Pneumatic volume booster

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10197076-B2
Application number	US-201615235560-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2016
Priority date	Jan 20, 2016
Publication date	Feb 5, 2019
Grant date	Feb 5, 2019

Abstract

A pneumatic volume booster to amplify a control pressure output signal can include a pneumatic control outlet for attachment to a pneumatic working chamber of the pneumatic actuator; a pneumatic aeration inlet configured to receive the pneumatic control pressure signal from the position controller, a pneumatic amplification inlet configured to receive a constant pneumatic air amplification signal, a pneumatic de-aeration connection from the control outlet to a pressure sink configured to aerate the control actuator, a deaerator seat-valve separating and/or opening the pneumatic de-aeration connection, a pneumatic aeration connection between the first aeration inlet and the control outlet; an aerator seat-valve separating and/or opening the pneumatic aeration connection, a pneumatic amplification connection between the amplification inlet and the control outlet; an amplification seat-valve separating and/or opening the pneumatic amplification connection; and a mechanical seat-valve-operator for commonly operating the de-aeration seat-valve, the first aerator seat-valve and the amplification seat-valve.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Pneumatic volume booster for amplifying a pneumatic control pressure output signal of a position controller which aerates and/or de-aerates a pneumatic actuator, for actuating a control armature of a processing plant, the booster comprising:
a pneumatic control outlet for attachment to a first pneumatic working chamber of the pneumatic actuator;
a pneumatic aeration inlet configured to receive the pneumatic control pressure signal from the position controller,
at least one pneumatic amplification inlet configured to receive a constant pneumatic air amplification signal,
a pneumatic de-aeration connection from the control outlet to a pressure sink configured to aerate the control actuator,
a deaerator seat-valve separating and/or opening the pneumatic de-aeration connection,
a pneumatic aeration connection between the pneumatic aeration inlet and the control outlet;
an aerator seat-valve separating and/or opening the pneumatic aeration connection,
a pneumatic amplification connection between the pneumatic amplification inlet and the control outlet;
an amplification seat-valve separating and/or opening the pneumatic amplification connection; and
a mechanical seat-valve-operator for commonly operating the de-aeration seat-valve, the first aerator seat-valve and the amplification seat-valve.

2. The pneumatic volume booster according to claim 1 , wherein the common seat-valve-operator comprises a membrane drive that is mechanically coupled to the de-aeration seat-valve, the first aeration seat-valve, and the amplification seat-valve,
wherein the mechanical coupling is configured such that the membrane drive can run free relative to each seat-valve in a displacement direction of the membrane drive and such that in an opposite displacement direction of the membrane drive, and upon reaching and exceeding a predetermined drive position of the membrane drive, operates the respective seat-valve,
wherein in a forward displacement direction of the membrane drive, the de-aeration seat-valve runs free and the aeration seat-valve and the amplification seat-valve are operable by the membrane drive, and
wherein, while in a backward displacement direction of the membrane drive opposite to the forward displacement direction, the aeration seat-valve and the amplification seat-valve run free and the de-aeration seat-valve is operable by the membrane drive.

3. The pneumatic volume booster according to claim 2 , wherein the membrane drive comprises a second pneumatic working chamber and a return chamber,
wherein the membrane drive is configured to receive a pneumatic control signal via a pneumatic membrane drive inlet different from the pneumatic aeration inlet and the pneumatic amplification inlet, the pneumatic control signal controlling the membrane drive to switch the volume booster into a respective operation, and
wherein a switching point of a switching on of an air amplification is realized by activation of the amplification seat-valve.

4. The pneumatic volume booster according to claim 3 , wherein the activation of the amplification seat-valve comprises engagement of the seat-valve operator with the amplification seat-valve.

