US 12,292,136 B2
Process valve apparatus and method
Holger Steltner, Esslingen (DE); Matthias Joachimsthaler, Karlsruhe (DE); and Jürgen Ruoff, Stuttgart (DE)
Assigned to Festo SE & Co. KG, Esslingen (DE)
Filed by Festo SE & Co. KG, Esslingen (DE)
Filed on Jun. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/844,922.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2021 206 492.2 (DE), filed on Jun. 23, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0412482 A1, Dec. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. F16K 37/00 (2006.01); F15B 19/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 37/0083 (2013.01) [F15B 19/005 (2013.01); F16K 37/0091 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process valve apparatus comprising:
a process fitting with a valve member;
a pneumatic valve drive for actuating the valve member; and
a control device with a control device housing, a control unit and a pneumatic valve device for pneumatic actuation of the valve drive, wherein the control unit and the pneumatic valve device are arranged in the control device housing and the control unit is configured to provide an electrical control signal for controlling the pneumatic valve device, the control device being configured to carry out a partial stroke test and, within the partial stroke test:
to pneumatically actuate the valve drive by means of the valve device, so that the valve drive sets the valve member in a test movement sequence in which the valve member performs a first test movement from a first position to a second position and a second test movement from the second position back to the first position,
to detect pressure information related to the pneumatic actuation of the valve drive and, taking the pressure information into account, to determine status information indicating the functioning and/or wear of the process valve apparatus,
wherein the control unit is configured to control the valve device with the electrical control signal in order to effect the pneumatic actuation of the valve drive, wherein the control device is configured to perform a plurality of partial stroke tests and the control unit is configured to provide the electrical control signal with the same control signal values for each partial stroke test.