Sti S.r.l.

Control Components, Inc.

Imi Sti S.r.l.

Flavio Tondolo

Roberto Valoti

Fabio Giove

Paul A Smirl

Marco Mastrovito

Stanley F Miller

Michele Picerno

Mirko Coffetti

Nicola Zenoni

Davide Lamoure

Emanuele Montagna

A device for checking the position of a mechanical element in translational or rotational motion which performs a predetermined stroke, the device being provided with a magnetic component integral with the mechanical element whose position is to be determined and a stationary magnetic sensor, the magnetic component has at least one magnetic element arranged according to a helical pattern.

Device for checking the position of an actuator

A slide flow distributor to direct and modulate a gaseous fluid, in inlet and outlet. This regulation is carried out by means of a spool, which conveys compressed air in a determined charging direction and puts in communication the other chamber with the environment at the same time. This is a servo-actuator which can be used in the field of pneumatic systems of valve actuation. It has a specific pneumatic servo-actuating system using compressed air. This distributor uses a linear motor using a new pneumatic servo-actuator which generates a force in the same direction of the axial force of the motor, with the result that the spool is accelerated in a predetermined direction. The pneumatic servo-actuator is made of a profiled body, a plurality of balls and corresponding elastic means which press the plurality of balls on the side surface of the profiled body.

Slide flow distributor

Booster valve () for pneumatic circuits, comprising: a hollow body (), a pilot flow inlet/outlet gap () communicating directly with a control volume (), an inlet/outlet gap () communicating with an actuator and communicating directly with an accumulation volume (), a supplying gap () communicating directly with a supplying volume (), a discharge gap (), an amplified discharge shutter () which determines the sealing towards the discharge gap (), a central device () comprising an amplified charge shutter () which determines the sealing towards the supplying gap (), an activation piston () which, subjected to the pressure acting in the accumulation volume () and in the control volume (), determines the movement of the amplified discharge shutter () or the amplified charge shutter, and having two separated and independent charge () and discharge (); gain control devices which allow an independent adjustment between the charge and the discharge step and vice versa, and the central device () comprising a plurality of stakes (), which, in combination with the passage sections determined by the opening of the amplified discharge shutter () and the amplified charge shutter () determine the flow amplification in discharge and charge steps.

Booster valve for pneumatic circuits

An anti-surge system capable of anticipating a surge event in a compressor for readying the actuator to quickly actuate the anti-surge valve from the closed position to the open position. The control system includes a compressor surge controller configured to transmit a signal to the valve positioner when the operating point of the valve is approaching the surge control line. The compressor surge controller may monitor an operating margin equal to the difference between the operating point and the surge control line, and when the operating margin falls below a prescribed threshold, the compressor surge controller may send a signal to the positioner. In turn, the positioner may vent some pressure from the actuator. In this way, the dead time of the anti-surge valve on the valve seat is minimized and the valve will react more promptly to an opening signal.

Dead time reducer for piston actuator

A valve positioner system with zero bleed at steady state is disclosed. The system has a pilot valve, the operation of which is controlled by an electronic circuit powered from a signaling and power connection of a positioner device. A plurality of pneumatic valves are activated and deactivated by the pilot valve to control a valve actuator. With varying configurations and arrangements of normally open or normally closed pilot valves and pneumatic valves, fail freeze and fail safe operations are contemplated. The activation and deactivation of the pilot valve is controlled by an electronic circuit that monitors a valve position signal.

Valve positioning system with bleed prevention

A booster valve comprising a housing having a signal port, an actuator port, a supply port, and an exhaust port disposed therein. Disposed within the housing are upper and lower plugs. The upper and lower plugs and the housing collectively define a signal chamber which fluidly communicates with the signal port, an actuator chamber which fluidly communicates with the actuator port, and a supply chamber which fluidly communicates with the supply port. The upper and lower plugs are selectively moveable between neutral, delivery and discharge positions. When in the neutral position, the actuator chamber is fluidly isolated from both the supply chamber and the exhaust port. When in the delivery position, the actuator chamber fluidly communicates with the supply chamber but is fluidly isolated from the exhaust port. Finally, when in the discharge position, the actuator chamber fluidly communicates with the exhaust port but is fluidly isolated from the supply chamber.

Booster valve

A fail-freeze valve positioner system is disclosed. The system has a transducer with a first type output port connectible to a valve actuator, and a second type input port receptive to a valve position signal that is proportional to an output of the first type output port. In addition, the system has a monitoring circuit that generates a pilot activation signal while predefined conditions are met. A primary piloted valve in communication with the monitoring circuit is coupled to the first valve. The first type output port is disconnected from the valve actuator while the pilot activation signal and thus the first valve are deactivated, holding the valve actuator in place.

