MAGNETICALLY ACTUATED RISING STEM VALVE WITH PHYSICAL POSITION INDICATION
A valve including a magnetic actuation mechanism providing torque-limiting capabilities and physical valve stem position indication. A drive shaft of the valve is surrounded by a first magnetic array within a fully sealed pressure vessel. A second magnetic array is positioned outside of the pressure vessel and surrounds the fully sealed pressure vessel. The first magnetic array and the second magnetic array form a coupling mechanism. When the second, outside magnetic array is rotated, the first magnetic array is caused to move, actuating the valve. Importantly, the second, outside magnetic array includes a physical position indication system able to determine the position of the valve.
1 . A magnetically actuated rising stem valve, comprising:
a stem;
a magnetic clutch, wherein the magnetic clutch includes an inner magnetic array attached to the stem and an outer temporary or permanent magnetic array, wherein the inner magnetic array includes a plurality of constituent magnets or a plurality of distinct magnetic domains;
a valve housing, including a pressure vessel encapsulating the stem, wherein the outer temporary or permanent magnetic array surrounds a section of the valve housing; and
a threaded nut fixed relative to the valve housing, wherein the stem is threadedly engaged with the threaded nut such that rotation of the stem and the inner magnetic array causes axial translation of the stem and the inner magnetic array;
wherein the axial translation of the stem and the inner magnetic array causes the magnetically actuated rising stem valve to move between an open position and a closed position; and
wherein actuation of the outer temporary or permanent magnetic array applies torque to the inner magnetic array, thereby causing the rotation of the stem and the inner magnetic array.
2 . The magnetically actuated rising stem valve of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of constituent magnets or the plurality of distinct magnetic domains are organized as an alternating magnetic array.
3 . The magnetically actuated rising stem valve of claim 1 , wherein the outer temporary or permanent magnetic array includes an outer magnetic array with permanent magnets and is configured to translate axially relative to the valve housing in correspondence with the axial translation of the stem and the inner magnetic array, such that an axial position of the outer magnetic array provides an inherent physical position indication of the magnetically actuated rising stem valve.
4 . The magnetically actuated rising stem valve of claim 3 , further comprising a locking protrusion on the outer magnetic array and a receiving member on or attached to the valve housing.
5 . The magnetically actuated rising stem valve of claim 4 , wherein magnetic coupling between the inner magnetic array and the outer magnetic array permits axial displacement enabling engagement of the locking protrusion with the receiving member.
6 . The magnetically actuated rising stem valve of claim 5 , wherein the receiving member is positioned to engage the locking protrusion at the open position or the closed position.
7 . The magnetically actuated rising stem valve of claim 1 , wherein outer temporary or permanent magnetic array includes at least one electromagnet fixed relative to the valve housing.
8 . The magnetically actuated rising stem valve of claim 7 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to detect a position of the magnetically actuated rising stem valve.
9 . The magnetically actuated rising stem valve of claim 8 , further comprising a controller configured to receive signals from the at least one sensor and control actuation of the electromagnet based on the detected position of the magnetically actuated rising stem valve.
10 . The magnetically actuated rising stem valve of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic clutch is configured to slip without breaking the stem.
11 . The magnetically actuated rising stem valve of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic clutch is configured to automatically reset and realign after slipping due to tight spacing of the plurality of constituent magnets or the plurality of distinct magnetic domains.
12 . A magnetically actuated rising stem valve, comprising:
a stem;
a magnetic clutch, wherein the magnetic clutch includes an inner magnetic array attached to the stem and an outer magnetic array, wherein the inner magnetic array includes a plurality of constituent magnets or a plurality of distinct magnetic domains, wherein the outer magnetic array includes a second plurality of constituent magnets or a second plurality of distinct magnetic domains;
a valve housing, including a pressure vessel encapsulating the stem, wherein the outer magnetic array surrounds a section of the valve housing;
a threaded nut fixed relative to the valve housing, wherein the stem is threadedly engaged with the threaded nut such that rotation of the stem and the inner magnetic array causes axial translation of the stem and the inner magnetic array;
wherein the axial translation of the stem and the inner magnetic array causes the magnetically actuated rising stem valve to open or close;
wherein actuation of the outer magnetic array applies torque to the inner magnetic array, thereby causing the rotation of the stem and the inner magnetic array; and
wherein the outer magnetic array is configured to translate axially relative to the valve housing in correspondence with the axial translation of the stem and the inner magnetic array, such that an axial position of the outer magnetic array provides an inherent physical position indication of the magnetically actuated rising stem valve.
13 . The magnetically actuated rising stem valve of claim 12 , wherein the axial translation of the outer magnetic array occurs substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the stem.
14 . The magnetically actuated rising stem valve of claim 12 , further comprising a locking protrusion on the outer magnetic array and a receiving member on or attached to the valve housing.
15 . The magnetically actuated rising stem valve of claim 14 , wherein magnetic coupling between the inner magnetic array and the outer magnetic array permits axial displacement enabling engagement of the locking protrusion with the receiving member.
16 . The magnetically actuated rising stem valve of claim 12 , wherein the valve housing and/or the inner magnetic array includes at least one fluid bleed path configured to allow fluid exchange during movement of the stem and the inner magnetic array, wherein the fluid bleed path is configured to reduce pressure buildup during the movement of the stem and the inner magnetic array.
17 . The magnetically actuated rising stem valve of claim 12 , wherein the magnetic clutch is configured to slip without breaking the stem.
18 . A magnetically actuated rising stem valve, comprising:
a stem;
a magnetic clutch, wherein the magnetic clutch includes an inner magnetic array attached to the stem and an outer magnetic array attached to a manual actuator, wherein the inner magnetic array includes a plurality of constituent magnets or a plurality of distinct magnetic domains, wherein the outer magnetic array includes a second plurality of constituent magnets or a second plurality of distinct magnetic domains;
a valve housing, including a pressure vessel encapsulating the stem, wherein the outer magnetic array surrounds a section of the valve housing;
a threaded nut fixed relative to the valve housing, wherein the stem is threadedly engaged with the threaded nut such that rotation of the stem and the inner magnetic array causes axial translation of the stem and the inner magnetic array;
wherein the axial translation of the stem and the inner magnetic array causes the magnetically actuated rising stem valve to move between an open position and a closed position;
wherein actuation of the outer magnetic array via the manual actuator applies torque to the inner magnetic array, thereby causing the rotation of the stem and the inner magnetic array; and
wherein the outer magnetic array is configured to translate axially relative to the valve housing in correspondence with the axial translation of the inner magnetic array, such that an axial position of the outer magnetic array provides an inherent physical position indication of the magnetically actuated rising stem valve.
19 . The magnetically actuated rising stem valve of claim 18 , further comprising a locking protrusion on or attached to the outer magnetic array and a receiving member on or attached to the valve housing.
20 . The magnetically actuated rising stem valve of claim 18 , wherein the valve housing and/or the inner magnetic array includes at least one fluid bleed path configured to allow fluid exchange during movement of the stem and the inner magnetic array, wherein the fluid bleed path is configured to reduce pressure buildup during the movement of the stem and the inner magnetic array.