 (en) 2022-09-14
GB2614938A true GB2614938A (en) 2023-07-26

Family

ID=84540626

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB2211306.2A Pending GB2614938A (en) 2022-08-03 2022-08-03 Actuator with Bluetooth beacon

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2614938A (en)
WO (1) WO2024028566A1 (en)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20190383421A1 (en) * 2018-06-17 2019-12-19 Gjr Meyer Service, Inc. Valve lockout system
CN111396392A (en) * 2020-04-20 2020-07-10 江苏创格流体控制有限公司 Miniature intelligent remote control electro-hydraulic actuator
CN112343890A (en) * 2019-08-09 2021-02-09 上海堃锐电力科技发展有限公司 Hydraulic system on-line monitoring system

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9971344B2 (en) * 2015-03-27 2018-05-15 Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. Systems and methods for assessing a quality of an industrial enterprise
JP6108645B1 (en) * 2016-01-31 2017-04-05 貴司 徳田 Motor module system
US10880624B2 (en) * 2017-09-13 2020-12-29 Regal Beloit America, Inc. Systems and methods for wirelessly communicating within electric motor systems

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20190383421A1 (en) * 2018-06-17 2019-12-19 Gjr Meyer Service, Inc. Valve lockout system
CN112343890A (en) * 2019-08-09 2021-02-09 上海堃锐电力科技发展有限公司 Hydraulic system on-line monitoring system
CN111396392A (en) * 2020-04-20 2020-07-10 江苏创格流体控制有限公司 Miniature intelligent remote control electro-hydraulic actuator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB202211306D0 (en) 2022-09-14
WO2024028566A1 (en) 2024-02-08

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7504961B2 (en) Emergency isolation valve controller with integral fault indicator
US10942506B2 (en) Systems and methods for a multi-purpose sensing device for industrial automation equipment
EP2984533B1 (en) Intelligent actuator and method of monitoring actuator health and integrity
CN102644798B (en) Method and apparatus for the Partial stroke test of emergency shutdown valve
JP4510829B2 (en) Process device with diagnostic device based on vibration
EP2739969B1 (en) Self-testing combustible gas and hydrogen sulfide detection apparatus
US8072343B2 (en) Local emergency isolation valve controller with diagnostic testing and trouble indicator
US20050016303A1 (en) Sealing device
JP2015518996A (en) Method and apparatus for controlling and / or monitoring a pneumatic actuator
KR101408820B1 (en) Remote monitoring apparatus for distributing board using mobile app and method therof
CN107976964B (en) On-site maintenance tool for device debugging
KR20160019460A (en) System and method for diagnosing a pressure regulator
KR20210012200A (en) Maintenance system for environment test apparatus using machine self check sensor and the control method thereof
GB2614938A (en) Actuator with Bluetooth beacon
JP7017355B2 (en) Autonomous low energy access instruction system
CN210464555U (en) Base station detection system
US20190058979A1 (en) Remote diagnostic system
JP2017219926A (en) Sensor system
CN211116740U (en) Fault monitoring system of magnetic suspension blower
EP2682611A2 (en) Apparatus for commanding and controlling the functions of an actuator
CN110762045A (en) Fault monitoring system and method for magnetic suspension blower
CN113625676B (en) Engineering machinery fault diagnosis method and system, field diagnosis device and storage medium
WO2024018380A1 (en) A wireless intelligent remote inspection device for pressurized systems
CN116592970A (en) Wireless ultrasonic liquid level detection device and system
KR20230097385A (en) Hydraulic monitoring system used in hydraulic equipment