Method, system and apparatus for automatic calibration of a needle valve device in a pressurized flow system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9341277-B2
Application number	US-201314381974-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2013
Priority date	Mar 7, 2012
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to apparatus, systems and methods used in connection with a needle valve device operating in a pressurized flow system. The apparatus, systems and methods provide for automatic positioning of a needle relative to a seat in the needle valve device to provide consistent calibration with minimal user interaction after a maintenance event or upon a start-up of the pressurized flow system. The apparatus, systems and methods utilize a calibration collar secured to a shaft of an actuator within the needle valve device. The calibration collar includes one or more locking mechanism and a spring.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A calibration collar for automatically setting a position of a needle to a seat in a pressurized flow system including an actuator positioned to drive the needle relative to the seat, the actuator comprising a shaft including an exterior liner and an interior extendable section, the calibration collar comprising:
a housing including a first end and a second end, the housing defining a channel sized to accept at least a portion of the shaft of the actuator;
a first securing mechanism positioned at the second end of the housing and surrounding the channel, the first securing mechanism, when in a locked position, holds the housing to the exterior liner of the shaft;
a second securing mechanism, independent of the first securing mechanism, the second securing mechanism when in a closed position, grips at least a portion of an external perimeter surface of the interior extendable section of the shaft to clamp the housing to the shaft; and
a spring disposed at least partially in the first end of the housing and extending into the channel to apply a known load on the shaft when the shaft is seated in the housing.

2. The calibration collar according to claim 1 , wherein the first securing mechanism is a clamp.

3. The calibration collar according to claim 1 , wherein the second securing mechanism is a clamp.

4. The calibration collar according to claim 1 , wherein the second securing mechanism is positioned between the first securing mechanism and the first end of the housing.

5. The calibration collar according to claim 2 , wherein the clamp comprises a base portion integrally formed with the housing and a top portion secured to the base portion with two fasteners.

6. The calibration collar according to claim 3 , wherein the clamp comprises a base portion integrally formed with the housing and a top portion secured to the base portion with two fasteners.

7. The calibration collar according to claim 3 , wherein the clamp comprises a first clamp portion integrally formed with the housing and having a first free end and a second clamp portion integrally formed with the housing and including a second free end, the second free end of the second clamp portion opposing the first free end of the first clamp portion, the first and second clamp portions being secured together with a fastener.

8. The calibration collar according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is formed at least in part of stainless steel.

9. The calibration collar according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is formed at least in part of aluminum.

10. The calibration collar according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of a surface of the housing defining the channel is textured to facilitate gripping of at least a portion of an external perimeter surface of the interior extendable section of the shaft of the actuator when the second securing mechanism is in the closed position.

11. The calibration collar according to claim 10 , wherein the texture applied comprises one or more of radial grooves, raised bumps, or raised ribs.

12. The calibration collar according to claim 1 , wherein the second securing mechanism comprises a electromechanical locking assembly.

13. A method of replacing at least one of a needle or a seat in a pressurized flow device, the method comprising:
providing the calibration collar of claim 1 , with the first securing mechanism in the locked position and the second securing mechanism in the closed position to secure and grip the calibration collar to the shaft of the actuator in an operating position in which the needle and the seat are in a calibrated position;
moving the second securing mechanism from the closed position to an open position to release the grip of the calibration collar from the interior extendable section of the shaft;
moving the shaft to obtain access to the needle;
replacing at least one of the needle or seat;
positioning the shaft to be in physical contact with an end of the needle or a replacement needle; and
moving the second securing mechanism from the open position to the closed position to grip the interior extendable section of the shaft and position the replaced needle or seat in the calibrated position.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein moving the second securing mechanism from the closed to the open position comprises releasing a clamping mechanism.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein releasing a clamping mechanism comprises loosening a fastener of the clamping mechanism.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein releasing a clamping mechanism comprises electromechanically releasing the clamping mechanism.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein moving the second securing mechanism from the open position to the closed position comprises activating a clamping mechanism.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein activating the clamping mechanism comprises tightening a fastener of the clamping mechanism.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein activating the clamping mechanism comprises electromechanically closing the clamping mechanism.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein releasing the clamping mechanism occurs automatedly without user input upon the actuator being placed in a non-operating position.

21. The method according to claim 20 , wherein moving the second securing mechanism from the open position to the closed position occurs automatedly.

22. The method according to claim 13 , wherein moving the second securing mechanism from the open position to the closed position occurs automatedly at each start-up event of the pressurized flow device.

23. A method of setting and maintaining a calibrated position between a needle and a seat in a pressurized flow system including an actuator positioned to drive the needle relative to the seat, the method comprising:
placing the calibration collar of claim 1 on a first end of the shaft of the actuator such that the channel defined in the housing at least partially surrounds an end portion of the shaft;
securing the first securing mechanism of the calibration collar to the shaft to hold the housing to the shaft and to position the first securing mechanism in the locked position;
positioning the needle relative to the seat to set the calibrated position;
positioning a second end of the shaft of the actuator to be in physical contact with an exposed end of the needle; and
securing the second securing mechanism of the calibration collar to the shaft to grip the external perimeter surface of the extendable section of the shaft to maintain the calibrated position and to position the second securing mechanism in the closed position.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising:
moving the second securing mechanism from the closed position to an open position to release the grip of the calibration collar from the shaft;
moving the second end of the shaft to obtain access to the needle;
positioning the second end of the shaft to be in physical contact with the exposed end of the needle; and
moving the second securing mechanism from the open position to the closed position to grip the shaft and to return the needle and the seat in the calibrated position.

25. The method of claim 23 , wherein positioning the needle relative to the seat to set the calibrated position occurs automatically.

Assignees

• Waters Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Shreve Joshua A
• Keenan Paul
• Maillet Jr John
• Hill Ryan

Classifications

• F16K27/02 Primary

  of lift valves (for reducing the flow resistance of screw-spindle lift-valves F16K1/06) · CPC title

• F16K1/38

  of conical shape · CPC title

• Y10T137/6065

  Assembling or disassembling reciprocating valve · CPC title

• Y10T137/0486

  Specific valve or valve element mounting or repairing · CPC title

• F16K31/0655

  Lift valves · CPC title