BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a check valve assembly including a position indicator according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a top view of a portion of a check valve flow body including a portion of a position indicator according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second side of a check valve flapper including a portion of a position indicator according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a side view of a portion of a check valve flow body including a portion of a position indicator according to an embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a first side of a check valve flapper including a portion of a position indicator according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The following detailed description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a check valve assembly 10 according to the present invention. Check valve assembly 10 is generally comprised of a valve body 12, including a flow section 14 onto which a plurality of flappers 16 are rotationally mounted (of which only one is illustrated in a partially open position). The flappers 16 are generally formed of a non-conductive material having a first side 17 and an opposed second side (not shown). The flappers 16 control the passage of a fluid through a plurality of openings 18 formed in the check valve flow section 14. It should be understood that the position indicator of the present invention could be implemented with a single flapper and opening.
A plurality of vertical stop supports 20 extend axially from, and at least substantially perpendicular to, a surface 22 of the flow section 14. The vertical stop supports 20 provide positioning and retention of a flapper stop 24, and more particularly a first end 26 and a second end 28 of the flapper stop 24. The dimensions of the flapper stop 24 controls the angle of the flappers 16 when moved to a full-open position during operation.
During operation a plurality of mating conductors (described presently) are embedded, positioned on, or otherwise coupled to the flappers 16, the check valve flow section 14, and/or the flapper stop 24 to form a check valve position indicator system 25. The check valve position indicator system 25 operates by forming a closed circuit when the flappers 16 are in one of the closed or full-open positions, resulting in notification to a check valve controller (not shown) of the status of the check valve assembly 10.
Referring now to FIG.2, illustrated in plan view is a portion of valve body 12, and more specifically a check valve flow section 14 having the plurality of openings 18 formed there through. In addition, illustrated are the plurality of vertical stop supports 20 that support the flapper stop 24. Flow section 14 is generally comprised of a non-conductive material, such as a polymer or composite, an example being Ultem® PolyEtherImide, though it could be constructed of any one of numerous conductive or partially conductive materials. In this particular embodiment, a plurality of conductors 26 are embedded in the surface 22 of flow section 14. The conductors 26 are generally formed of a typical conductive materials, such as aluminum or copper. Flow body 12 further includes an input port 28 and an output port 30, each of which is adapted to be electrically coupled to an electrical power source. As illustrated in FIG. 2, two of the conductors 26 are in electrical communication with the input port 28, and two of the conductors are in electrical communication with the output port 30, and are generally positioned adjacent the flow openings 18. The conductors 26 associated with each flow opening 18 are spaced apart from each other to form an open circuit when the check valve assembly 10, and more particularly the flappers 16, are in an open position (described further below).
Referring now to FIG. 3, illustrated in plan view is a second, or upstream side 15 of a single flapper 16. When assembled together with the check valve flow section 14 of FIG. 2, the upstream side 15 of the flapper 16 rests against a portion of the flow section 14 when the flappers 16 are in the closed position. It should be understood that although a single flapper 16 is shown and described, the check valve assembly 10 would preferably include dual flappers 16 formed in generally the same manner. The flapper 16 in this particular embodiment is formed of a non-conductive material, such as a polymer or composite, an example being Ultem® PolyEtherImide, having embedded into the surface of the second side 15 a bridge conductor 32. The bridge conductor 32 is formed of a typical conductive material, such as aluminum or copper. The bridge conductor 32 is positioned to align with the conductors 26, and close the open circuit, when the flapper 16 is in the closed position.
During operation of check valve assembly 10, when the bridge conductor 32 of flapper, or flappers, 16 comes in contact with the conductors 26 of the flow body 12, the open circuit formed there between is closed. Thus, when the input and output ports 28 and 30 are electrically coupled to an electrical power source, a current will flow. This current flow can be used to energize an indicator (not shown) that indicates the flappers 16 are in the closed position. While the conductors 26 are shown symmetrically formed about the flow body 12, it should be understood that they are capable of operation separately to provide notification of a single closed flapper 16 or of the dual flappers 16.
Referring now to FIG. 4, illustrated in a side view is a portion of the valve body 12, and more specifically illustrating the check valve flow section 14, the substantially vertical stop supports 20 and the flapper stop 24. The substantially vertical stop supports 20 and the flapper stop 24 are generally comprised of a non-conductive material, such as a polymer or composite, an example being Ultem® PolyEtherImide, though they could also be constructed of any of numerous conductive or partially conductive materials. In this particular embodiment, a plurality of conductors 34 are positioned on a surface of flapper stop 24 or embedded in a portion of the flapper stop 24. The conductors 34 are generally formed of a typical conductive material, such as aluminum or copper. Flow body 12 further includes an input port 36 and an output port 38, generally similar to the input port 28 and the output port 30 of the first embodiment. The input port 36 and the output port 38 are each adapted to be electrically coupled to an electrical power source. As illustrated in FIG. 4, two conductors 34 are shown generally positioned on a side aspect of the stop valve flow assembly 24. One of the conductors 34 is in electrical communication with the input port 36, and one of the conductors 34 is in electrical communication with the output port 38. In the preferred embodiment, a similar pair of conductors (not shown) are formed on an opposed side aspect of the flapper stop 24 and in similar electrical communication with the input port 36 and output port 38 to provide indication of the position of the dual flappers 16. The conductors 34 associated on each side of the flapper stop 24 are spaced apart from each other to form an open circuit when the check valve assembly 10, and more particularly the flappers 16, are in a closed position (described further below).
Referring now to FIG. 5, illustrated in plan view is the first, or downstream side 17 of a single flapper 16. It should again be understood that although a single flapper 16 is shown and described, the check valve assembly 10 would preferably include dual flappers 16 formed in generally the same manner. The flapper 16 in this particular embodiment has embedded into the surface of the downstream side 17 a bridge conductor 40 formed of a typical conductive material, such as aluminum or copper. The bridge conductor 40 is positioned to align with the conductors 34, and thus close the open circuit when the flapper 16, or flappers are in the open position.
During operation of check valve assembly 10, when the bridge conductor 40 of flapper 16, or flappers, comes in contact with the conductors 34 of the flapper stop 24 the open circuit formed there between is closed. Thus, when the input and output ports 36 and 38 are electrically coupled to an electrical power source, a current will flow. This current flow can be used to energize an indicator that indicates the flappers 16 are in the open position, thereby allowing fluid flow through the openings 18 (FIG. 1) of the valve body 12. It should be understood that the position indicator system is capable of operating to provide notification of a single open flapper 16 or of the dual flappers 16.
In contrast to prior indicator systems, in the embodiments disclosed, the position indicator system 25 does not rely on the measurement of a fluid flow through the check valve assembly 10. In addition, the check valve assembly 10 may be formed to include the position indicator system 25 according to the first embodiment, which allows monitoring of the flappers 16 to indicate a closed position, or it may be formed to include the position indicator system 25 according to the second embodiment, which allows monitoring of the flappers 16 to indicate an open position. In most check valve assembly 10 configurations according to the present invention, the position indicator system 25 would be implemented to incorporate both embodiments and allow for monitoring of the flappers 16 to indicate both a closed position and an open position.
Thus, the check valve assembly 10 of the present invention includes a position indicator system 25 capable of indicating the position of a single flapper or plurality of flappers 16, thereby notifying a check valve controller of the status of fluid flow through the check valve assembly 10. The position indicator system 25 includes a plurality of conductors positioned on, or embedded within, the flappers 16 and at least one of the flow section 14 and the flapper stop 24 to form an open circuit. During operation, completion, or closing of the circuit results in the generation of an output signal and indication of the status of the check valve assembly10.
While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt to a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080053537
