Patent ID: 7328719

Claim:
A monitored valve system comprising: a valve body including an inlet port, an outlet port, and a valve element having a piston surface at one end thereof for receiving a pilot pressure to move said valve element between a deactuated position and an actuated position, wherein said inlet port and said outlet port are fluidically decoupled when said valve element is in said deactuated position, and wherein said inlet port and said outlet port are fluidically coupled when said valve element is in said actuated position; and a sensing module comprising: a sensor body having a sensing chamber; an extension member fixedly coupled to said valve element, slidable within said sensing chamber along a first axis, and having an inclined cam surface; a plunger having a cam follower for engaging said cam surface, wherein said plunger is slidable along a second axis between a first position when said valve element is in said deactuated position and a second position when said valve element is in said actuated position, said plunger being exposed to said sensing chamber; and a sensing switch coupled to said plunger for generating a switch signal indicative of said first and second positions; wherein said valve body and said sensing body cooperate to form a fluid passage between said outlet port and said sensing chamber, and wherein said plunger moves to said second position when said valve element is in said deactuated position if a fluid pressure greater than a predetermined pressure is present at said outlet port.