Electric valve control device and electric valve

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides an electric valve control device which specifically comprises a first control panel connected with a motor of an electric valve and configured to send a first control signal to the motor in response to a user instruction so as to drive a valve element of the electric valve to rotate through the motor to control the valve to be opened or closed; and the second control panel is connected with the first control panel in parallel and configured to intervene in control over the motor when the first control panel breaks down and send a second control signal to the motor in response to operation of a user so that a valve element of the electric valve can be driven by the motor to rotate to control the valve to be opened or closed or adjusted to the target angle. According to the electric valve control device, the first control panel can be replaced by the second control panel to work under the emergency condition that the first control panel breaks down, so that electric control operation of the electric valve is completed, potential safety hazards caused by manual control in the emergency treatment stage are reduced, and the safety of the electric valve is improved. And the operation safety of equipment where the electric valve is located is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of valve control technology, and in particular to an electric valve control device and an electric valve. Background Technology

[0002] Valves are commonly used devices in industrial production. They are installed on pipelines and are used to open, close, and control the flow of substances within the pipeline to meet industrial production requirements.

[0003] The drive and control part of an electric valve typically consists of a motor, a junction box (including a control board on the junction box), a handwheel, a hand-electric conversion lever, and mechanical indicators.

[0004] In related technologies, the control types of electric valves can be divided into remote automatic control, local automatic control, and manual control. Automatic control of electric valves (remote and local automatic control) requires a control board to output control signals to the motor, thereby controlling the opening and closing of the electric valve driven by the motor. If the control board malfunctions and the fault cannot be identified quickly, manual control of the valve is necessary. For some large valves, manual control is time-consuming and labor-intensive, potentially leading to operational accidents and affecting equipment safety. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the present application provides an electric valve control device to solve the technical defects existing in the prior art.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an electric valve control device, comprising: a first control board connected to the motor of an electric valve, configured to send a first control signal to the motor in response to a user instruction, thereby controlling the valve to open or close by driving the valve core of the electric valve to rotate via the motor; and a second control board connected in parallel with the first control board, configured to intervene in the control of the motor when the first control board fails, and to send a second control signal to the motor in response to a user operation, thereby controlling the valve to open, close, or adjust to a target angle by driving the valve core of the electric valve to rotate via the motor.

[0007] In one possible implementation, the second control board includes: a first contactor for sending an open continuous signal to the motor in response to a user's continuous pressing operation, and controlling the valve core to fully open or open to a corresponding angle based on the duration of the open continuous signal; and a second contactor for sending a close continuous signal to the motor in response to a user's continuous pressing operation, and controlling the valve core to fully close or close to a corresponding angle based on the duration of the close continuous signal.

[0008] In one possible implementation, the second control board further includes an air switch and a thermal relay; wherein the second control board is connected in parallel with the first control board as follows: one end of the air switch is connected to the input terminal of the first control board, and the other end is connected to the input terminals of the first contactor and the second contactor respectively; the output terminals of the first contactor and the second contactor are connected to the input terminal of the thermal relay; and the output terminal of the thermal relay is connected to the output terminal of the first control board.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the air switch is normally open; in the event of a failure of the first control board, the air switch closes in response to a user operation.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the thermal relay is configured to trigger a control loop disconnection when the monitored current exceeds a preset current.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the second control board further includes: an open limit switch, connected in series with the first contactor and normally closed, configured to trigger disconnection when the mechanical indicator of the electric valve points to the open position; and a close limit switch, connected in series with the second contactor and normally closed, configured to trigger disconnection when the mechanical indicator of the electric valve points to the closed position.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the first contactor and the second contactor are interlocked.

[0013] In one possible implementation, the second control panel further includes: an on button, connected in series with the first contactor, configured to trigger the first contactor to send the on continuous signal to the motor in response to continuous pressing by the user; and an off button, connected in series with the second contactor, configured to trigger the second contactor to send the off continuous signal to the motor in response to continuous pressing by the user.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the air switch is used to control the control circuit of the second control board to disconnect in response to the user's pull-open operation, thereby de-energizing the electric valve and stopping its operation.

[0015] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide an electric valve including: the electric valve control device provided in the first aspect.

