FORM-2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
PROVISIONAL
Specification
(See section 10 and rule 13)
VALVES
KIRLOSKAR BROTHERS LTD.,
an Indian Company
of Udyog Bhavan, Tilak Road, Pune 411 002, Maharashtra, India
THE FOLLOWING SPEC IFICATION DESCRIBES THE INVENTION.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
This invention relates to valves.
In particular, this invention relates to condition monitoring of valves.
BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION:
A valve is a device that regulates the flow of substances either gases, fluidized solids, slurries, or liquids by opening, closing, or partially obstructing passageways. Valves are used in industrial, commercial, residential, and transportation applications. Valves that control supply of water are the most common in everyday life.
The majority of the valve consists of the valve body, including most of the exterior. The valve body is the casing that holds the fluid going through inside the valve. Valve bodies are most commonly made of various metals or plastics.
The body consists of two or more openings, called ports through which the fluid moves from one opening to the next. These ports are controlled by the valve to control the fluid flow. Valves with two or three ports are the most common. Most valves are built with some means of connection at the ports. This includes threads, compression fittings, glue or cement application (especially for plastic), flanges, or welding (for metals).


Other parts of the valve includes discs or rotors, valve seat, stem, and bonnets. Valves are controlled manually with a handle attached to the valve stem. Some valves like butterfly valve, ball valve and plug valves are fully opened by turning the handle through an angle of 90 degrees. These valves are often referred to as quarter-turn valves. Valve operations are often automated in large industrial applications by using electro, pneumatic, or hydraulic actuators to operate the valves. Valves are often classified by their internal mechanism and also based on the functional aspect in the system.
Common type of valves based on operating mechanism include ball valves, butterfly valves, diaphragm valves, gate valves, globe valves and needle valves. Classification based on functional aspects includes foot valve, float valves, non-return valves, pressure relief valves and auto-shut -off valves.
Most commonly used valves range from 50mm to 2600mm in different trim combinations for water, gas, steam, process liquid and slurries. The leak tightness of valves plays a very vital role in large pumping systems, hydro systems & Industrial processes. From maintenance perspective, it is important to monitor the conditions of the valve. Once the valves are installed and pipe lines are commissioned, the checking of leakages across the valves, condition of internal parts, predictability of seals, is always a difficult task. This almost results in time consuming shut down, dismantling, surprise spares requirement, involving huge time loss and investment.


OBJECTS OF THIS INVENTION:
One of the objects of this invention is to provide a system and apparatus for checking leakage across the valve without having to dismantle the valve from its installed condition.
Another object of this invention is to provide a system and apparatus for checking the condition of the internal parts of the valve without having to dismantle the valve from its installed condition.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a system and apparatus for predicting preventive maintenance schedule for the internal components like valve seals and o-rings without having to dismantle the valve from its installed condition.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a system and apparatus for monitoring the condition of a valve that is easy to install.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a system and apparatus for monitoring the condition of a valve that can be used with various types of valves.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a system and apparatus for monitoring the condition of a valve that is easy to operate.


Yet another object of this invention is to provide a system and apparatus for monitoring the condition of a valve that does not affect the rated operating conditions of the valve.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
In accordance with one practical embodiment of the invention the system
and apparatus for monitoring the condition of a valve is provided with
sensing devices connected on the upstream and down stream side of the
valve.
In another aspect of the embodiment the sensing devices are adapted to
operate under rated pressure and temperature conditions of the system.
In another aspect of the embodiment the sensors are connected to an image processing unit.
In another aspect of the embodiment, the image processing unit is adapted to receive signals generated by the sensors and process said signals.
In another aspect of the embodiment, the image processing unit is adapted to convert the received signals to pictorial display images and display the same on a display monitor.
In another aspect of the embodiment, sensors of various types of valves are connected to a central image processing unit adapted to receive, process and display condition of different types of valves.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
All the aspects and advantage of the invention will become apparent with the description of the preferred embodiment when read together with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is the photograph of the system and apparatus for monitoring the condition of a valve showing details of the pictorial display system consisting of image processing unit and display monitor;
Figure 2 is the photograph of the system and apparatus for monitoring the condition of a valve showing details of the display system; and
Figure 3 is the photograph of the typical display of internal part of a butterfly valve.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
Referring to figure 1, the system and apparatus for monitoring the condition of a valve is shown. Fluid contained in a storage container (10) is being circulated through a pipe line (12) a gate valve (14), a non-return valve (16), a butterfly valve (18) operated by actuator (20). Sensors (not specifically shown) mounted on the butterfly valve are connected to the processing unit (24) and display monitor (26).
Figure 2 is a close up view of the system wherein the processing unit (24) and display monitor (26) are shown.


Figure 3 is a typical view of the current internal condition (28) of the valve disc of the butterfly valve being monitored by the unit.
Using this system for monitoring the internal condition of a valve the leak tightness, behavior and condition of valves internal working parts can be seen on the display monitor at actual working site location without dismantling any parts of the valve.
Typical applications of this invention include
• Large pumping and water supply system valves.
• Power plant, cooling water system valves.
• Turbine Inlet, penstock protection valves.
• Hazard Application Valves.
• Any Critical Application Valves.
• Underground, Underwater Application valves.
Using the system and apparatus for monitoring the condition of a valve it is possible:
• to inspect on the display monitor whether there is any leakage through the valve when it is closed.
• to inspect on the display monitor behavior and condition of valve's internal working parts.
• to take in-time corrective and preventive measures to prevent accidental mishaps.
• to avoid entry of maintenance personnel inside the pipe line for regular condition monitoring and inspection of the valve components


ensuring human safety.
to assess the condition of the valve and carry out in-time preventive maintenance of the valve components to save a lot of time & money as costly shut down & dismantling is avoided.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the particular features of "a system and apparatus for condition monitoring of valve" and the improvisation with regards to it, it will be appreciated that various modifications can be made, and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiment without departing from the principles of the invention. These and other modifications in the nature of the invention or the preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.