Patent ID: 6050296
Filing Date: 2000-04-18
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
A control apparatus comprising:an actuating drive connected to an actuator,the actuator comprising a throttle element and a spindle which connects the throttle element to the actuating drive, that actuator further comprising a valve chamber, a valve face and a valve housing, the spindle extending between the actuating drive and the valve chamber,the actuating drive moving the spindle and throttle element so that the throttle element is moved relative to the valve face,the spindle being sealed against the valve housing at first and second sealing locations thereby isolating the valve chamber from the actuating drive,the actuator further comprising a test chamber disposed between the spindle and the valve housing, the test chamber further being disposed between the first and second sealing locations, the test chamber being in communication with at least one control terminal, the control terminal being in communication with a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor being in communication with an evaluation unit for monitoring the operation of the control apparatus,the pressure sensor generating an output pressure signal which is communicated to the evaluation unit, the evaluation unit comparing the communicated output pressure signal with a response threshold dependent on at least one temperature signal,in the event the communicated output pressure signal differs from the response threshold by an amount in excess of a predetermined amount, the evaluation unit generating an error message.