Valve control device

1 . A valve control device for controlling operation of a valve actuator configured to be connected to a valve member, the valve control device being configured to be removably mounted on the valve actuator and comprising:

a position sensor for detecting actuating position of the valve actuator and outputting the detected position as a feedback signal,

a memory device for storing position data reflecting the feedback signal from the position sensor at at least one actuating position of the valve actuator,

an electronic control unit for controlling operation of the valve actuator using the feedback signal from the position sensor and the position data from the memory device,

wherein the electronic control unit is configured for automatically performing a reset of the position data of the memory device as a result of the valve control device becoming separated from, and/or assembled on, the valve actuator, and

the electronic control unit being configured for automatic detection of said separation and/or assembly of the valve control device relative to the valve actuator based on the feedback signal of the position sensor.

2 . The valve control device according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured for automatically detecting separation and/or assembly of the valve control device relative to the valve actuator, and performing a reset of the position data of the memory device in response to such an automatic detection of separation and/or assembly of the valve control device relative to the valve actuator.

3 . The valve control device according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit further comprises an electrical connector configured for being connected to an external power supply connector, wherein the electronic control unit is configured for automatically performing a reset of the position data of the memory device as a result of the combined actions of:

the valve control device being separated from, and/or assembled on, the valve actuator, and

the electrical connector being unplugged from the external power supply connector and/or plugged into the external power supply connector while the valve control device is being in a separated state relative to the valve actuator.

4 . The valve control device according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit further comprises an electrical connector configured for being connected to an external power supply connector, wherein the electronic control unit is configured for:

automatically detecting separation and/or assembly of the valve control device relative to the valve actuator, and

automatically detecting unplugging or plugging in of the electrical connector relative to the power supply connector, and

performing a reset of the position data of the memory device in response to the combined actions of automatic detection of separation and/or assembly of the valve control device and automatic detection of unplugging or plugging in of the electrical connector.

5 . The valve control device according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit further comprises an electrical connector configured for being connected to an external power supply connector, and wherein the electronic control unit is configured for automatically performing a reset of the position data of the memory device when

the valve control device first has been separated from the valve actuator, the power supply connector for powering the valve control device subsequently has been unplugged from the valve control device while the valve control device still is in a separated condition, and the power supply connector for powering the valve control device thereafter has been plugged into the valve control device again, or

the power supply connector for powering the valve control device first has been unplugged from the valve control device, the valve control device subsequently becomes separated from the valve actuator, and the power supply connector for powering the valve control device thereafter has been plugged into the valve control device again while the valve control device still is in a separated condition.

6 . The valve control device according to claim 1 , wherein the valve control device is free from a Human Machine Interface that enables a user to activate a reset of the position data of the memory device.

7 . The valve control device according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured for, subsequent or in connection with an automatic reset of the position data of the memory device of the valve control device and assembly of the valve control device on the valve actuator, performing an automatic setup of the valve control device, wherein the automatic setup involves storing, in the memory device, position data reflecting the feedback signal from the position sensor at at least one actuating position of the valve actuator.

8 . The valve control device according to claim 7 , wherein the automatic setup of the valve control device involves controlling operation of the valve control device to move the valve actuator to its end limit positions, reading the feedback signal of the position sensor at these end limit positions and storing, in the memory device, position data in the memory device reflecting the feedback signal at said end limit positions.

9 . An assembly comprising the valve control device according to claim 1 , and the valve actuator, wherein the valve actuator comprises a linearly moveable actuating stem arranged in a stationary actuator housing, and wherein the position sensor is configured for detecting the position of the moveable actuating stem.

10 . The assembly according to claim 9 , further comprising a valve housing including the valve member, wherein the valve member is connected to the linearly moveable actuating stem of the valve actuator.

