Method for providing an end position of a fitting, electronic operating circuit and actuating drive

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for providing an end position of a fitting, such as a valve for example, in an electronic operating circuit (10) of an actuating drive (1) for automation technology, wherein the electronic operating circuit is connected by wires or wirelessly to a display device (200), such as a screen (210) or a computer (220) or a smartphone for example, wherein an electronic user interface of a computer program product of the electronic operating circuit is provided by means of a display element (201) of the display device, the method comprising the following method steps, which are executed using the electronic user interface: specifying a current position of the fitting in a first method step, and specifying a distance between the current position and a first end position of the fitting and a direction of movement towards the first end position in a second method step.

Description

[0001] Method for providing an end position of a valve, electronic operating circuit and actuator

[0002] The invention relates to a method for providing an end position of a fitting, such as a valve, an electronic operating circuit of an actuator in automation technology and such an actuator.

[0003] Actuators in valve technology are used, for example, to operate valves in industrial plants, for example, to control or monitor media flows through pipelines or the fill levels of media in containers. It is important for the operator of such an actuator to know the current position of a valve. For example, as known from DE102020128234B4, a graphical representation of the current position can be displayed to the operator.

[0004] When installing or replacing an actuator, the current setting position is not stored in the actuator being installed. Typically, the actuator being installed moves the valve to both end positions, and the setting positions are stored in the actuator's electronic operating circuit.

[0005] However, this approach is disadvantageous because a setting position cannot be changed in every situation.

[0006] The object of the invention is therefore to propose a robust and improved method for providing an end position of a valve in an actuator, an operating circuit of the actuator configured for this purpose and such an actuator.

[0007] The object is achieved by a method according to independent claim 1, by an electronic operating circuit of an actuator according to independent claim 6 and by an actuator according to independent claim 7.

[0008] A method according to the invention for providing an end position of a fitting, such as a valve, in an electronic operating circuit of an actuator in automation technology, wherein the electronic operating circuit is connected to a display device such as a screen or a computer or a smartphone in a wired or wireless manner and / or has a display device, wherein a user interface of a computer program product of the electronic operating circuit is provided by means of a display element of the display device, comprises the following method steps, which are implemented with the aid of the user interface:

[0009] Specify a current position of the valve;

[0010] Specify a distance between the current position and a first end position of the valve as well as a direction of movement towards the first end position.

[0011] In this way, when setting up or replacing an actuator, it is possible to avoid having to adjust a valve in order to detect the valve's end position.

[0012] The current position or end position refers to an element of the valve to be actuated.

[0013] Actuators have a positioning range that is larger than the positioning range of a valve. Therefore, even if the current position of a valve is known, it cannot be assumed that the valve's end positions coincide with the positioning range limits.

[0014] When installing or replacing an actuator that operates a valve, it is advantageous if calibration of the actuator by moving the valve to its end positions can be omitted. Using the method according to the invention, the actuator can be connected to a valve without having to calibrate the end positions.

[0015] A computer program product can be firmware, i.e., executed on the actuator itself, or software that is not executed on the actuator but, for example, on a PC or smartphone. In one embodiment of the method, the method comprises the following method step:

[0016] Specify a distance between the current position or first end position and a second end position of the valve as well as a direction of movement towards the second end position using the user interface.

[0017] In this way, when replacing an actuator, it is possible to avoid having to adjust a valve in order to record the end positions of a valve.

[0018] In one embodiment of the method, the distance between the instantaneous position and one of the at least one end position is indicated by means of a number of electrical pulses or by means of a difference in an amplitude or phase of an electrical signal of a displacement sensor of the actuator, such as a magnetic displacement sensor or a resistive displacement sensor, or by a variable derived from the number, amplitude or phase.

[0019] Position sensors of actuators have a high resolution of a positioning range of a valve or an output of the actuator, so that, for example, a number of electrical pulses or a difference in amplitude or phase of an electrical signal can be specified, which is necessary to reach one of the end positions.

[0020] Also derived values ​​such as the number of revolutions of the electric motor or an angle specification regarding a rotation of an element of the valve to be actuated can be specified.

[0021] In one embodiment, the electronic user interface is a graphical, command-line-based or character-oriented user interface.

[0022] In one embodiment, the display device is part of the actuator.

