Analog position controller

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means controls a parameter of a fluid within a conduit and said input signal is proportional to a parameter of said fluid.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein control means is a valve means regulating the flow in said conduit.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said input signal is proportional to the downstream pressure from said valve means.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said control signal is representative of the upstream pressure from said valve means whereby said predetermined level is a selected ratio of said downstream and said upstream pressure.

Claim 7

An analog position controller for regulating the position of a variable position control device according to a sensed parameter of a media comprising a valve housing movably supported on a support member, said valve housing including a central passage, a valve member mounted for movement in said central passage, an actuation means operatively connected to the valve member and adapted to move said valve member upon an input pressure signal representative of a selected parameter varying from a predetermined level, a first and second control port in said valve housing in fluid communication with said central passage, a power device coupled to a variable position control device controlling the selected parameter and adapted to vary the operative position thereof, said first and second control ports in fluid communication with said power device to vary respectively the operative position of the control device in opposite directions, said valve member including a fluid blocking means to block fluid communication between the first and second control ports and the fluid passage upon the input signal being said predetermined level, and further to allow said control ports to communicate with said fluid passage upon movement of said valve member caused by the input pressure signal varying from said predetermined level, saId valve housing further including a supply port in fluid communication with said passage and a source of supply pressure whereby said source of supply pressure is directed by said blocking means to a selected one of said control ports upon movement of said valve member to cause a desired change of operative position of said control device, and means coupled to the valve housing to selectively move said housing relative to the valve member to cause said blocking means to block the first and second control ports after said movement of the valve member.

Claim 8

An analog position controller for regulating the position of a variable position control device according to a sensed parameter of a media comprising a valve housing movably supported on a support member, said valve housing including a central passage, a valve member mounted for movement in said central passage, an actuation means operatively connected to the valve member and adapted to move said valve member upon an input pressure signal representative of a selected parameter varying from a predetermined level, a first and second control port in said valve housing in fluid communication with said central passage, a power device coupled to a variable position control device controlling the selected parameter and adapted to vary the operative position thereof, said first and second control ports in fluid communication with said power device to vary respectively the operative position of the control device in opposite directions, said valve member including a fluid blocking means to block fluid communication between the first and second control ports and the fluid passage upon the input signal being said predetermined level, and further to allow said control ports to communicate with said fluid passage upon movement of said valve member caused by the input pressure signal varying from said predetermined level, saId valve housing further including a supply port in fluid communication with said passage and a source of supply pressure whereby said source of supply pressure is directed by said blocking means to a selected one of said control ports upon movement of said valve member to cause a desired change of operative position of said control device, and means coupled to the valve housing to selectively move said housing relative to the valve member to cause said blocking means to block the first and second control ports after said movement of the valve member.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the other of said control ports is in fluid communication with an exhaust means positioned in said valve housing as the selected one of said control ports is in communication with said supply port.

Claim 10

An analog position controller for controlling the operative position of a control device comprising a valve-housing means having a passage and a supply port in fluid communication therewith adapted to receive a pressure signal from a pressure source, said valve-housing means further including a control port means for directing a pressure signal for changing the operative position of a control device in a selected manner, a valve element movably supported in said passage and adapted to be moved relative to said valve housing from a null position upon an input pressure representative of a media varying from a predetermined value, said valve element having a configuration for preventing pressure communication of said source pressure and the control port means in said first position and allowing communication therebetween upon said valve element being moved to direct a pressure signal to a control device, and means coupled to the valve housing to selectively move said housing relative to said valve element upon said valve element being moved to return said valve element to a null position with respect to said valve housing for preventing the directing of pressure signal from said outlet port.

Claim 11

An analog position controller for controlling the operative position of a control device comprising a valve-housing means having a passage and a supply port in fluid communication therewith adapted to receive a pressure signal from a pressure source, said valve-housing means further including a control port means for directing a pressure signal for changing the operative position of a control device in a selected manner, a valve element movably supported in said passage and adapted to be moved relative to said valve housing from a null position upon an input pressure representative of a media varying from a predetermined value, said valve element having a configuration for preventing pressure communication of said source pressure and the control port means in said first position and allowing communication therebetween upon said valve element being moved to direct a pressure signal to a control device, and means coupled to the valve housing to selectively move said housing relative to said valve element upon said valve element being moved to return said valve element to a null position with respect to said valve housing for preventing the directing of pressure signal from said outlet port.

Claim 12

The controller of claim 8 wherein said means to move said valve housing comprises feedback means to move said housing relative to said valve element in predetermined proportion to the change of operative position of the control device.

Claim 13

An analog position controller for regulating the position of a variable position control device according to a sensed parameter of a media comprising a valve housing movably supported on a support member, said valve housing including a central passage, a valve member mounted for movement in said central passage, an actuation means operatively connected to the valve member and adapted to move said valve member upon an input pressure signal representative of a selected parameter varying from a predetermined level, a first and second control port in said valve housing in fluid communication with said central passage, a power device coupled to a variable position control device controlling the selected parameter and adapted to vary the operative position thereof, said first and second control ports in fluid communication with said power device to vary respectively the operative position of the control device in opposite directions, said valve member including a fluid-blocking means to block fluid communication between the first and second control ports and the fluid passage upon the input signal being said predetermined level, and further to allow said control ports to communicate with said fluid passage upon movement of said valve member caused by the input pressure signal varying from said predetermined level, said valve housing further including a supply port in fluid communication with said passage and a source of supply pressure whereby said source of supply pressure is directed by said blocking means to a selected one of said control ports upon movement of said valve member to cause a desired change of operative position of said control device, and feedback means coupled to the coNtrol device and the valve housing to move said housing relative to the valve member proportional to the change of operative position of said control device to cause said blocking means to block the first and second control ports and discontinue the varying of the operative position of the control device.

Claim 14

An analog position controller for regulating the position of a variable position control device according to a sensed parameter of a media comprising a valve housing movably supported on a support member, said valve housing including a central passage, a valve member mounted for movement in said central passage, an actuation means operatively connected to the valve member and adapted to move said valve member upon an input pressure signal representative of a selected parameter varying from a predetermined level, a first and second control port in said valve housing in fluid communication with said central passage, a power device coupled to a variable position control device controlling the selected parameter and adapted to vary the operative position thereof, said first and second control ports in fluid communication with said power device to vary respectively the operative position of the control device in opposite directions, said valve member including a fluid-blocking means to block fluid communication between the first and second control ports and the fluid passage upon the input signal being said predetermined level, and further to allow said control ports to communicate with said fluid passage upon movement of said valve member caused by the input pressure signal varying from said predetermined level, said valve housing further including a supply port in fluid communication with said passage and a source of supply pressure whereby said source of supply pressure is directed by said blocking means to a selected one of said control ports upon movement of said valve member to cause a desired change of operative position of said control device, and feedback means coupled to the coNtrol device and the valve housing to move said housing relative to the valve member proportional to the change of operative position of said control device to cause said blocking means to block the first and second control ports and discontinue the varying of the operative position of the control device.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said control device is a valve for controlling the flow of fluid in a pipeline.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said input pressure is representative of the pressure downstream of said valve and the supply source is representative of pressure upstream of said valve.