AUTOMATIC SWITCH COMPANY Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150310974 | SOLENOID COIL FOR HAZARDOUS LOCATIONS - A solenoid coil assembly for hazardous environments comprises a solenoid coil and an enclosure entirely filled with encapsulation material. The encapsulation material leaves zero or almost zero volume in the enclosure for hazardous material to accumulate in any amount that could explode. This allows the solenoid coil assembly to be constructed without the usual industry standard flame paths. Additionally, the enclosure may be made of physically rigid and strong material such as metal or the like to better withstand harsh and corrosive conditions within hazardous environments without being explosion proof. The walls of such an enclosure need only have a moderate thickness and weight relative to enclosures that are explosion proof, as there is no meaningful risk of an explosion occurring within the enclosure. The combination of a rugged exterior and a zero-volume interior allows the solenoid coil assembly to reduce weight and cost while providing superior environmental protection. | 10-29-2015 |
20150309107 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING HEALTH OF WINDINGS FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICES - The present disclosure provides a method and system for measuring an increase in wattage to detect a potential winding failure. The increase in watts in the winding occurs when a time-varying magnetic field from active turns of the winding induces a time-varying current on shorted turns of the winding. The resistance through the shorted turns and the induced current result in power usage and increased watts. The wattage increase is much greater than a resistance decrease in the winding by the shorted turns. Measuring the watts results in detecting a shorting winding with greater sensitivity than measuring the resistance. In one embodiment, the winding can be tested offline with a wattmeter and power supply. In another embodiment, the winding in use and its wattage can be monitored continuously or periodically locally or remotely, with an optional sensor to initiate a signal upon reaching a certain percentage increase in watts. | 10-29-2015 |
20140103239 | CONSTANT BLEED VALVE - A valve comprising a housing defining an interior chamber; an inlet port; an outlet port; an exhaust port; an actuator that selectively allows and prevents communication between the inlet port and outlet port; and a bleed port providing communication between the inlet port and the interior chamber regardless of the position of the actuator. The housing may be surrounded by an environment that is exposed to combustibles and therefore classified as a hazardous environment. Even so, the valve may be rated for use in that environment even though the actuator may require more energy to operate than would normally be acceptable in that environment. | 04-17-2014 |
20140096839 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BIAS MEMBER ADJUSTMENT WITHOUT DISASSEMBLY - A process control valve with a spring rate adjustment and a spring force adjustment, thereby accommodating tight spring tolerances, such as those encountered in low power and proportional applications. The spring rate and spring force may both be adjusted after the valve has been fully assembled, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. | 04-10-2014 |
20130333778 | MANIFOLD FOR FLOW DISTRIBUTION - A manifold ( | 12-19-2013 |
20130248002 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING A SOLENOID VALVE AT MINIMUM POWER LEVELS - The inventions disclosed and taught herein are further directed to a solenoid valve configured for operation at minimum power levers comprising: a casing; a magnetic coil within the casing adapted for inducing a magnetic flux when energized; a plunger selectively actuated by the magnetic coil to operate the solenoid valve; and at least one energy storage device within the casing adapted to store energy and selectively energize the magnetic coil by applying the energy to the magnetic coil. | 09-26-2013 |
20130087727 | BACK PRESSURE CAPABLE SOLENOID OPERATED DIAPHRAGM PILOT VALVE - A valve assembly comprising an inlet port, an outlet port, and a diaphragm configured to selectively allow communication between the inlet port and the outlet port, the diaphragm including a first side adjacent the ports and a second side opposed to the ports. The valve preferably includes at least one bleed path between the first side and the second side of the diaphragm with a one way flow device configured to allow flow from the first side to the second side of the diaphragm and prevent flow from the second side to the first side of the diaphragm. The valve may include a first bleed path from the inlet port to the second side of the diaphragm and a second bleed path from the outlet port to the second side of the diaphragm. Either bleed path, or both, may comprise a check valve mounted in the diaphragm. | 04-11-2013 |
