Abstract: In an electropneumatic field device for controlling a pneumatic actuator, an energy transducer is provided which converts pneumatic energy into electrical energy. The energy transducer has a working chamber with a pneumatic compressed air inlet via which a compressed air impulse is introduced, a reset chamber, a coil, an armature separating the working chamber and the reset chamber and guided for translational back and forth movement, and a permanent magnet so that electric energy is induced in the coil. The pneumatic compressed air inlet is configured such that the compressed air impulse leaving the compressed air inlet has an inflow direction angle into the working chamber which has an axial angular direction component which is parallel to a translational axial movement direction of the armature.

Abstract: In an electropneumatic field device for controlling a pneumatic actuator, an energy converter converts pneumatic energy of a pneumatic power supply of the actuator into electrical energy. An oscillating permanent magnet receives a compressed air pulse to perform a forward motion. A return device transmits a return force to the oscillating permanent magnet for performing a return motion opposite to the forward motion. An electrical voltage is induced into a coil of the energy converter by the forward and return motions of the oscillating permanent magnet. The return device is designed to generate a magnetic field that is polarized with respect to the oscillating permanent magnet such that a magnetic repulsion return force induces the return motion.

Abstract: The position controller for a pneumatic field device comprises a current-pressure transducer system having at least two I/P-transducers creating separate pneumatic control signals. Microelectronics creates at least two electrical control signals for the I/P-transducers. A pneumatic signal switching valve has at least two pneumatic inputs for the at least two pneumatic control signals, a pneumatic output for transferring a pneumatic control signal to a working chamber of the pneumatic field device and an electrical switch signal input. The pneumatic signal switch valve comprises a first switch position which blocks a first of the at least two pneumatic control signals and a second switch position which blocks a second of the pneumatic control signals.

Abstract: In a pneumatic actuator for setting a control armature, a first working chamber and a second working chamber are pneumatically separated from each other by a moveable dividing wall to which the control armature is coupled in a force-transmitting manner. The dividing wall, in case of a pressure difference between the working chambers, is displaced in a first control direction. A positioner is adapted to output at least one pneumatic control signal to the first working chamber. The first and the second working chambers are pneumatically connected to each other via a pneumatic short-circuit duct with a balancing valve disposed in the short-circuit duct for at least one of closing or opening the short-circuit duct. The balancing valve is driveable by the positioner such that in case of a certain operating condition, the balancing valve pneumatically short-circuits the first and the second working chamber for achieving a pressure balance between the chambers.

Abstract: In a method or system for controlling a process fluid stream within an industrial process plant, a pump is provided in series with a control valve having an associated positioner to control the fluid stream. A required fluid passage quantity for the process fluid stream is set by positioning the control valve with the positioner into a respective valve position and capturing an actual position of the valve. A physically sensible actual property value related to passage of the process fluid through the control valve is determined. The actual property value as well as the actual valve position are evaluated by an evaluation routine with respect to a predetermined optimization parameter specific to the valve with its associated positioner. If a deviation occurs from the optimization parameter, a pump drive value for the pump and control valve position drive value for the valve positioner are tuned to each other in such a way that the optimization parameter is approached.

Abstract: In a method or field device for determining a position of an open/closed-valve positioned by a pneumatic actuating drive and movable to a completely opened open position and a closed position depending on operating requirements, during normal operation a pneumatic working chamber of the actuating drive is pneumatically influenced with an i/p converter such that the open/closed-valve moves to one of the open/closed positions and, in case of a predetermined operating condition, the i/p converter allows the working chamber to vent so that the open/closed valve automatically moves to the other one of the open/closed positions. At least one of pressure prevailing in the working chamber and pneumatic control pressure output at the i/p converter is captured continuously over time, thus obtaining a pressure change over time on the basis of which a physical operational variable of the open/closed-valve is determined.

Abstract: In a control device for a technical processing plant, a pneumatically driven actuator having an actuator stem is provided together with a valve operated by the actuator, the valve having a valve stem. A valve element is attached to the valve stem. A stem connector connects the two stems to each other for a forced transmission of axial actuating movements and for modifying an axial distance between adjacent ends of the valve stem and the actuator stem to adjust a total axial length of the two stems. The stem connector comprises two half-shells connected to each other, and two positioning devices are provided for a friction-locking coupling of the half-shells to the respective ends. At least one of the positioning devices is designed to modify an axial attachment position of the half-shells along one of the stems.

Abstract: In an actuating drive or method for capturing a position of a final control element to be positioned by a drive member of the actuating drive, the final control element is pushed from an initial position to a target position by a spring body acting on the drive member. A first reference position is spatially configured in a vicinity of or at the spring body. A second reference position moving relative to the first reference position during positioning movement of the drive member is spatially configured adjacent a first outer surface of the spring body. A distance between the first reference position and the second reference position is captured.

Abstract: In a control valve for adjusting a process medium flow of a technical process installation, a housing is provided with an interior to be traversed by a process medium. A valve seat is disposed inside the housing interior. A valve member is provided obstructing or clearing the valve seat wherein a flow cross section of the control valve can be altered according to a relative position between the valve member and the valve seat for adjusting the process medium flow to initiate a pressure change in the process medium flow between an upstream and a downstream duct section. An electrical consumer is provided. A thermoelectric element is coupled to supply electrical power to the electrical consumer. The thermoelectric element is disposed at a position in the housing interior for generating the electrical power resulting from a temperature difference that accompanies a pressure difference at a location of said position of the thermoelectric element.

