Patent ID: 9494560
Filing Date: 2016-11-15
CPC Classification: F16K,G01H,G01N

Claim Text:
1. A control valve monitoring system comprising: at least one sensor connected to one of a valve stem or valve shaft, the sensor for detecting a change in mechanical integrity of one of the valve stem or valve shaft; and a device for providing data regarding the change in mechanical integrity of one of the valve stem or valve shaft; wherein the at least one sensor is one of a piezoelectric wave active sensor or a piezoceramic (PZT) sensor and wherein one of the piezoelectric wave active sensor or PZT sensor is attached to an outer surface of the valve shaft or valve stem between an end of the shaft connected to a control element and another end of the shaft opposite the control element, one of the piezoelectric wave active sensor or the PZT sensor to detect one or more of a crack or an onset of a crack in one of the valve shaft or the valve stem, wherein the at least one sensor is attached to the valve stem or valve shaft by one of a bonding agent or a soldering agent.