| CPC F16K 37/0041 (2013.01) [F16K 31/0655 (2013.01); G06T 7/70 (2017.01); G06T 2207/20081 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
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1. A system for monitoring a valve position comprising:
a valve assembly comprising:
a valve body having an inlet port and an outlet port, with a fluid path extending between the inlet port and the outlet port that is configured to transport one or more fluids through the valve body;
a valve situated in the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port configured to actuate from a closed position, which closes the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port, to an open position in which fluid flows freely through the valve body, and
a valve actuator, secured relative to the valve body, for moving the valve relative to an axis, between a closed position, which closes the fluid path between the inlet port and the outlet port, and an open position;
a locking device disposed through the valve actuator and around the valve body such that the valve is prevented from turning without operator interference, the locking device comprising:
a cable configured to transmit an electrical signal to a processor when the locking device is locked;
wherein the processor is further configured to convert the electrical signal into a lock-status signal indicating the locking device is locked;
wherein when the processor does not receive the electrical signal transmitted by the cable, the processor is further configured to output the lock-status signal indicating the locking device is unlocked;
a data storage unit configured to store the lock-status signal determined by the processor on a non-transient storage medium;
a first transceiver configured to transmit the lock-status signal;
a battery configured to supply power to the cable, the processor, the data storage unit, and the first transceiver, and
a bus configured to transmit data and power through the processor, the data storage unit, the first transceiver, and the battery;
an image sensor configured to capture an image including a field of view including the valve actuator and the locking device disposed on the valve assembly, the image sensor comprising:
a lens configured to capture the image, and
a second transceiver configured to transmit the image;
a central signal receival unit configured to receive the lock-status signal from the locking device, recognize a position of the valve actuator from the image, and convert the position of the valve actuator into a valve-position signal, the central signal receival unit comprising:
an image processing module configured to recognize the valve actuator in the image, and
a communication port configured to transmit the lock-status signal and the valve-position signal, and
a display board configured to receive the lock-status signal and the valve-position signal from the central signal receival unit and display the lock-status signal and the valve-position signal for an operator to view,
wherein the image sensor is connected to the central signal receival unit with a data connection.
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