5. The pneumatic volume booster according to claim 3 , wherein the membrane drive is accommodated within a closed housing structure of the pneumatic booster,
wherein an operating rod is coupled to a membrane separating the second pneumatic working chamber and the return chamber of the membrane drive to control the operating rod in a translational movement direction based on the pneumatic control signal from the position controller received via the pneumatic membrane drive inlet.

6. The pneumatic volume booster according to claim 5 , wherein the operating rod is mounted moveable longitudinally in the displacement direction to the housing structure.

7. The pneumatic volume booster according to claim 1 , wherein the common seat-valve-operator comprises an operator member that is actuated by the membrane drive,
wherein the operator member is structured to be free running in a displacement direction relative to the aerator seat-valve and the amplification seat-valve, and comprises an operator-member-fixed carrier associated with the aerator seat-valve and the amplification seat-valve to carry each respective seat valve in only the displacement direction or an opposite displacement direction that is opposite the displacement direction.

8. The pneumatic volume booster according to claim 7 , wherein the operator member comprises an operating rod or an operating shaft.

9. The pneumatic volume booster according to claim 1 , wherein the common mechanical seat-valve-operator carries:
the de-aeration seat-valve from its closed position and opens the de-aeration seat-valve,
the aeration seat-valve from its closed position and opens the aeration seat-valve, and/or
the amplification seat-valve from its closed position and opens the amplification seat-valve,
wherein the respective carrying of the de-aeration seat-valve, of the aeration seat-valve and/or of the amplification seat-valve is based on a displacement path of the mechanical seat-valve operator, and
wherein a spring-bias of the de-aeration seat-valve and of the amplification seat-valve is provided by a common pressure spring, which rests against on the de-aeration seat-valve and rests on the amplification seat-valve.

10. The pneumatic volume booster according to claim 9 , wherein:
the de-aeration seat-valve is biased into its closed position, the aeration seat-valve is biased into its closed position, the amplification seat-valve is biased into its closed position, and
a spring-bias of the de-aeration seat-valve and of the amplification seat-valve is provided by a common pressure spring that rests against the de-aeration seat-valve and the amplification seat-valve.

11. The pneumatic volume booster according to claim 1 , wherein the seat-valve-operator comprises only two diametrically opposite displacement directions, the common mechanical seat-valve-operator being coupled to the de-aeration seat-valve, the aerator seat valve, and the amplification seat valve such that in a displacement in a first displacement direction of the two diametrically opposite displacement directions:
a) only the de-aeration seat-valve is displaced from its forced closed position by the mechanical seat-valve-operator; and/or
b) the aerator seat valve is forced into its closed position; and
c) the amplification seat valve is forced into its closed position.

12. The pneumatic volume booster according to claim 11 , wherein the common mechanical seat-valve operator is coupled to the de-aeration seat-valve, the aerator seat valve, and the amplification seat valve such that a displacement in a second displacement direction of the two diametrically opposite displacement directions:
a) the amplification seat-valve is displaced by the mechanical seat-valve operator from its forced closed position; and/or
b) the first aerator seat-valve is displaced by the mechanical seat-valve operator from its forced closed position; and
c) the deaerator seat-valve runs free and unaffected by the seat-valve operator,
wherein the first and second displacement directions are opposite to one another.

13. The pneumatic volume booster according to claim 1 , wherein:
the pneumatic amplification inlet and the de-aeration outlet extend along a respective connection channel into a double-valve chamber of the valve housing structure of the volume booster, a common control outlet channel extending from double-valve chamber the pneumatic control outlet,
both the de-aeration seat-valve and the amplifi

Assignees

• Samson Ag

Inventors

• Valentin-Rumpel Frank

Classifications

• F15B5/006

  with electrical means, e.g. electropneumatic transducer (F15B5/003 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F15B11/04 Primary

  for controlling the speed (F15B11/024 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F15B2211/265

  Control of multiple pressure sources · CPC title

• F15B13/0405

  for seat valves, i.e. poppet valves · CPC title

• F15B2211/634

  representing a state of a valve · CPC title