Patent Application
20190154064
This application claims priority to CN Application No. 201711184347.6 filed Nov. 23, 2017, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
The present disclosure relates to the technical field of control valves. Various embodiments may include an actuating mechanism of a control valve of a valve control system, a valve control system, and/or a control valve having an actuating mechanism.
A control valve typically comprises a valve and an actuating mechanism; the actuating mechanism drives the valve by means of an action. In order to adapt to market demands, the actuating mechanism generally includes a diagnostic function. An existing actuating mechanism acquires a sensor signal containing action amount data of the actuating mechanism and sends this signal to a control center, and the control center carries out a comparison with preset data to diagnose whether the valve has developed a fault, e.g. a valve rod of the valve becoming jammed, with the result that the actuating mechanism is unable to attain a predetermined action. Such an actuating mechanism can only diagnose valve symptoms which have already occurred, not potential faults of the valve.
An object of the teachings of the present disclosure includes solves the abovementioned and/or other technical problems and provide an actuating mechanism of a control valve of a valve control system, capable of sending, to a control center, data of a driving force applied to a valve rod by an actuating mechanism, in order to diagnose a potential valve fault. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a control valve of a valve control system, capable of sending, to a control center, data of a driving force applied to a valve rod by an actuating mechanism, in order to diagnose a potential valve fault. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a valve control system, capable of diagnosing a potential valve fault by means of data of a driving force applied to a valve rod by an actuating mechanism.
As an example, some embodiments include an actuating mechanism of a control valve of a valve control system, the valve control system comprising a control center (80), the control center (80) being capable of sending a control signal (S1), the control center (80) also being capable of receiving a diagnostic signal (S3) and subjecting the diagnostic signal (S3) to analytical diagnosis, the control valve comprising a valve (70), the valve (70) comprising a valve rod (72), wherein the actuating mechanism comprises: a drive unit (10), capable of receiving the control signal (S1) and, on the basis of the control signal (S1), driving the valve rod (72) to move in an axial direction of the valve rod (72) or rotate in the axial direction of the valve rod (72); a sensor unit (20), disposed at the drive unit (10), the sensor unit (20) being capable of detecting a driving force applied to the valve rod (72) when the drive unit (10) drives the valve rod (72) to move, and generating a driving force signal (S2) containing driving force data; a data processing unit (30), capable of receiving the driving force signal (S2) and subjecting the driving force signal (S2) to signal conditioning, and then generating the diagnostic signal (S3); a communication control unit (40), capable of receiving the control signal (S1) sent by the control center (80) and sending the control signal (S1) to the drive unit (10), the communication control unit (40) also being capable of receiving the diagnostic signal (S3) and sending the diagnostic signal (S3) to the control center (80).
In some embodiments, the drive unit (10) comprises: an electric machine (12); a gear (14), disposed at the electric machine (12) and capable of rotating under a driving action of the electric machine (12); and a drive rod (16), having a radially extending rack (17), the rack (17) being meshed with the gear (14); the sensor unit (20) being a pressure sensor, disposed at an end of the drive rod (16), the drive rod (16) being capable of abutting the sensor unit (20) and pushing the valve rod (72) to move in the axial direction of the valve rod (72).
In some embodiments, the sensor unit (20) is a piezoresistor or a piezoelectric ceramic plate.
In some embodiments, the actuating mechanism comprises a drive unit (10) comprising: an electric machine (12); a first bevel gear (18), disposed at the electric machine (12) and capable of rotating under a driving action of the electric machine (12); a drive rod (16), having a second bevel gear (19), the second bevel gear (19) being meshed with the first bevel gear (18); the sensor unit (20) being a torque sensor, disposed at an end of the drive rod (16), the drive rod (16) being capable of driving the valve rod (72) to move in the axial direction of the valve rod (72) by means of the torque sensor.
In some embodiments, the actuating mechanism further comprises an Internet of Things communication module (60), capable of receiving the diagnostic signal (S3) and sending the diagnostic signal to an Internet of Things server (90).
In some embodiments, the data processing unit (30) comprises: a signal conditioning circuit (32), capable of receiving the driving force signal (S2) and conditioning the driving force signal (S2) to form a standard analog signal (S21) capable of undergoing analog-to-digital conversion; and an analog-to-digital conversion circuit (34), capable of receiving the standard analog signal (S21) and performing analog-to-digital conversion, to generate the diagnostic signal (S3).
