Title:
PIEZO-RESISTIVE POSITION INDICATOR
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2000029812
Kind Code:
A3
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 by means of an output signal transmitted by the sensor beam and calculates valve position based thereon.
Inventors:
LOUIS RONALD J
OBOODI REZA
OBOODI REZA
Application Number:
PCT/US1999/027412
Publication Date:
October 05, 2000
Filing Date:
November 18, 1999
Export Citation:
Assignee:
ALLIED SIGNAL INC (US)
International Classes:
G01B7/30; B64D13/06; F16K37/00; G01B7/00; G01B7/16; G01D5/00; G01D5/04; G01D5/14; G01L1/18; (IPC1-7): G01B7/16; G01D5/04; G01L1/18
Foreign References:
| DE4228307A1 | 1994-03-03 | |||
| GB2139358A | 1984-11-07 | |||
| US5736635A | 1998-04-07 |
Other References:
See also references of EP 1135666A2
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