Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02810588 2013-03-27
A
CANADA
TITLE: A SHUT-OFF AND CONTROL VALVE WITH FLOW SENSOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to valves, more particularly, to a
valve
comprising a variable flow and shut-off mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Typical shut-off valves and/or controllable valves tend to exhibit
relatively
high pressure differentials or drops in operation. This typically arises from
abrupt
changes in flow direction during the operation of the valve mechanism.
[0003] It will be appreciated that high or abrupt pressure differentials
are not always
desirable and can result in reduced efficiencies.
[0004] Accordingly, there remains a need for improvements in the art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is directed to embodiments of a controllable
valve.
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100061 According to one embodiment, the present invention comprises a
controllable
valve comprising: an input port; an output port, said output port comprising a
flow
control nozzle; a plurality of conduit flow tubes, each of said conduit flow
tubes having
one end coupled to said input port and another end coupled to said output
port; a valve
control module comprising a plunger, said plunger being configured to block
flow
through said flow control nozzle in a closed position and permit flow through
said flow
control nozzle in an open position; and said valve control module comprising
an actuator
operatively coupled to said plunger and configured to move said plunger
between said
closed position and said open position so as to control flow between said
input port and
said output port.
[0007] Other aspects and features of the present invention will become
apparent to
those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description
of
embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show,
by
way of example, embodiments of the present invention, and in which:
[0009] Fig. 1 shows an isometric view of a controllable valve according to
an
embodiment of the present invention;
[00010] Fig. 2 is a sectional isometric view of the controllable valve of Fig.
1 taken
along the line A-A;
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[00011] Fig. 3(a) is sectional view of the controllable valve of Fig. 1
taken along line
A-A and shown with the valve mechanism configured in an open or flow position;
[00012] Fig. 3(b) is another sectional view of the controllable valve of Fig.
1 taken
along the line A-A and shown with the valve mechanism configured in a closed
or
constricted flow position;
[00013] Fig. 4 is a isometric view of a valve mechanism for the controllable
valve of
Fig. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[00014] Fig. 5(a) shows an isometric view of a flow conduit configuration for
the
controllable valve of Fig. 1 according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[00015] Fig. 5(b) is a side view of the flow conduit configuration of Fig.
5(a); and
[00016] Fig. 5(c) is a top view of the flow conduit configuration of Fig.
5(a).
[00017] Like reference numerals indicate like or corresponding elements or
components in the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[00018] Reference is made to Fig. 1, which shows in diagrammatic form a
controllable
valve according to an embodiment of the present invention. The controllable
valve is
indicated generally by reference 100 and comprises a main body 110 which
according to
an embodiment is coupled to a base 120 or other support structure. As shown,
the
controllable valve 100 comprises an input port or module 130 coupled to one
end of the
main body 110 and an output port or module 140 coupled or attached to the
other end of
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the main body 110. The input port 130 comprises an input or inlet 132 (as
shown in Fig.
2) and is configured to attach to a pipe or other equipment in a flow control
application or
configuration. The output port 140 comprises an output or outlet 142 (as also
shown in
Fig. 2) and is configured to attach to a pipe or other equipment in the flow
control
application.
[00019] As shown in Figs. 2 and 5(a) to 5(c), the main body 110 comprises a
housing
or outer structure 112 and a plurality of conduit flow tubes indicated
generally by
reference 150. The conduit flow tubes 150 are configured to couple the input
or inlet 132
to the output or outlet 142 and provide a flow path, e.g. for a gas, vapour or
a liquid, from
the input port 130 to the output port 140. According to an embodiment, the
controllable
valve 100 comprises four conduit flow tubes 150, indicated individually by
references
150a, 150b, 150c and 150d, as shown in Figs. 5(a) to 5(c). According to
another aspect,
the conduit flow tubes 150 may comprise shape or contour features to provide
particular
flow characteristics.
[00020] As also shown in Fig. 1, the input port or module 130 includes a high
pressure
(e.g. upstream) port or tap 131, and the output port or module 140 includes a
low pressure
(e.g. downstream) port or tap 141. The taps 131, 141 are operatively coupled
to a flow-
sensor 310 (Fig. 3), which is operatively coupled to a controller 320 (Fig.
3). The
controller 320 comprises a control device (e.g. a programmable logic device or
microprocessor based device executing firmware or other executable code) that
is
configured to measure or receive signals or data received from the flow-sensor
310 and
calculate pressure differentials and other variables associated with the
operation of the
valve 100 and/or control the operation of the valve mechanism, for example, as
described
in more detail below. The particular implementation and programming details
associated
with the controller 320 for performing the functions and operations as herein
described
are readily within the understanding of one skilled in the art.
