Pneumatic operated valve data acquisitioner

Claim 1

A system for acquiring characteristic operating data regarding a pneumatic valve connected to fluid line, the valve having a body containing a sealable passage through which line fluid may flow, an operator including a stem for positioning sealing means in the passage, and an actuator for displacing the stem a stroke distance corresponding to the open and closed position of the sealing means, said system comprising: means for sensing the pneumatic pressure in the operator as the stem is displaced over the stroke distance; means responsive to the means for sensing, for generating pressure data commensurate with the pneumatic pressure in the operator as the stem is displaced over the stroke distance; marker means associated with the valve and defining a known absolute distance; a target member associated with the stem and displaceable therewith; camera means adapted to be fixed in position adjacent the valve stem, for generating a video data signal of the marker means and the target member during the displacement of the stem over the stroke distance; converter means responsive to the video signal for generating target data commensurate with the displacement of the target resulting from a change in operator pressure; first data interface means for digitizing the sensed pneumatic pressure data; second data interface means for digitizing the target data; and means for storing the digitized pressure and target data as first and second characteristic data, respectively.

Claim 2

A system for acquiring characteristic operating data regarding a pneumatic valve connected to fluid line, the valve having a body containing a sealable passage through which line fluid may flow, an operator including a stem for positioning sealing means in the passage, and an actuator for displacing the stem a stroke distance corresponding to the open and closed position of the sealing means, said system comprising: means for sensing the pneumatic pressure in the operator as the stem is displaced over the stroke distance; means responsive to the means for sensing, for generating pressure data commensurate with the pneumatic pressure in the operator as the stem is displaced over the stroke distance; marker means associated with the valve and defining a known absolute distance; a target member associated with the stem and displaceable therewith; camera means adapted to be fixed in position adjacent the valve stem, for generating a video data signal of the marker means and the target member during the displacement of the stem over the stroke distance; converter means responsive to the video signal for generating target data commensurate with the displacement of the target resulting from a change in operator pressure; first data interface means for digitizing the sensed pneumatic pressure data; second data interface means for digitizing the target data; and means for storing the digitized pressure and target data as first and second characteristic data, respectively.

Claim 11

A system for acquiring characteristic data regarding a device connected to an industrial process, the device having a visible stem and an actuator responsive to an actuating variable for displacing the stem, said system comprising: means for sensing changes in the actuating variable as the stem is displaced; means responsive to the means for sensing, for generating actuator data commensurate with the change in the actuating variable; marker means associated with the device and defining a known reference distance; a target member associated with the stem and displaceable therewith; camera means adapted to be fixed in position adjacent the stem, for generating a video data signal of the marker means and the target member during the displacement of the stem; converter means responsive to the video signal for generating target data commensurate with the displacement of the target resulting from a change in the actuating variable; first data interface means for digitizing the actuator data; second data interface means for digitizing the target data; and means for storing the digitized actuator and target data as first and second characteristic data, respectively.

Claim 12

A system for acquiring characteristic data regarding a device connected to an industrial process, the device having a visible stem and an actuator responsive to an actuating variable for displacing the stem, said system comprising: means for sensing changes in the actuating variable as the stem is displaced; means responsive to the means for sensing, for generating actuator data commensurate with the change in the actuating variable; marker means associated with the device and defining a known reference distance; a target member associated with the stem and displaceable therewith; camera means adapted to be fixed in position adjacent the stem, for generating a video data signal of the marker means and the target member during the displacement of the stem; converter means responsive to the video signal for generating target data commensurate with the displacement of the target resulting from a change in the actuating variable; first data interface means for digitizing the actuator data; second data interface means for digitizing the target data; and means for storing the digitized actuator and target data as first and second characteristic data, respectively.