Fail-freeze device for positioner

A method and device for controlling a process variable based upon a set point is disclosed. A process variable is measured, and a proportional term is assigned to a manipulated variable that is based upon a product of a proportional gain coefficient and an error magnitude between the process variable and the set point. An integral term is added to the manipulated variable under a first set of conditions, and a derivative term is added to the manipulated variable under a second set of conditions different from the first set of conditions. The sum of the proportional term, the integral term, and the derivative term is output, resulting in the process variable being responsively adjusted thereto.

Modified proportional integral derivative controller

A stepper actuator including a brake drum and a central gear mechanically connected thereto. The brake drum and the central gear are selectively rotatable in opposing first and second rotational directions. First and second actuation members are moveable through first and second actuation cycles to incrementally rotate the central gear. The actuation members engage and subsequently disengage the central gear as they move through their actuation cycles. The actuation members are configured to rotate the central gear during engagement therewith. A braking assembly is operatively connected to the first and second actuation members and is frictionally engaged to the brake drum to prevent rotation of the brake drum when the first and second actuation members are each in a retracted position as occurs when neither is moving through a corresponding actuation cycle. The braking assembly disengages the brake drum when one of the actuation members is moved from its retracted position and into its actuation cycle as facilitates the incremental rotation of the central gear.

Stepper actuator having a breaking mechanism

A valve positioner for controlling a valve closure element is provided. The positioner includes a positioner housing with a plurality of fluid flow passageways in fluid communication with a fluid supply source and the valve closure element. The positioner housing is configured to receive a detachable spool manifold assembly. The spool manifold assembly is positioned adjacent the plurality of fluid flow passageways. The spool manifold assembly includes a reciprocally moveable spool configured to selectively port fluid flow from the plurality of fluid flow passageways. The spool manifold assembly includes a diaphragm connected to the spool via a flexible shaft. The diaphragm is in fluid communication with a transducer for receiving a fluid causing the diaphragm to expand or contract and thereby displacing the spool. The flexible shaft is radially elastic in order to minimize axial backlash between the diaphragm and the spool. The flexible shaft configuration minimizes the spool stroke.

High flow capacity positioner

Provided is a motion converter which comprises a housing, a cam plate reciprocal to the housing, a lower link and an upper link. The cam plate has a groove which extends diagonally across the width thereof. The lower link is pivotably mounted to the housing and has a cam pin and a slot formed at a free end thereof. The cam pin is engageable to the groove of the cam plate. The upper link is also pivotably mounted to the housing in offset relationship to the lower link. A free end of the upper link has a link pin which is engageable to the slot. The motion converter is configured such that the lower link pivots in response to slidable movement of a cam pin within the groove during reciprocation of the cam plate. The upper link is configured to pivot in response to the slidable movement of the link pin within the slot during pivoting in a lower link.

Motion converter

Disclosed is an actuator system for positioning a piston within a cylinder and comprising a compressed air source, a positioner, and first and second pneumatic valving modules. The first and second pneumatic valving modules respectively comprise first and second volume boosters to amplify the flow of compressed air, first and second derivative boosters to alternately supply and exhaust compressed air into and out of the first and second ends at high flow rates, and first and second commutators to selectively allow the compressed air to flow respectively between the volume boosters and the derivative boosters. A safety valve opens at a predetermined pressurization level such that the first and second commutators may be energized. A volume tank provides compressed air to each one of the first and second pneumatic valving modules upon energization of the first and second commutators.

Three-way pneumatic commutator and volume booster

Disclosed is a piston positioning system for positioning a piston within a cylinder of a pneumatic circuit. The system comprises a piston position indicator for sensing an actual piston position, a controller for generating an output signal in response to the piston position signal, a pneumatic valving device for regulating the flow of pneumatic fluid and a solenoid valve configured to energize the pneumatic valving device. The pneumatic valving device comprises a four-way valve, a servo valve coupled to a stepper motor, and a two-way valve. The reversible stepper motor is incrementally rotatable over a desired angle of rotation in proportion to the magnitude of the output signal for linearly translating the servo valve such that the flow of pneumatic fluid maybe manipulated into and out of first and second ends of the cylinder to control the piston position therewithin.

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Stezzano BG, Italy

Flavio Tondolo