History of the Valve Positioner

[JimCasey]

I posted this last year, and got no responses. So I'm gonna' try again.

2 Feb 05 13:08
I am interested in finding out who offered the first valve positioner. The oldest literature I have seen shows the Moore 72. Positioners probably "evolved" more than just appearing in a flash of inspiration, and I'm really curious about the time-line.

 

[waross]

I wonder if they started life as valve positioners, or were first developed as position indicators and were later applied to valves.
yours

 

[JimCasey]

Pilot-actuated regulators have been available for a long time. Changing the setpoint sprinig to a dome-loader would then accept a remote control signal. Still, regulators measure the downstream ressure in comparison to a control signal.

But when did the device come along that compared the control signal to the stem position? I'd really like a link to be able to access detailed info about the first posiotioner(s).