US 12,352,369 B2
Steam injection valve actuator, system, and method
Bradley W. Engstrand, Hartford, WI (US)
Assigned to PHAEDRUS, LLC, Hartford, WI (US)
Filed by Phaedrus, LLC, Hartford, WI (US)
Filed on Apr. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/236,970.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/013,312, filed on Apr. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0324968 A1, Oct. 21, 2021
Int. Cl. F16K 37/00 (2006.01); F17D 3/12 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 37/0058 (2013.01) [F17D 3/12 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A valve actuator assembly comprising:
a body defining an exterior that is sealed and an interior cavity;
a piston coupled to a piston rod and movable within a piston cylinder provided within the interior cavity of the body;
a first light emitter disposed in a first piston chamber within the piston cylinder;
a first light sensor positioned such that the first light sensor is configured to sense illumination intensity of the light generated by the first light emitter; and
one or more electronic components, including at least one processor, within the interior cavity the one or more electronic components configured to send a signal to a valve of one or more manifolds to move the piston via controlled air pressure and to continuously monitor and/or determine a position of the piston rod relative to the piston cylinder according to signals generated by the first light sensor,
wherein the first light sensor is coupled to the first light emitter via fiber optics,
wherein a portion of the interior cavity is maintained at a positive pressure, such that the portion of the interior cavity is maintained at a pressure above a pressure adjacent the exterior of the body, and
wherein the positive pressure of the portion of the interior cavity resists environmental conditions or contaminants from entering the portion of the interior cavity of the body.