[0016] The technical solution provided in this application embodiment allows the second control board to replace the faulty control board and perform the corresponding functions when the first control board malfunctions, thereby completing the electric control operation of the electric valve. This reduces the safety hazards caused by manual control during emergency handling and improves the operational safety of the equipment containing the electric valve. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structural connection of the electric valve control part in related technologies;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the relationship between the mechanical indication of an electric valve and the state of the valve core in related technologies.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electric valve controller provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure and connection of a second control board provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a circuit connection diagram of a second control board provided in one embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0022] Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a full understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar extensions without departing from the spirit of this application; therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0023] The terminology used in one or more embodiments of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of one or more embodiments of this application. The singular forms “a” and “the” as used in one or more embodiments of this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used in one or more embodiments of this application refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more associated listed items.

[0024] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, etc., may be used to describe various information in one or more embodiments of this application, such information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish information of the same type from one another. For example, first may also be referred to as second without departing from the scope of one or more embodiments of this application, and similarly, second may also be referred to as first. Depending on the context, the word "if" as used herein may be interpreted as "when," "when," or "in response to a determination."

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structural connection of the electric valve control part in the related technology is shown.

[0026] Reference Figure 1As shown, in related technologies, the control part 10 of an electric valve consists of a motor 11, a junction box 12 (including a control board 121 on the junction box), a handwheel 13, a hand-electric conversion lever 14, and a mechanical indicator head 15.

[0027] The control of electric valves can be divided into three types: remote control, local control, and manual control. The control mode can be selected via the selector switch on the control panel 121. (Refer to...) Figure 1 As shown, when the selector switch on control panel 121 is rotated to the remote position, the electric valve can only be controlled by the host computer. When the selector switch on control panel 121 is rotated to the near position, the host computer cannot control the electric valve; it can only perform local electric operation (i.e., control via the open, close, and stop buttons on control panel 121). When the selector switch on control panel 121 is rotated to the stop position, neither remote nor local electric operation can be performed. If manual control is required, the handwheel 13 can be operated by switching the handwheel 14 from the electric position to the manual position. When the handwheel 14 is in the manual position, neither remote nor local electric operation can be performed; similarly, when the handwheel is in the electric position, the handwheel cannot operate the electric valve (the handwheel spins freely).

[0028] Figure 2 A schematic diagram illustrating the relationship between the mechanical indication of an electric valve and the state of the valve core is shown in the related art.

[0029] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in the related technology, the mechanical indicator 15 of the electric valve is used to indicate the valve core state. The mechanical indicator 15 includes two indicating positions: open and closed. The indicating positions of the mechanical indicator 15 correspond to the valve core state. Specifically, when the mechanical indicator 15 points to the closed position, the mechanical indicator 15 is perpendicular to the pipeline, and the valve core is also perpendicular to the pipeline, thus closing the pipeline. When the mechanical indicator 15 points to the open position, the mechanical indicator 15 is parallel to the pipeline, and the valve core is also parallel to the pipeline, opening both sides of the valve core and allowing the pipeline to pass.

[0030] It's important to note that many existing electric valves are generally programmed controls. This means the electric gate's motor is controlled by a circuit board (control board), with the power supply connected to the control board's input and the motor to its output. While the control board offers many functions, a malfunction prevents remote control from the host computer and also hinders local control. Manual control via the handwheel is the only option. Furthermore, troubleshooting control board malfunctions is difficult and often necessitates replacement. Since the control board consists of multiple components, identifying the faulty component requires extensive testing, a tedious process. For smaller, less dangerous electric gates, manual operation via the handwheel is sufficient. However, for larger electric gates, handwheel operation can take tens of minutes or even hours, wasting manpower and increasing the risk of accidents. For example, in power plant circulating water systems, with their large pipes and gates, leaks require immediate closure. Failure to close the gate or prolonged delays can lead to flooding and economic losses. Even small electric doors that operate under high temperature, high pressure, or corrosive liquids, although quick and relatively easy to operate with a handwheel, are prone to leaks that can injure operators.

[0031] To overcome the above-mentioned technical problems, this application provides a control device for an electric valve. The control device is equipped with an emergency control board to replace the commonly used control board of the electric valve. When the commonly used control board fails, the emergency control board can replace the faulty control board to realize the corresponding function and complete the electric control operation of the electric valve. This reduces the safety hazards caused by manual control during emergency handling and improves the safety of the equipment where the electric valve is located.

[0032] The control device for the electric valve provided in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of a control device for an electric valve provided in one embodiment of this application is shown.