Abstract: In a limit signal indicator for determining two positions of a pneumatically operated positioning device, a position sensor detects a position of the positioning device. A first signal transmission contact, a second signal transmission contact, and a microprocessor are provided. The first and the second signal transmission contacts each output a respective electrical limit position signal, the limit position signals representing an adoption of the first and the second positions or of at least one position of the positioning device above or below a predetermined set limit value. At least one of the signal transmission contacts is connected for signal transmission so that in case of a malfunctioning of a signal transmission, the switch amplifier is capable of generating an emergency signal above a maximum limit value or below a lower limit value, and to transmit the emergency signal to an external processing location.

Abstract: A pneumatic amplifier is provided comprising a supply air valve with a supply input connected to a pneumatic supply, a signal input for receiving a pneumatic input signal, a signal output for transmitting an amplified pneumatic output signal, a valve member for continuously opening or cutting off a pneumatic connection between the pneumatic supply and the signal output, and a diaphragm coupled with the valve member exposed at one side to the pneumatic input signal and having an opposite side. An exhaust air valve is provided with a bleed output, and a valve member for opening or cutting off a pneumatic connection between the signal output of the supply air valve and the bleed output. The valve members of the supply air valve and the exhaust air valve are structurally separated. The opposite side of the supply air valve diaphragm is exposed to the amplified pneumatic output signal.

Abstract: In an electro-pneumatic system for controlling a double-acting pneumatic actuator having first and second working chambers, first and second preliminary pneumatic control components generate first and second preliminary pneumatic control signals transferred to respective first and second main pneumatic control components having outputs connected to the respective first and second working chambers. An electronic splitter circuit precedes the first and second preliminary pneumatic control components for splitting and inverting an electrical control signal input to the splitter circuit around an electrical mean control value to create first and second mirror-inverted electrical control signals respectively connected to the respective first and second preliminary pneumatic control components.

Abstract: In a method for testing functionality of a field device or a field device for sending a control signal to a final controlling device of an industrial processing plant, the final controlling device is operated by a secondary power. With the method, a current/secondary power converter is provided for generating a predetermined secondary power safety control signal to bring the final controlling device into a predetermined safe position. An electronic safety circuit is provided connected to the current/secondary power converter which, depending on an electrical control signal received by the field device, is switched from a passive state into an active state in which the electronic safety circuit causes the current/secondary power converter to output the secondary output power safety control signal. The safety circuit automatically adopts the active state if the electrical control signal falls below or exceeds at least one of a current and a voltage threshold value specific to the safety circuit.

Abstract: In a method or device for powering a field device for a processing plant, the field device is driven by a process signal of an electrical power supply so that an electronic unit connected to the power supply outputs a process control signal. A required power level of the electronic unit is determined for outputting the control signal. A portion of an electrical power of the power supply exceeding the required power level is stored.

Abstract: In a valve system or method, an actuator is provided with an actuating rod. A valve is actuated by the rod and has a valve stem and a valve member secured thereto. A travel limiting device defines a travel limit of the actuating rod. A setting mechanism sets the travel limit. The actuating rod and valve stem are decouplable from each other. The setting mechanism comprises a connector for coupling the actuating rod and the valve stem, the connector being designed to set an axial spacing between the actuating rod and the valve stem.

Abstract: In a method for communicating electrical positioning information of an actuator-positioned final control element such as a valve element, the positioning information resulting from continually sensing the position of the final control element, a binary signal is formed or received signalling a condition 0 (zero) when the final control element has attained a predefined position and a condition 1 (one) when the final control element has not attained the predefined position or the predefined position range. For forming a positioning signal, the corresponding signal condition of the binary signal and the associated continually sensed positioning information are combined such that the corresponding signal condition of the binary signal or the positioning information or both can be optionally invoked from the positioning signal.

Abstract: A system is provided for positioning a control element. The control unit positions the control element. A limit signal transmitter monitors achievement of an expected position of the control element. The control unit and the limit signal transmitter are each electrically powered separately from each other. A sensor for sensing a position of the control element is connected to both the control unit and the limit signal transmitter such that at least one position signal of the sensor is received by the limit signal transmitter and the control unit.

Abstract: In a transducer of at least one electrical input signal into two separate magnetic output signals for a pneumatic actuator, a pressure input is connected to a source of pressure and a setting unit sets the pneumatic output signals by use of the electrical input signal. The setting unit provides the two pneumatic output signals separately and reciprocal to each other as a function of the input signal. At least one of the two output signals is connected to a pneumatic amplifier.

Abstract: In a method or device for function-monitoring an actuator in a process engineering plant, said actuator comprising a valve and an actuating drive for actuating said valve. A positioner is provided for setting a position of the valve, the positioner comprising a controller module. A predefined activation test signal is generated and applied to the controller module to position the actuator into a predefined function condition. A control signal is generated by the controller module for signalling the actuating drive in accordance with the activation test signal and an output control signal is sensed and monitored as compared to a reference control signal.

Abstract: A positioner for a fluid actuator comprising an electronics assembly designed for setpoint/actual value comparison and for outputting a feedback control signal includes a current/pressure transducer receiving the feedback control signal for controlling the actuator, an analog power supply, particularly in a range 4 to 20 mA, for powering the electronics assembly, and an additional voltage input, particularly in a range of up to 24 V, wherein said voltage input is configured as a further power supply for powering the current/pressure transducer separate from the analog power supply.