As another example, some embodiments include a control valve of a valve control system, the valve control system comprising a control center (80), the control center (80) being capable of sending a control signal (S1), the control center (80) also being capable of receiving a diagnostic signal (S3) and subjecting the diagnostic signal to analytical diagnosis, wherein the control valve comprises: a valve (70), the valve (70) comprising a valve rod (72); and an actuating mechanism as described above, the drive unit (10) being capable of receiving the control signal (S1) and, on the basis of the control signal (S1), driving the valve rod (72) to move in the axial direction of the valve rod (72) or rotate in the axial direction of the valve rod (72), and the sensor unit (20) being capable of detecting a driving force applied to the valve rod (72) when the drive unit (10) drives the valve rod (72) to move, and generating a driving force signal (S2).
In some embodiments, the valve (70) further comprises an external sensor (74); the actuating mechanism further comprises an external sensor interface (50), capable of receiving the driving force signal (S2) sent by the external sensor (74) and sending the driving force signal (S2) to the data processing unit (30).
As another example, some embodiments include a valve control system, wherein the valve control system comprises: a control center (80), capable of sending a control signal (S1), the control center (80) also being capable of receiving a diagnostic signal (S3) and subjecting the diagnostic signal (S3) to analytical diagnosis; and a control valve as described above, the communication control unit (40) being capable of receiving the control signal (S1) sent by the control center (80) and sending the control signal (S1) to the drive unit (10), and the communication control unit (40) also being capable of receiving the diagnostic signal (S3) and sending the diagnostic signal (S3) to the control center (80).
The accompanying drawings below merely illustrate and explain the teachings of the present disclosure schematically, without limiting the scope thereof.
The teachings of the present disclosure may be embodied in an actuating mechanism of a control valve of a valve control system, the valve control system comprising a control center, the control center being capable of sending a control signal, the control center also being capable of receiving a diagnostic signal and subjecting the diagnostic signal to analytical diagnosis, the control valve comprising a valve, the valve comprising a valve rod, and the actuating mechanism comprising a drive unit, a sensor unit, a data processing unit and a communication control unit. The drive unit is capable of receiving the control signal and, on the basis of the control signal, driving the valve rod to move in an axial direction of the valve rod or rotate in the axial direction of the valve rod. The sensor unit is disposed at the drive unit, the sensor unit being capable of detecting a driving force applied to the valve rod when the drive unit drives the valve rod to move, and generating a driving force signal containing driving force data. In general, a driving force signal is considered to be same as an initial diagnostic signal.
In some embodiments, the data processing unit is capable of receiving the driving force signal and subjecting the driving force signal to signal conditioning, and then generating the diagnostic signal. The communication control unit is capable of receiving the control signal sent by the control center and sending the control signal to the drive unit, the communication control unit also being capable of receiving the diagnostic signal and sending the diagnostic signal to the control center.
In some embodiments, the sensor unit disposed at the drive unit detects the driving force applied to the valve rod when the drive unit drives the valve rod to move, then a signal conditioning unit receives and subjects to signal conditioning the data sent by the sensor unit and generates digital data that can be used for transmission, which is then sent by the communication control unit to the control center, such that the control center can diagnose data of the driving force on the valve rod during valve action in order to pre-diagnose a potential valve fault which develops due to damage.
In some embodiments, the drive unit comprises an electric machine, a gear, and a drive rod. The gear is disposed at the electric machine and capable of rotating under a driving action of the electric machine. The drive rod has a radially extending rack, the rack being meshed with the gear. The sensor unit is a pressure sensor, disposed at an end of the drive rod, the drive rod being capable of abutting the sensor unit and pushing the valve rod to move in the axial direction of the valve rod.
In some embodiments, the sensor unit is a piezoresistor or a piezoelectric ceramic plate.
In some embodiments, the actuating mechanism comprises a drive unit comprising an electric machine, a first bevel gear and a drive rod. The first bevel gear is disposed at the electric machine and capable of rotating under a driving action of the electric machine. The drive rod has a second bevel gear, the second bevel gear being meshed with the first bevel gear. The sensor unit is a torque sensor, disposed at an end of the drive rod, the drive rod being capable of driving the valve rod to move in the axial direction of the valve rod by means of the torque sensor.
In some embodiments, the actuating mechanism further comprises an Internet of Things communication module, capable of receiving the diagnostic signal and sending the diagnostic signal to an Internet of Things server.
In some embodiments, the data processing unit comprises a signal conditioning circuit and an analog-to-digital conversion circuit. The signal conditioning circuit is capable of receiving the driving force signal and conditioning the driving force signal to form a standard analog signal capable of undergoing analog-to-digital conversion. The analog-to-digital conversion circuit is capable of receiving the standard analog signal and performing analog-to-digital conversion, to generate the diagnostic signal.