[0023] An electronic operating circuit according to the invention is configured to operate an actuator, wherein the electronic operating circuit is configured to provide a computer program product with a user interface according to the method according to the invention. In an actuator in automation technology for actuating a fitting, such as a valve, the actuator has the following: an electric motor; an output for actuating the fitting; a gear for transmitting a force or a torque of the electric motor to the output; an electronic operating circuit for operating the electric motor, wherein the electronic operating circuit according to the invention is configured to provide a user interface for carrying out the method according to the invention.

[0024] In one embodiment, the actuator has a display device with a display element.

[0025] In one embodiment, the actuator has a position sensor which is designed to detect changes in the setting position of a valve or the output and to provide them to the electronic operating circuit.

[0026] In the following, the invention is described using exemplary embodiments.

[0027] Fig. 1 describes the sequence of an exemplary method according to the invention;

[0028] Fig. 2 describes a schematic structure of an exemplary actuator;

[0029] Figs. 3 a) and 3 b) each sketch an example valve.

[0030] Fig. 1 describes the sequence of an exemplary method according to the invention.

[0031] When installing or replacing an actuator 1 in automation technology, the valve is moved to both end positions by the actuator to be installed, according to the state of the art, and the setting positions are stored in an electronic operating circuit of the actuator.

[0032] This has the disadvantage that, for example, in an industrial plant, a valve must be actuated during operation, which can have an adverse effect on downstream processes. In a method 100 according to the invention, an electronic operating circuit 10 of an actuator 1 to be added is provided with an instantaneous position 60.3 (see Fig. 3 a)) of a valve in a first method step 101, and a distance to a first end position 60.1 of the valve and a direction of movement towards the first end position in a second method step 102. If the instantaneous position does not correspond to an end position, a distance between the instantaneous position 60.3 or the first end position 60.1 and a second end position 60.2 of the valve and, in particular, a direction of movement towards the second end position is provided in a third method step 103.

[0033] The current position, the first end position and, if applicable, the second end position are queried or read out, for example, from an electronic operating circuit of a previous actuator.

[0034] In this way, there is no need to operate the valve to find the end positions.

[0035] To indicate the setting information, i.e., the current position, the first end position, and optionally the second end position, as well as associated directions of movement, the electronic operating circuit is connected, wired or wirelessly, to an external display device 200.2, such as a monitor 210 or a smartphone 220, or to a display device of the actuator 200.1, as shown here, for example. An electronic user interface 11 of a computer program product of the electronic operating circuit is provided by means of a display element 201 of the display device. The display device can be designed to be touch-sensitive, for example. The setting information can be entered using an input device, such as a keyboard, computer mouse, or finger.

[0036] Fig. 2 describes a schematic structure of an exemplary actuator 1 configured to implement the method according to the invention.

[0037] The actuator comprises an electric motor 30, a gearbox 40, and an output 50. The gearbox is configured to transmit a force or torque of the electric motor to the output for the purpose of actuating a valve 60 (see Figs. 3 a) or 3 b)).

[0038] An electronic operating circuit 10 is configured to operate the electric motor. A position sensor 20 can be provided, which detects movements of the transmission 40 or the output 50 and feeds them back to the electronic operating circuit. A valve position can be tracked using the position sensor. For example, the position sensor can send measurement signals from the position sensor to the electronic operating circuit without processing, or it can translate these signals into a valve position and send the valve position to the electronic operating circuit.

[0039] Position sensors of actuators have a high resolution of a positioning range of a valve or an output of the actuator, so that, for example, a number of electrical pulses or a difference in amplitude or phase of an electrical signal can be specified, which is necessary to reach one of the end positions.

[0040] Also derived values ​​such as the number of revolutions of the electric motor or an angle specification regarding a rotation of an element of the valve to be actuated can be specified.

[0041] A display device 200.1, 200.2 is configured to display the current position 60.3 and at least one end position 60.1, 60.2. The display device can be a display device 200.1 of the actuator or an external display device 200.2, such as a monitor or a smartphone, wherein the electronic operating circuit 10 communicates with the display device wirelessly or via a wired connection. For this purpose, a communication device 12 can be configured, for example, which is configured to communicate via Bluetooth, WLAN, or Ethernet.