Claim 15

A method of acquiring characteristic data regarding a plurality of pneumatic valves that are each connected to a respective process flow line in a plant, each valve having a pneumatic pressure chamber, a visible stem that is displaced linearly in response to a change in the pressure in the chamber, and means responsive to the stem displacement for adjusting the flow through the line, wherein the characteristic data includes chamber pressure and stem displacement, comprising the steps of: manually transporting a portable data acquisition unit from an arbitrary first location in the plant to a second location near one of the pneumatic valves, the unit including, a camera for continually generating a video signal, a converter coupled to the camera for processing the video signal including generating digital representations of changes in the video signal, means coupled to the converter for storing the digital representations, a pressure sensor, means associated with the pressure sensor for generating a digital representation of changes in pressure sensed by the sensor, a human interface for manually setting control parameters for the unit; mounting the camera adjacent said one valve so that the video signal generated by the camera includes the visible stem; connecting the pressure sensor to the pressure chamber; calibrating the converter by selectively displacing the stem so that a given change in the video signal due to the displacement of the stem is converted into a digital value of absolute displacement; setting the interface to initiate the generation and storage of digitized data values indicative of the pressure in the chamber, initiate the generation and storage of digitized data values indicative of the displacement of the stem, and terminate the storage of additional data values after a sufficient number of such values have been stored.

Claim 16

A method of acquiring characteristic data regarding a plurality of pneumatic valves that are each connected to a respective process flow line in a plant, each valve having a pneumatic pressure chamber, a visible stem that is displaced linearly in response to a change in the pressure in the chamber, and means responsive to the stem displacement for adjusting the flow through the line, wherein the characteristic data includes chamber pressure and stem displacement, comprising the steps of: manually transporting a portable data acquisition unit from an arbitrary first location in the plant to a second location near one of the pneumatic valves, the unit including, a camera for continually generating a video signal, a converter coupled to the camera for processing the video signal including generating digital representations of changes in the video signal, means coupled to the converter for storing the digital representations, a pressure sensor, means associated with the pressure sensor for generating a digital representation of changes in pressure sensed by the sensor, a human interface for manually setting control parameters for the unit; mounting the camera adjacent said one valve so that the video signal generated by the camera includes the visible stem; connecting the pressure sensor to the pressure chamber; calibrating the converter by selectively displacing the stem so that a given change in the video signal due to the displacement of the stem is converted into a digital value of absolute displacement; setting the interface to initiate the generation and storage of digitized data values indicative of the pressure in the chamber, initiate the generation and storage of digitized data values indicative of the displacement of the stem, and terminate the storage of additional data values after a sufficient number of such values have been stored.

Claim 19

A method of acquiring characteristic data regarding a valve that is connected to a process flow line in a plant, the valve having an actuator responsive to an actuating variable, a stem that is displaced in a linear path in response to the actuation of the actuator, and means responsive to the stem displacement for adjusting the flow through the line, wherein the characteristic data include the actuating variable and stem displacement, comprising the steps of: positioning a data acquisition unit near the valve, the unit including, first means, sensitive to light, for continually generating an input signal commensurate with the light received in the light-sensitive portion of the first means; second means coupled to the first means, for processing the input signal including generating digital representations of changes in the input signal, a sensor for said actuating variable, means associated with the sensor for generating a digital representation of the value of the actuating variable sensed by the sensor, memory means coupled to the second means, for storing the digital representations, and interface means for manually setting control parameters for the unit; mounting the first means adjacent the stem of the valve so that the input signal generated by the first means is responsive to the displacement of the stem; connecting the sensor to the actuator; varying the actuating variable to displace the stem; and setting the interface means to initiate the generation and storage of digitized data values indicative of the actuating variable, and initiate the generation and storage of digitized data values indicative of the displacement of the stem.

Claim 20

A method of acquiring characteristic data regarding a valve that is connected to a process flow line in a plant, the valve having an actuator responsive to an actuating variable, a stem that is displaced in a linear path in response to the actuation of the actuator, and means responsive to the stem displacement for adjusting the flow through the line, wherein the characteristic data include the actuating variable and stem displacement, comprising the steps of: positioning a data acquisition unit near the valve, the unit including, first means, sensitive to light, for continually generating an input signal commensurate with the light received in the light-sensitive portion of the first means; second means coupled to the first means, for processing the input signal including generating digital representations of changes in the input signal, a sensor for said actuating variable, means associated with the sensor for generating a digital representation of the value of the actuating variable sensed by the sensor, memory means coupled to the second means, for storing the digital representations, and interface means for manually setting control parameters for the unit; mounting the first means adjacent the stem of the valve so that the input signal generated by the first means is responsive to the displacement of the stem; connecting the sensor to the actuator; varying the actuating variable to displace the stem; and setting the interface means to initiate the generation and storage of digitized data values indicative of the actuating variable, and initiate the generation and storage of digitized data values indicative of the displacement of the stem.