[0034] Reference Figure 3 As shown, the control device 30 of the electric valve may include a first control board 301 and a second control board 302. The first control board 301 is connected to the motor of the electric valve and is configured to send a first control signal to the motor in response to a user command, so as to control the valve to open or close by driving the valve core of the electric valve to rotate through the motor.

[0035] The second control board 302 is connected in parallel with the first control board and is configured to intervene in the control of the motor when the first control board fails. In response to the user's operation, it sends a second control signal to the motor to control the valve to open, close, or adjust to the target angle by driving the valve core of the electric valve to rotate.

[0036] In some embodiments, the first control board 301 can be a conventional control panel for an electric valve, meaning that during the conventional control phase, the electric valve can be controlled preferentially through the first control board 301.

[0037] In some embodiments, the first control board 301 can at least achieve Figure 1 All the functions of the control board 121 shown are not described in detail here.

[0038] In some embodiments, the second control board 302 may be connected in parallel with the first control board 301, wherein the connection point of the parallel connection may be the control signal input contact and the control signal output contact of the first control board.

[0039] In some embodiments, the second control board 302 is configured to intervene in the control of the motor when the first control board fails, and in response to user operation, send a second control signal to the motor to drive the valve core of the electric valve to rotate, controlling the valve to open, close, or adjust to a target angle. In the electric valve control device provided in this application, by redundantly configuring the second control board, when it is determined that the first control board is faulty or abnormal and cannot achieve normal control of the electric valve, the second control board 302 intervenes in the control of the electric valve, thereby temporarily replacing all functions of the first control board. By having the second control board 302 replace the first control board 301, the valve can be quickly opened and closed in emergency situations, avoiding accidents, improving work efficiency, ensuring the personal safety of personnel, and ensuring the safety of equipment, preventing equipment damage.

[0040] In one embodiment, the control of the electric valve is intervened by the second control board 302, which may include at least the control of the motor of the electric valve. Specifically, the second control board 302 may send a second control signal to the motor of the electric valve in response to the user's operation, thereby controlling the valve core of the electric valve to rotate by controlling the motor, so as to control the valve to open, close, or adjust the valve to a target angle.

[0041] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure and connection of a second control board provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0042] In some embodiments, the second control panel 302 may include:

[0043] The first contactor KC is used to respond to the user's continuous pressing operation by sending a continuous opening signal to the motor, and based on the duration of the continuous opening signal, control the valve core to be fully opened or opened to the corresponding angle;

[0044] The second contactor GC is used to send a continuous closing signal to the motor in response to the user's continuous pressing operation. Based on the duration of the continuous closing signal, it controls the valve core to be fully closed or closed to the corresponding angle.

[0045] In this embodiment, a contactor is used to transmit control signals to the motor of the electric valve, thereby driving the valve core to rotate to achieve the user's target effect, such as controlling the valve to be fully open, fully closed, or adjusting the valve rotation to a target angle. Controlling the valve via a contactor not only fulfills the basic requirements of opening and closing the valve, but also allows for adjusting the valve to a target angle, thus regulating the valve opening and improving the versatility of valve regulation functions.

[0046] Reference Figure 4 As shown, the second control board 302 may also include: an air switch ZK and a thermal relay RJ.

[0047] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 4 As shown, the second control board 302 is connected in parallel with the first control board 301, including:

[0048] One end of the air switch ZK is connected to the input terminal of the first control board 301, and the other end is connected to the input terminals of the first contactor KC and the second contactor GC respectively.

[0049] The output terminals of the first contactor KC and the second contactor GC are connected to the input terminal of the thermal relay RJ;

[0050] The output terminal of the thermal relay RJ is connected to the output terminal of the first control board 301.

[0051] The air switch ZK is normally open; in the event of a malfunction in the first control board 301, it closes in response to user operation. Setting the air switch ZK to the normally open state ensures that the control circuit controlling the second control board 302 is disconnected when the first control board 301 is working normally, preventing the second control board from issuing false commands. Furthermore, when a malfunction is determined in the first control board, the air switch ZK can be closed in response to user operation, thereby controlling the second control board 302 to enter the working state of controlling the electric valve.

[0052] The thermal relay RJ is configured to trigger the control circuit to disconnect when the monitored current exceeds a preset current, thereby de-energizing the motor of the electric valve. In one embodiment, the preset current can be the rated current of the electric valve motor. As a motor overload protection device, the thermal relay RJ provides overload protection for the motor of the electric valve, improving the safety of motor operation.

