Actuator having an adjustable running time
First Claim
1. An actuator system for a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
- a motor;
a gear train mechanically connected to the motor and having an HVAC actuator shaft;
a processor connected to the motor;
a shaft position indicator connected to the gear train and to the processor;
a communications bus connected to the processor; and
a controller connected to the communications bus; and
wherein;
the actuator shaft is rotatable a first number of degrees from a first position to a second position in a first direction and a second number degrees from a third position to a fourth position in a second direction;
a time for the actuator shaft to rotate the first number of degrees from the first position to the second position in the first direction is a first running time;
a time for the actuator shaft to rotate the second number of degrees from the third position to the fourth position in the second direction is a second running time;
the processor is programmed to set the first running time to a first time value and the second running time to a second time value for each of a plurality of different modes including a first normal mode and a test mode, where the first and second time values are different from one another in at least one of the plurality of different modes, wherein the first and second running times are separately adjustable and programmable via an entry from a user interface of the controller, wherein the first and second time values in the test mode are each different from the first and second time values in the first normal mode;
the first and second running times are separately adjustable and programmable with entries by a user put into the controller;
signals representative the entries are sent from the controller to the processor via the communications bus;
one or more of the first and second running times are adjusted by the user in realtime at the controller; and
wherein one of the plurality of modes is selectable by the user at the controller, causing the first and second running times associated with the selected mode to be set.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An actuator system having an actuator with a rotatable shaft. The shaft may have a first running time to rotate from a first position to a second position in one direction. The shaft may have a second running time to rotate from a first position to a second position in another direction. The first and second running times may be separately adjustable. A motor may be connected through a gear train to the rotatable shaft. A processor may control a rotation of the motor and thus the running times of the shaft. The running times may be adjusted with signals to the processor from a remote controller connected to the processor via a communications bus.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An actuator system for a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
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a motor; a gear train mechanically connected to the motor and having an HVAC actuator shaft; a processor connected to the motor; a shaft position indicator connected to the gear train and to the processor; a communications bus connected to the processor; and a controller connected to the communications bus; and wherein; the actuator shaft is rotatable a first number of degrees from a first position to a second position in a first direction and a second number degrees from a third position to a fourth position in a second direction; a time for the actuator shaft to rotate the first number of degrees from the first position to the second position in the first direction is a first running time; a time for the actuator shaft to rotate the second number of degrees from the third position to the fourth position in the second direction is a second running time; the processor is programmed to set the first running time to a first time value and the second running time to a second time value for each of a plurality of different modes including a first normal mode and a test mode, where the first and second time values are different from one another in at least one of the plurality of different modes, wherein the first and second running times are separately adjustable and programmable via an entry from a user interface of the controller, wherein the first and second time values in the test mode are each different from the first and second time values in the first normal mode; the first and second running times are separately adjustable and programmable with entries by a user put into the controller; signals representative the entries are sent from the controller to the processor via the communications bus; one or more of the first and second running times are adjusted by the user in realtime at the controller; and wherein one of the plurality of modes is selectable by the user at the controller, causing the first and second running times associated with the selected mode to be set. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for adjusting running times in an actuator associated with a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
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providing an HVAC actuator comprising a motor, a gear train connected to the motor, and an actuator shaft connected to the gear train; and entering signals into a processor to program a speed of the motor and thus program a first programmed running time of the actuator shaft in a first direction from a first position to a second position and a second programmed running time of the actuator shaft in a second direction opposite the first direction from a third position to a fourth position for each of a plurality of different modes including a first normal mode and a test mode, wherein the first programmed running time differs from the second programmed running time in at least one of the plurality of different modes; making entries by a user into a controller to provide signals, representative of adjustments to one or more of the first and second running times for each of the plurality of different modes, via a communications bus to the processor for adjustments of the speed of the motor and thus adjustments of one or more of the first and second running times of the actuator shaft for each of the plurality of different modes; making a selection by the user at the controller of one of the plurality of different modes, thereby obtaining adjustments of the one or more of the first and second running times of the actuator shaft in real-time associated with the selected mode; wherein the actuator shaft can be connected to an apparatus in a heating, ventilating and air conditioning system; and wherein the first programmed running time and the second programmed running time in the test mode are each different values from first and second programmed running times in the first normal mode. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An actuator system for a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, comprising:
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a motor; a gear train mechanically connected to the motor; an HVAC actuator shaft mechanically coupled to the gear train; and a processor connected to the motor; a communications bus connected to the processor; a controller connected to the communications bus; and wherein; the processor programs running times of the motor according to one of a plurality of modes of operation including at least a first normal mode, a test mode, and a saver mode, each of the plurality of modes of operation having a different programmed running time of the motor; a first programmed running time of the motor is an amount time that the actuator shaft moves from a first position to a second position as driven by the motor via the gear train; a second programmed running time of the motor is an amount of time that the actuator shaft moves from a second position to a first position as driven by the motor via the gear train; a test running time corresponding to the test mode for moving the actuator shaft from the first position to the second position is less than a saver running time corresponding to a saver mode for moving the actuator shaft from the first position to the second position and a saver running time is greater than the first normal running time corresponding to the first normal application mode for moving the actuator from the first position to the second position; the first and second programmed running times for each of the plurality of modes are separately adjustable and programmable to be different from one another, with entries by a user put into the controller; the first and second programmed running times in the test mode are each different from the first and second programmed running times in the first normal mode and in the saver mode; signals representative the entries are sent from the controller to the processor via the communications bus; and one or more of the first and second programmed running times are adjusted by the user in real-time at the controller. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification