Patent · US Expired

Determining valve position

US4468559A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
5References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 7, 1982
Grant dateAug 28, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 7, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T137/8242
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining the position of a valve for example ball valves, plug valves, gate valves using a source of radiation such as cesium-137 located either on or adjacent to the external surface of the valve or within the valve itself, for example in the ball of a ball valve, and a radiation detector such as a Geiger-Muller tube on the external surface of the valve. Source and detector are aligned and located relative to one another so that the count rate detected is indicative of the valve position. The method is accurate and, for example, allows the position of the ball in a ball valve to be monitored to within .+-.1 mm.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.