[0053] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 4 As shown, the second control board 302 may further include:

[0054] The limit switch KW is connected in series with the first contactor KC and is normally closed. It is configured to be triggered to disconnect when the mechanical indicator head of the electric valve points to the open position.

[0055] The limit switch GW is connected in series with the second contactor GC and is normally closed. It is configured to be triggered to disconnect when the mechanical indicator head of the electric valve points to the closed position.

[0056] In this embodiment, by setting the aforementioned open limit switch KW and close limit switch GW, and fixing a metal rod at the location indicated by the mechanical arrow, the height of the metal rod is such that it can touch the first swing arm 41 corresponding to the open limit switch KW, or the second swing arm 42 corresponding to the close limit switch GW. The swing arms of the limit switches are self-resetting; after the metal rod leaves the swing arms, the swing arms automatically return to their original state.

[0057] In some embodiments, the second control board 302 may further include:

[0058] The power button, connected in series with the first contactor KC, is configured to trigger the first contactor to send a continuous power signal to the motor in response to continuous pressing by the user.

[0059] The power button, connected in series with the second contactor GC, is configured to trigger the second contactor to send a continuous power-off signal to the motor in response to continuous pressing by the user.

[0060] Figure 5 This is a circuit connection diagram of a second control board provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0061] Combination Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, when the first control board 301 malfunctions, the selector switch of the first control board 301 can be rotated to the stop position to avoid the first control board 301 issuing commands erroneously.

[0062] Regarding the opening control of electric valves

[0063] The user can press the open button KA on the second control board 302 to energize the first contactor KC and continuously output an open signal to the motor. The motor works based on the received open signal, and the valve core rotates to the open position. The mechanical indicator rotates synchronously. When it reaches the open position, the metal rod touches the first rocker arm 41. The first rocker arm 41 moves to open the normally closed contact of the opening limit switch KW, de-energizes the circuit, and stops outputting the open signal to the motor. The opening control action of the electric valve stops.

[0064] Regarding the closing control of electric valves

[0065] The user can press the close button GA on the second control board 302 to energize the second contactor GC and continuously output a close signal to the motor. The motor works based on the received close signal, and the valve core rotates to the closed position. The mechanical indicator rotates synchronously. When the closed position is reached, the metal rod touches the second rocker arm 42. The second rocker arm 42 moves to open the normally closed contact of the close limit switch GW, de-energizes the circuit, and stops outputting the close signal to the motor. The closing control action for the electric valve stops.

[0066] In some embodiments, when the user continuously presses the open button KA or the close button GA on the second control panel 302, the user can stop pressing the button and control the motor to stop rotating, that is, stop providing drive. Based on this adjustment method, the opening degree of the electric valve can be adjusted to any opening degree to achieve the purpose of adjusting the flow rate in the pipeline.

[0067] Reference Figure 5 The connection shown within the double dashed box is such that the normally open contact KC of the first contactor is connected in parallel to the open button KA, and the normally open contact GC of the second contactor is connected in parallel to the close button GA. In this way, the operator only needs to press the button once to wait in a relatively safe place, while the electric door continues to operate until it reaches its destination.

[0068] In some embodiments, the second control panel 302 may have two doors, an inner door and an outer door. The inner door is equipped with an open button KA and a close button GA for operating the electric door. The outer door provides a sealed protection for the inner door, preventing water ingress and accidental contact. Both the inner and outer doors are equipped with locks.

[0069] In some embodiments, the first contactor KC and the second contactor GC are interlocked. That is, when the first contactor KC is working, the second contactor GC is locked and cannot work, and similarly, when the second contactor GC is working, the first contactor KC is locked and cannot work. Specifically, a normally closed contact GC of the second contactor can be connected in series in the circuit where the first contactor KC is located, and a normally closed contact KC of the first contactor can be connected in series in the circuit where the second contactor GC is located. This prevents the door closing button from being pressed during the door opening process, or the door opening button from being pressed during the door closing process, which would cause the door opening and closing contactors to be energized simultaneously, resulting in a phase-to-phase short circuit in the main circuit.

[0070] In some embodiments, the air switch ZK is also used to control the control circuit of the second control board to disconnect in response to the user's pull-open operation, so that the electric valve is de-energized and stops operating.

