Combustion Engineering, Inc.

Theodore B Farver

Timothy P Jaeger

John H Mutchler

Richard J Matt

The system (12',14) includes a target member (78) associated with the stem valve (24) and displaceable therewith, and a camera (68) adapted to be positioned adjacent the stem for generating a video signal of at least a portion of the target member. A marker (80) associated with the valve in the field of view of the camera is provided for defining a reference displacement scale (82) in the video signal. A converter (62) is responsive to the video signal for generating target data commensurate with the absolute displacement of the target. First data interface equipment (42,58,60) is provided for digitizing the sensed pneumatic pressure as the pressure is changed to displace the stem, preferably a full stroke from the open-to-close-to-open positions or vice versa. Second data interface equipment (44,62) is provided for digitizing the target data commensurate with the displacement of the target. In a preferred embodiment, the displacement of the target member (78) is determined by electronically counting the scan lines or sequence of pixels (92-108) associated with the video signal, which are covered or uncovered, or otherwise interrupted, as the target member is displaced.

Pneumatic operated valve data acquisitioner

A camera is mountable near the target for generating a composite video signal including the target and a region extending along a predetermined direction from the target. A video signal converter is associated with the camera, for separating the video signal into horizontal and vertical digital data points associated with arbitrary horizontal and vertical axes in the camera. The horizontal data points and the vertical data points are spaced apart by a horizontal unit pitch and a vertical unit pitch, respectively. One of the arbitrary axes is aligned with the predetermined direction of target movement, and calibration establishes a quantitative relation between the unit pitch of the video signal data points along one aligned axis and a known distance along the predetermined direction. The number of digital data points are counted between a reference position of the target and a displaced position of the target on the aligned axis, which is commensurate with the displaced position of the target.

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Windsor Locks, CT, United States of America

Theodore B Farver