In some embodiments, there is a control valve of a valve control system, the valve control system comprising a control center, the control center being capable of sending a control signal, the control center also being capable of receiving a diagnostic signal and subjecting the diagnostic signal to analytical diagnosis, the control valve comprising a valve and an actuating mechanism as described above. The valve comprises a valve rod. The drive unit is capable of receiving the control signal and, on the basis of the control signal, driving the valve rod to move in the axial direction of the valve rod or rotate in the axial direction of the valve rod, and the sensor unit being capable of detecting a driving force applied to the valve rod when the drive unit drives the valve rod to move, and generating a driving force signal.
In some embodiments, the valve further comprises an external sensor. The actuating mechanism further comprises an external sensor interface, capable of receiving the driving force signal sent by the external sensor and sending the driving force signal to the data processing unit.
In some embodiments, there is a valve control system, comprising a control center and a control valve as described above. The control center is capable of sending a control signal, the control center also being capable of receiving a diagnostic signal and subjecting the diagnostic signal to analytical diagnosis. The communication control unit is capable of receiving the control signal sent by the control center and sending the control signal to the drive unit, the communication control unit also being capable of receiving the diagnostic signal and sending the diagnostic signal to the control center.
Example embodiments are explained below in a clear and easily comprehensible manner, with reference to the accompanying drawings, to provide further illustration of the abovementioned characteristics, technical features and advantages of the actuating mechanism of the control valve of the valve control system, the control valve and the valve control system and the control valve, and embodiments thereof.
To enable clearer understanding of the technical features, objectives and effects of the teachings herein, particular embodiments of the present disclosure are explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which identical labels indicate structurally identical components or components with similar structures but identical functions. As used herein, “schematic” means “serving as an instance, example or illustration”. No drawing or embodiment described herein as “schematic” should be interpreted as a more preferred or more advantageous technical solution.
The drive unit 10 can receive the control signal S1 and, on the basis of the control signal S1, drive the valve rod 72 to move in an axial direction of the valve rod 72 or rotate in the axial direction of the valve rod 72. In a schematic embodiment, the drive unit 10 comprises an electric machine and a gear set, but of course is not limited to this; in other schematic embodiments, the drive unit 10 may also have an electromagnet and an electromagnetic coil, or another drive structure such as a pneumatic pump. The sensor unit 20 is disposed at the drive unit 10; the sensor unit 20 can detect a driving force applied to the valve rod 72 when the drive unit 10 drives the valve rod 72 to move and generate a driving force signal S2 containing driving force data. The data processing unit 30 can receive the driving force signal S2 and subject the driving force signal S2 to signal conditioning, and then generate the diagnostic signal S3. The communication control unit 40 can receive the control signal S1 sent by the control center 80 and send the control signal S1 to the drive unit 10; the communication control unit 40 can also receive the diagnostic signal S3 and send the diagnostic signal S3 to the control center 80.
In some embodiments, the sensor unit 20 disposed at the drive unit 10 detects the driving force applied to the valve rod 72 when the drive unit 10 drives the valve rod 72 to move, then the signal conditioning unit 30 receives and subjects to signal conditioning the data sent by the sensor unit 20 and generates digital data that can be used for transmission, which is then sent by the communication control unit 40 to the control center 80, such that the control center 80 can diagnose data of the driving force on the valve rod during valve action in order to pre-diagnose a situation where valve rod movement is not smooth due to valve damage, and can discover potential valve faults in advance.
In some embodiments, e.g. referring to
In some embodiments, e.g. that in
In some embodiments, there is a control valve of a valve control system. Referring to
In some embodiments, there is a valve control system; referring to
It should be understood that although the description herein is based on various embodiments, it is by no means the case that each embodiment contains just one independent technical solution. Such a method of presentation is adopted herein purely for the sake of clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the description in its entirety. The technical solutions in the various embodiments could also be suitably combined to form other embodiments capable of being understood by those skilled in the art.
The series of detailed explanations set out above are merely particular explanations of feasible embodiments of the present invention, which are not intended to limit the scope of protection thereof. All equivalent embodiments or changes made without departing from the artistic spirit of the present disclosure, such as combinations, divisions or repetitions of features, shall be included in the scope of protection of the present claims.
10 drive unit
12 electric machine
14 gear
16 drive rod
17 rack
18 first bevel gear
19 second bevel gear
20 sensor unit
30 data processing unit
32 signal conditioning circuit
34 analog-to-digital conversion circuit
40 communication control unit
50 external sensor interface
60 Internet of Things communication module
70 valve
72 valve rod
74 external sensor
80 control center
90 Internet of Things server
S1 control signal
S2 driving force signal
S21 standard analog signal
S3 diagnostic signal
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201711184347.6 | Nov 2017 | CN | national |
| 18203443.9 | Oct 2018 | EP | regional |