20130056901 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SEALING COIL LEADS DURING ENCAPSULATION - A method of sealing coil leads during encapsulation by placing a lead of a coil in a tube, such that there remains a gap between the lead and the tube; placing the coil in a mold such that the gap remains open to an environment surrounding the mold; and injecting encapsulation material into the closed mold in a liquid state under pressure, thereby causing the material to flow through the gap toward the environment. Injecting encapsulation material into the mold may be done at a rate, temperature, and/or environmental temperature to cause the material to solidify before passing through the gap into the environment. In any case, there is no need to seal the mold to the leads. Each lead of the coil may be placed into an individual tube and/or the tubes may be is formed within a single sleeve. | 03-07-2013 |
20130032739 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ASSURING DROP OUT OF A SOLENOID VALVE - A method of assuring drop out of a valve assembly comprising detecting a level of a signal from the controller; diverting the signal to a solenoid coil of the valve assembly when the level of the signal is above a predetermined value; and diverting the signal to a load when the level of the signal is below the predetermined value. The level detector may divert the signal away from the coil when the level of the signal is below the predetermined value, thereby ensuring that the coil is fully de-energized in response to the level of the signal being below the predetermined value, while allowing current to flow through the valve assembly, thereby allowing the controller to monitor the integrity of the wiring between the controller and the valve assembly. | 02-07-2013 |
20120326439 | Valve and Other Connections - A assembly having a body; at least one port to receive tubing; and a collar group to secure the tubing to the port, wherein the collar group is selected from a first collar group configured to secure the tubing by a flattening a washer, thereby driving teeth of the washer into the tubing, and a second collar group having a smooth interior surface to which the tubing is bonded, wherein either the first or the second collar groups may be interchangeably threaded onto the port. | 12-27-2012 |
20120305096 | NEAR-FIELD WIRELESS POWERED SOLENOID VALVE - A solenoid valve assembly including a process control valve plumbed within a hazardous environment; a solenoid coil mated to the valve and configured to operate the valve, the solenoid coil located within the hazardous environment; a valve coil configured to receive power and transfer that power to the solenoid coil, thereby operating the valve, the valve coil located within the hazardous environment; and a controller coil configured to transmit power to the valve coil, the controller coil located in the hazardous environment. | 12-06-2012 |
20120112870 | THERMAL PROTECTION DEVICE AND METHOD - A solenoid valve for use in a hazardous environment requiring a surface temperature of the valve to not exceed a cutoff temperature, the valve comprising coil configured to physically move an armature using an field generated by the coil; a thermal cutoff device having a fusing temperature above the cutoff temperature; and a heating resistor sized and configured to raise thermal cutoff device's temperature to the fusing temperature before the surface temperature exceeds the cutoff temperature. A method of constructing a solenoid valve for use in a hazardous environment requiring a surface temperature of the valve to not exceed a cutoff temperature, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a thermal cutoff device having a fusing temperature above the cutoff temperature; and selecting and configuring a heating resistor to raise thermal cutoff device's temperature to the fusing temperature before the surface temperature exceeds the cutoff temperature. | 05-10-2012 |
20120014031 | SOLENOID CONTROLS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS OF USE FOR OBTAINING OPTIMUM BATTERY LIFE - The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for controlling energy consumption in a system having a battery and including a controller and one or more solenoids. In accordance with the disclosure, the controller provides a controlling mechanism, such as a control algorithm, that will provide the necessary power to operate the one or more solenoids throughout the range of battery voltage in a manner that optimizes the voltage discharge from the battery and simultaneously maximizes battery life. Further power conservation measures are implemented by using a controller and an associated control algorithm to operate a solenoid throughout the range of battery voltage in a manner that places the discharge of the battery in reduced power consumption operating modes as the capacity of the battery is reduced. | 01-19-2012 |
20110175348 | VALVE CONNECTIONS - A valve assembly having a valve body; at least one port to receive tubing; and a collar group to secure the tubing to the port, wherein the collar group is selected from a first collar group configured to secure the tubing by a flattening a washer, thereby driving teeth of the washer into the tubing, and a second collar group having a smooth interior surface to which the tubing is bonded, wherein either the first or the second collar groups may be interchangeably threaded onto the port. | 07-21-2011 |