[0042] Fig. 3 a) outlines an exemplary valve 60 in a channel 71, wherein the valve has a slide valve 62, which is configured, for example, to open or close the channel or to control the flow of a medium through the channel. The slide valve has a first end position 60.1, in which the channel is completely open, and a second end position 60.2, in which the channel is completely closed. An instantaneous position 60.3 of the slide valve can be adjusted, for example, via an output shaft or output spindle 51 of an actuator.

[0043] Fig. 3 b) outlines an exemplary valve 61 in a pipeline 72, which valve is designed as a ball valve 61.1 with a through-opening 61.11. Corresponding to the example in Fig. 3 a), the ball valve also has a first end position, a second end position (not shown), and an instantaneous position 60.3, which instantaneous position can be adjusted by an actuator via an output shaft or output spindle. In the first end position, the ball valve can be set to maximum flow, and in the second end position, to minimum flow.

[0044] When installing or replacing an actuator that operates a gate or ball valve, it is advantageous if calibration of the actuator by moving the valve to the end positions can be omitted. Using the method according to the invention, the actuator can be connected to a valve without having to calibrate the end positions.

[0045] List of reference symbols

[0046] 1 actuator

[0047] 10 electronic operating circuit

[0048] 11 electronic user interface

[0049] 12 Communication device

[0050] 20 wayfinders

[0051] 30 electric motor

[0052] 40 gearboxes

[0053] 50 downforce

[0054] 51 Output shaft / output spindle

[0055] 60 fittings

[0056] 60.1 first end position

[0057] 60.2 second end position

[0058] 60.3 Current position

[0059] 61 Valve

[0060] 61.1 Ball valve

[0061] 61.11 Passage opening

[0062] 62 sliders

[0063] 71 channels

[0064] 72 pipeline

[0065] 100 procedures

[0066] 101 Specifying a current position 102 Specifying a distance to a first end position

[0067] 103 Specifying a distance to a second end position

[0068] 200.1 Actuator indicator device

[0069] 200.2 external display device 201 display element

[0070] 210 Monitor

[0071] 220 smartphones

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method (100) for providing an end position of a fitting (60), such as a valve (61) or a slide (62), in an electronic operating circuit (10) of an actuator (1) of automation technology, wherein the electronic operating circuit is connected to an external display device (200.2) such as a monitor (210) or a smartphone (220) or a display device of the actuator (200.1) in a wired or wireless manner, wherein an electronic user interface (11) of a computer program product of the electronic operating circuit is provided by means of a display element (201) of the display device, comprising the following method steps, which are implemented with the aid of the electronic user interface: Specifying a current position (60.3) of the valve in a first method step (101); Specifying a distance between the current position (60.3) and a first end position (60.1) of the valve and a direction of movement towards the first end position in a second method step (102).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method (100) comprises the following method step: Specifying a distance between the current position (60.3) or first end position (60.1) and a second end position (60.2) of the valve and in particular a direction of movement towards the second end position with the aid of the user interface in a third method step (103).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the distance between the instantaneous position (60.3) and one of the at least one end position (60.1, 60.2) is determined by a number of electrical pulses or by a difference in an amplitude or phase of an electrical signal of a displacement sensor (20) of the actuator, such as a magnetic displacement sensor or a resistive displacement sensor, or by a quantity derived from the number, amplitude or phase.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic user interface (11) is a graphical, command line-based or character-oriented user interface.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display device (200.1) is part of the actuator (1).

6. Electronic operating circuit (10) configured to operate an actuator (1), wherein the electronic operating circuit is configured to provide a computer program product with a user interface according to one of the preceding claims.

7. An actuator (1) of automation technology for actuating a fitting (60) such as a valve (61), the actuator comprising: an electric motor (30); an output (50) for actuating the fitting; a gear (40) for transmitting a force or a torque of the electric motor to the output; an electronic operating circuit (10) for operating the electric motor according to claim 6, wherein the electronic operating circuit is configured to provide a user interface for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 5.

8. Actuator according to claim 7, wherein the actuator (1) has a display device (200) with a display element (201).

9. Actuator according to one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the actuator has a displacement sensor (20) which is designed to detect changes in a setting position of a valve or of the output (50) and to provide them to the electronic operating circuit (10).

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