[0071] This application also provides an electric valve, which may include the electric valve control device provided in any embodiment of this application.

[0072] The foregoing has described specific embodiments of this application. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions or steps recited in the claims may be performed in a different order than that shown in the embodiments and may still achieve the desired results. Furthermore, the processes depicted in the drawings do not necessarily require the specific or sequential order shown to achieve the desired results. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are also possible or may be advantageous.

[0073] The computer instructions include computer program code, which may be in the form of source code, object code, executable file, or some intermediate form. The computer-readable medium may include: any entity or device capable of carrying the computer program code, recording media, USB flash drive, portable hard drive, magnetic disk, optical disk, computer memory, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), electrical carrier signals, telecommunication signals, and software distribution media, etc. It should be noted that the content included in the computer-readable medium may be appropriately added to or subtracted according to the requirements of legislation and patent practice in the jurisdiction. For example, in some jurisdictions, according to legislation and patent practice, computer-readable media may not include electrical carrier signals and telecommunication signals.

[0074] It should be noted that, for the sake of simplicity, the foregoing method embodiments are all described as a series of actions. However, those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments of this application are not limited to the described order of actions, because according to the embodiments of this application, some steps can be performed in other orders or simultaneously. Secondly, those skilled in the art should also understand that the embodiments described in the specification are all preferred embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily essential to the embodiments of this application.

[0075] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0076] The preferred embodiments disclosed above are merely illustrative of this application. The optional embodiments do not exhaustively describe all details, nor do they limit the invention to the specific implementations described. Clearly, many modifications and variations can be made based on the embodiments of this application. These embodiments are selected and specifically described in this application to better explain the principles and practical applications of the embodiments of this application, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better understand and utilize this application. This application is limited only by the claims and their full scope and equivalents.

Claims

1. An electric valve control device, characterized in that, The device includes: The first control board, connected to the motor of the electric valve, is configured to send a first control signal to the motor in response to a user command, so as to control the valve to open or close by driving the valve core of the electric valve to rotate through the motor. The second control board, connected in parallel with the first control board, is configured to intervene in the control of the motor when the first control board fails, and in response to user operation, send a second control signal to the motor to control the valve to open, close, or adjust to a target angle by driving the valve core of the electric valve to rotate through the motor.

2. The electric valve control device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second control board includes: The first contactor is used to send a continuous opening signal to the motor in response to the user's continuous pressing operation, and control the valve core to be fully opened or opened to a corresponding angle based on the duration of the continuous opening signal; The second contactor is used to send a continuous closing signal to the motor in response to the user's continuous pressing operation, and to control the valve core to be fully closed or closed to a corresponding angle based on the duration of the continuous closing signal.

3. The electric valve control device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second control board also includes an air switch and a thermal relay; The second control board is connected in parallel with the first control board, including: One end of the air switch is connected to the input terminal of the first control board, and the other end is connected to the input terminals of the first contactor and the second contactor respectively; The output terminals of the first contactor and the second contactor are connected to the input terminal of the thermal relay; The output terminal of the thermal relay is connected to the output terminal of the first control board.

4. The electric valve control device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The air switch is in the normally open state; In the event of a failure in the first control board, the air switch closes in response to a user operation.

5. The electric valve control device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The thermal relay is configured to trigger the control loop to disconnect when the monitored current exceeds a preset current.

6. The electric valve control device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second control board also includes: The limit switch is connected in series with the first contactor and is normally closed. It is configured to be triggered to disconnect when the mechanical indicator head of the electric valve points to the open position. The limit switch is connected in series with the second contactor and is normally closed. It is configured to be triggered to disconnect when the mechanical indicator of the electric valve points to the closed position.

7. The electric valve control device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first contactor and the second contactor are interlocked.

8. The electric valve control device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second control board also includes: An on button, connected in series with the first contactor, is configured to trigger the first contactor to send the on continuous signal to the motor in response to continuous pressing by the user. The off button, connected in series with the second contactor, is configured to trigger the second contactor to send the off continuous signal to the motor in response to continuous pressing by the user.

9. The electric valve control device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The air switch is used to respond to the user's opening operation, controlling the control circuit of the second control board to disconnect, so that the electric valve loses power and stops operating.

10. An electric valve, characterized in that, include: The electric valve control device according to any one of claims 1-9.

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