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[00021] Reference is next made to Fig. 2, which shows a sectional view of the
controllable valve 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown,
the
controllable valve 100 comprises a valve mechanism which is configured in the
main
body 110 and indicated generally by reference 200. According to an embodiment,
the
valve mechanism 200 comprises a plunger 210 and an actuator mechanism 220. As
will
be described in more detail below, the actuator mechanism 220 is operatively
connected
to the plunger 210 and configured to move the plunger 210 in a direction
indicated by
arrow 221 to open, close and/or constrict flow from input port 132 to the
output port 142.
According to an embodiment, the plunger 210 comprises a forward section 212
having a
shape or configuration for providing flow characteristics, e.g. an aerodynamic
shape.
According to an embodiment and as depicted in Fig. 2, the output port 142
comprises a
Venturi chamber or nozzle as indicated generally by reference 144, which can
be
configured to provide certain flow characteristics. It will, however, be
appreciated that
other configurations for the output port 142 (and/or the input port 132) may
be utilized
based on desired flow or other operational characteristics. According to
another aspect,
the shape, contour or configuration of the plunger 210 is matched or optimized
(e.g.
complimentary) to the shape or contour of the Venturi nozzle.
[00022] According to an embodiment and as shown in Fig. 4, the actuator
mechanism
220 comprises a drive rod or stem 222 which is operatively coupled to a drive
mechanism
224 (e.g. a servo or step motor) through a drive shaft 226 and a crank 228.
According to
an embodiment, the drive motor 224 is operatively coupled to the controller
320 (Fig. 3)
and configured to be responsive to one or more control signals generated by
the controller
320, for example, to rotate the drive shaft 226 in a clockwise and/or counter
clockwise
direction, indicated generally by reference 225, which in turn, moves the
drive rod 222 up
in the direction indicated by arrow 227 and down in the direction indicated by
arrow 229.
As shown in Fig. 4, the drive rod 222 is coupled to a drive block 230. The
drive block
230 is fitted in a slot 212 in the plunger 210 and further comprises a drive
slot 232 which
engages a drive pin or shaft 214 coupled to the body of the plunger 210. The
drive block
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230 and the pin 214 function together to translate the substantially vertical
motion of the
drive stem 222 into a substantially horizontal motion, which moves the plunger
210 in a
forward direction indicated by arrow 211 and a reverse direction indicated by
arrow 213.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the controller 320, the flow sensor 310
and the
drive mechanism 224 (and the drive shaft 226 and the crank 228) are configured
or
housed in the base or support structure 120 (Fig. 1).
[000231 Reference is next made to Fig. 3(a), which shows the valve 100 in an
open
position, i.e. the plunger 210 is moved in the direction of arrow 213 away
from the
opening of the Venturi nozzle 144, which allows flow through the conduit flow
tubes 150
between the input port 132 and the output port 142. According to the exemplary
implementation depicted, the controller 320 is configured to generate one or
more control
signals for the drive motor 224 (Fig. 4) to move the drive rod 222 in the
direction 227,
which through the resultant movement of the drive block 230 moves the plunger
210
backwards (i.e. towards the input port 132) and opens or allows flow through
the Venturi
nozzle 144. In this position, the controllable valve 100 is in the fully open
position and
gas (or liquid, or vapour) will flow through the conduit flow tubes 150 from
the input
port 132 to the output port 142.
[00024] Reference is next made to Fig. 3(b), which shows the valve 100 in a
closed
position. In the closed position, the plunger 210 is moved forward, i.e. in
the direction of
arrow 211, until forward section 212 of the plunger 210 closes or seals the
opening to the
Venturi nozzle 144. This prevents flow through the conduit flow tubes 150 from
the input
port 132 to the output port 142. According to the exemplary implementation
depicted in
Fig. 3(b), the controller 320 is configured to generate one or more control
signals for the
drive motor 224 (Fig. 4) to move the drive rod 222 in the direction 229, which
also
moves the drive block 230 and engages the drive pin 214 to move the plunger
210 in the
direction of arrow 211. The plunger 210 is moved forward until the forward
section 212
completely seals or blocks the opening of the Venturi nozzle thereby
preventing flow
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between the input port 132 and the output port 142, and effectively closing or
shutting off
the control valve 100.
[00025] According to another aspect, the movement and positioning of the
plunger 210
is controlled to provide a partial closing or reduced flow characteristic for
the control
valve 100. For example, the controller 320 is configured (e.g. through
executable code or
firmware) to monitor (e.g. in real time) the pressure differential, i.e. using
the flow sensor
outputs 131 and 141, and the plunger 210 is positioned according to a desired
pressure
differential or desired flow rate or a variable flow rate.
[00026] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without
departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Certain
adaptations and
modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
Therefore, the
presently discussed embodiments are considered to be illustrative and not
restrictive, the
scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the
foregoing
description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of
equivalency of
the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