11 . A method for operating a valve control device, which is configured to be removably mounted on a valve actuator, the method comprising:

detecting an actuating position of the valve actuator by a position sensor of the valve control device and outputting the detected position as a feedback signal,

obtaining the feedback signal from the position sensor by an electronic control unit,

controlling operation of the valve actuator by the electronic control unit using the received feedback signal from the position sensor and position data obtained from a memory device of the valve control device, wherein the memory device stores position data reflecting the feedback signal from the position sensor at at least one actuating position of the valve actuator,

detecting separation and/or assembly of the valve control device relative to the valve actuator, and

automatically performing a reset of the position data of the memory device of the valve control device based on a determination that the valve control device has been separated and/or assembled relative to the valve actuator, and

subsequent or in connection with the automatically performing of the reset of the position data of the memory device of the valve control device and assembly of the valve control device on the valve actuator, performing an automatic setup of the valve control device, wherein the automatic setup involves storing, in the memory device, position data reflecting the feedback signal from the position sensor at at least one actuating position of the valve actuator.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the detecting of the separation and/or assembly of the valve control device relative to the valve actuator involves comparing the feedback signal of the position sensor with at least one predetermined value or signal indicative of separation and/or assembly of the valve control device relative to the valve actuator.

13 . The method according to claim 11 , further comprising

detecting unplugging and/or plugging in of an external power supply connector in an electrical connector of the valve control device, and detecting whether the valve control device is being in a separated state relative to the valve actuator during said unplugging or plugging in event, and

automatically performing a reset of the position data of the memory device of the valve control device based on the combined determination that:

the valve control device has been separated and/or assembled relative to the valve actuator, and

the power supply connector for powering the valve control device has been unplugged from the valve control device and/or plugged into the valve control device while the valve control device was in a separated state relative to the valve actuator.

14 . A valve control device configured to be removably mounted on a valve actuator for controlling operation of the valve actuator, the valve actuator being configured to be connected to a valve member and being movable between end limit positions when the valve control device is initially removably mounted on the valve actuator, the valve control device comprising:

a position sensor that detects actuating position of the valve actuator and that outputs the detected position as a feedback signal,

a memory device that stores position data reflecting the feedback signals from the position sensor at multiple actuating positions of the valve actuator inclusive of the end limit positions of the valve actuator,

an electronic control unit for controlling operation of the valve actuator using the feedback signal from the position sensor and the position data from the memory device, and

the electronic control unit being configured to automatically reset the position data of the memory device, inclusive of the position data reflecting the feedback signals at the end limit positions of the valve actuator, as a result of the valve control device becoming separated from, and/or assembled on, the valve actuator.

15 . The valve control device according to claim 14 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to detect that the valve control device is separated from, and/or assembled on, the valve actuator based on the feedback signal of the position sensor.

16 . A method for operating a valve control device, which is configured to be removably mounted on a valve actuator that is movable between end limit positions when the valve control device is initially removably mounted on the valve actuator, the method comprising:

detecting actuating positions of the valve actuator, inclusive of the end limit positions, by a position sensor of the valve control device and outputting the detected positions as respective feedback signals, the feedback signals from the position sensor being obtained by an electronic control unit,

controlling operation of the valve actuator by the electronic control unit using the received feedback signal from the position sensor and position data obtained from a memory device of the valve control device, wherein the memory device stores position data reflecting the feedback signals from the position sensor at least at the end limit positions of the valve actuator,

detecting separation and/or assembly of the valve control device relative to the valve actuator, and

automatically performing a reset of the position data that is stored in the memory device and that reflects the feedback signals from the position sensor at the end limit positions of the valve actuator upon detecting the separation and/or assembly of the valve control device relative to the valve actuator.

17 . A method for operating a valve control device that is removably mounted on a first valve actuator and that includes a position sensor and a memory device, the method comprising:

operating the first valve actuator to move the first valve actuator to end limit positions that define an operating range of the first valve actuator, the position sensor detecting the end limit positions of the first valve actuator and outputting the detected end limit positions as feedback signals,

storing, in the memory device, position data reflecting the feedback signals at the end limit positions of the first valve actuator, and

detecting separation of the valve control device relative to the first valve actuator and/or assembly of the valve control device relative to a second valve actuator, and

automatically resetting the position data reflecting the feedback signals at the end limit positions of the first valve actuator upon the detecting of the separation of the valve control device relative to the first valve actuator and/or the assembly of the valve control device relative to the second valve actuator.