Claim 23

A method of acquiring characteristic data regarding a valve that is connected to a process flow line in a plant, the valve having an actuator, a stem that is displaced on a linear path in response to a change in the actuation of the actuator, and means responsive to the stem displacement for adjusting the flow through the line, wherein the characteristic data include the actuating variable and stem displacement, comprising the steps of: positioning a data acquisition unit near the valve, the unit including, first means, sensitive to light, for continually generating an input signal commensurate with the light received in the light-sensitive portion of the first means; second means coupled to the first means, for processing the input signal including generating digital representations of changes in the input signal, a sensor for said actuating variable, means associated with the sensor for generating a digital representation of the value of the actuating variable sensed by the sensor, memory means coupled to the second means, for storing the digital representations, and interface means for manually setting control parameters for the unit; mounting the first means adjacent the stem of the valve so that the input signal generated by the first means is responsive to the displacement of the stem; connecting the sensor to the actuator; varying the actuator variable to displace the stem; calibrating the second means by selectively displacing the stem so that a given change in the input signal due to the displacement of the stem is converted into a digital value of absolute displacement; setting the interface means to initiate the generation and storage of digitized data values indicative of the pressure in the chamber, and initiate the generation and storage of digitized data values indicative of the displacement of the stem.

Claim 24

A method of acquiring characteristic data regarding a valve that is connected to a process flow line in a plant, the valve having an actuator, a stem that is displaced on a linear path in response to a change in the actuation of the actuator, and means responsive to the stem displacement for adjusting the flow through the line, wherein the characteristic data include the actuating variable and stem displacement, comprising the steps of: positioning a data acquisition unit near the valve, the unit including, first means, sensitive to light, for continually generating an input signal commensurate with the light received in the light-sensitive portion of the first means; second means coupled to the first means, for processing the input signal including generating digital representations of changes in the input signal, a sensor for said actuating variable, means associated with the sensor for generating a digital representation of the value of the actuating variable sensed by the sensor, memory means coupled to the second means, for storing the digital representations, and interface means for manually setting control parameters for the unit; mounting the first means adjacent the stem of the valve so that the input signal generated by the first means is responsive to the displacement of the stem; connecting the sensor to the actuator; varying the actuator variable to displace the stem; calibrating the second means by selectively displacing the stem so that a given change in the input signal due to the displacement of the stem is converted into a digital value of absolute displacement; setting the interface means to initiate the generation and storage of digitized data values indicative of the pressure in the chamber, and initiate the generation and storage of digitized data values indicative of the displacement of the stem.

Claim 27

A method of acquiring characteristic data regarding a valve that is connected to a process flow line in a plant, the valve having an actuator, a stem that is displaced on a linear path in response to a change in the actuating variable, and means responsive to the stem displacement for adjusting the flow through the line, wherein the characteristic data include the actuating variable and stem displacement, comprising the steps of: mounting a sensor to the actuator; mounting a first detector member in fixed relation to the valve; mounting a second detector member independently of the first detector member, for displacement commensurate with the stem displacement, varying the actuator variable to displace the stem; generating a sensor signal responsive to the displacement of the second detector member relative to the first detector member; generating a calibrated signal defining a quantitative relationship between the sensor signal and an absolute unit of linear distance measurement; generating a digital value of absolute displacement of the stem from the calibrated signal; generating a digital value of the actuating variable from the sensor as the actuator variable is varied; and recording the digital values of stem displacement and actuating variable.

Claim 28

A method of acquiring characteristic data regarding a valve that is connected to a process flow line in a plant, the valve having an actuator, a stem that is displaced on a linear path in response to a change in the actuating variable, and means responsive to the stem displacement for adjusting the flow through the line, wherein the characteristic data include the actuating variable and stem displacement, comprising the steps of: mounting a sensor to the actuator; mounting a first detector member in fixed relation to the valve; mounting a second detector member independently of the first detector member, for displacement commensurate with the stem displacement, varying the actuator variable to displace the stem; generating a sensor signal responsive to the displacement of the second detector member relative to the first detector member; generating a calibrated signal defining a quantitative relationship between the sensor signal and an absolute unit of linear distance measurement; generating a digital value of absolute displacement of the stem from the calibrated signal; generating a digital value of the actuating variable from the sensor as the actuator variable is varied; and recording the digital values of stem displacement and actuating variable.