20110088788 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUALLY OPENING A VALVE WITH A TOLERANCE COMPENSATING STEM - An automatically adjusting control valve comprises a valve body; a valve seat within the valve body; a sealing disc adjacent the valve seat when the valve is closed and offset from the valve seat when the valve is open; an armature adjacent the sealing disc and operable to move the sealing disc linearly within the valve body; a biasing mechanism which biases the armature toward a first position; and an actuation stem configured to overcome the biasing mechanism and move the armature between the first position and a second position upon manual operation. The actuation stem may comprise a portion which engages the armature during movement between the first position and the second position The portion may be configured to deform to accommodate manufacturing tolerances of the valve. | 04-21-2011 |
20110057140 | MODULAR SPOOL VALVE - A control valve comprising a plurality of interchangeable valve body modules, each module having a main valve cavity and a plurality of separate cross valve communication ports communicating; and at least one interchangeable gasket disposed between adjacent modules and configured to individually communicate the main valve cavity and the communication ports between adjacent valve body modules, wherein the gasket is further configured to selectively communicate between the main valve cavity and a selected one of the cross valve communication ports. In one embodiment, each valve body module further includes a passage communicating with the main valve cavity. In this case, the gasket may be configured to selectively communicate between the passage and the selected one of the cross valve communication ports, thereby selectively communicating between the main valve cavity and the selected one of the cross valve communication ports through the passage by selective orientation of the gasket. | 03-10-2011 |
20100294373 | COMPACT VALVE POSITION INDICATOR - A system for indicating the status of a valve may include an encapsulation with electronic circuitry disposed at least partially therein, a communication sub-system, a sensor, an indicator and a power source. The encapsulation may be zero volume, and the indicator may include a color changing skin. A method of indicating the status of a valve may include providing a valve, providing a status indicating system, changing a status of the valve, sensing a status of the valve, and indicating a status of the valve. A method of encapsulating a status indicating system may include providing an encapsulant and coupling at least a portion of the system with the encapsulant. | 11-25-2010 |
20090309054 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING A SOLENOID VALVE AT MINIMUM POWER LEVELS - The inventions disclosed and taught herein are further directed to a solenoid valve comprising: a casing; a magnetic coil encapsulated in the casing adapted for inducing a magnetic flux when supplied with electrical current; a plunger supported for linear displacement positioned within the coil, adapted to latch or unlatch the solenoid valve; at least one capacitor adapted to energize the magnetic coil; and a piston pneumatically connected to the solenoid valve adapted to latch or unlatch the solenoid valve. | 12-17-2009 |
20090284891 | LOW POWER SOLENOID CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A low power solenoid control circuit including a power source in series with a sensing element and a first diode, an inductor to actuate a valve, an energy storage device to store and discharge energy into the inductor, diodes to control current flow, and switches and a controller to control the circuit. The circuit may be operated by closing a first switch, thereby allowing a source current to flow through an inductor; opening the first switch, thereby forcing a charge current to flow through an energy storage device utilizing the inductance of the inductor; repeating these steps until the energy storage device is sufficiently charged; and upon command, closing a second switch, thereby forcing a discharge current to flow from the energy storage device to the inductor causing the inductor to produce an actuating magnetic field thereby actuating a mechanical valve. | 11-19-2009 |
20090021882 | Solenoid Controls, Systems, and Methods of Use for Obtaining Optimum Battery Life - The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for controlling energy consumption in a system having a battery and including a controller and one or more solenoids. In accordance with the disclosure, the controller provides a controlling mechanism, such as a control algorithm, that will provide the necessary power to operate the one or more solenoids throughout the range of battery voltage in a manner that optimizes the voltage discharge from the battery and simultaneously maximizes battery life. Further power conservation measures are implemented by using a controller and an associated control algorithm to operate a solenoid throughout the range of battery voltage in a manner that places the discharge of the battery in reduced power consumption operating modes as the capacity of the battery is reduced. | 01-22-2009 |