The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 30, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 22, 1999
Ronald J. Louis, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Reza Oboodi, Morris Plains, NJ (US);
AlliedSignal, Inc., Morris Township, NJ (US);
Abstract
According to principles of the present invention, a sensor beam provides a linear or non-linear continuous signal to a computer that translates the signal into a valve position reading. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, a sensor beam incorporating piezo-resistive components forming a Wheatstone bridge abuts a cam mounted on a butterfly valve spindle. Valve movement causes rotation of the cam that, in turn, imparts a bending moment to the sensor beam. This bending moment strains the piezo-resistive components, thereby altering the resistance of the Wheatstone bridge. The computer measures the resistance change using an output signal transmitted by the sensor beam and calculates valve position based thereon.