HVAC actuator with range adjustment
First Claim
1. An HVAC actuator configured to actuate an HVAC component, the HVAC actuator comprising:
- a housing;
a rotatable output having a full range of motion between a first end position and a second end position, the rotatable output configured to engage and actuate the HVAC component;
a drive mechanism configured to selectively drive the rotatable output toward the second end position;
a spring operatively coupled to the rotatable output, the spring configured to rotatably bias the rotatable output toward the first end position;
a range adjustment lever for adjusting the range of motion of the rotatable output to less than the full range of motion, the range adjustment lever including a range adjustment knob that is accessible by a user from outside of the housing and is configured to be hand manipulatable by the user to;
select a new first end position from a plurality of available first end positions by moving the range adjustment knob by hand and without the use of a tool; and
fix the selected new first end position, by manipulating the range adjustment knob by hand and without the use of a tool, sufficiently to prevent the spring bias from over-driving the rotatable output beyond the selected new first end position during subsequent operation of the HVAC actuator.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An HVAC actuator configured to actuate an HVAC component may include a rotatable output shaft having a full range of rotation between a first end position and a second end position, a drive mechanism configured to selectively drive the output shaft, and a housing having a front side that faces away from the HVAC component. The HVAC actuator may include a range adjustment lever manipulatable from the front side of the housing that allows a user to selectively limit rotation of the output shaft to a reduced range that is a subset of the full range. In some instances, the range adjustment lever allows the user to select between two or more predetermined reduced ranges. The two or more predetermined reduced ranges may each include the first end position but have a different second stop position, or include the second end position but have a different first stop position.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An HVAC actuator configured to actuate an HVAC component, the HVAC actuator comprising:
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a housing; a rotatable output having a full range of motion between a first end position and a second end position, the rotatable output configured to engage and actuate the HVAC component; a drive mechanism configured to selectively drive the rotatable output toward the second end position; a spring operatively coupled to the rotatable output, the spring configured to rotatably bias the rotatable output toward the first end position; a range adjustment lever for adjusting the range of motion of the rotatable output to less than the full range of motion, the range adjustment lever including a range adjustment knob that is accessible by a user from outside of the housing and is configured to be hand manipulatable by the user to; select a new first end position from a plurality of available first end positions by moving the range adjustment knob by hand and without the use of a tool; and fix the selected new first end position, by manipulating the range adjustment knob by hand and without the use of a tool, sufficiently to prevent the spring bias from over-driving the rotatable output beyond the selected new first end position during subsequent operation of the HVAC actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An HVAC damper assembly, comprising:
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a duct; a rotatable damper shaft extending through the duct; a damper situated in the duct and secured to the rotatable damper shaft; a spring operatively coupled to the rotatable damper shaft, the spring configured to provide a bias force that rotatably biases the rotatable damper shaft toward a first end position; a drive mechanism operatively coupled to the rotatable damper shaft for selectively driving the rotatable damper shaft toward a second end position; a range adjustment lever for adjusting the first end position, the range adjustment lever configured to be hand manipulatable by a user to; select a new first end position from a plurality of available first end positions by moving the range adjustment lever by hand and without the use of a tool; and fix the selected new first end position, by manipulating the range adjustment lever by hand and without the use of a tool, sufficiently to prevent the bias force provided by the spring from over-driving the rotatable damper shaft beyond the selected new first end position during subsequent operation of the HVAC damper assembly. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An HVAC damper assembly, comprising:
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an HVAC damper comprising; a duct; a rotatable damper shaft extending through the duct; a damper situated in the duct and secured to the rotatable damper shaft; a damper actuator comprising; a rotatable actuator output for driving the rotatable damper shaft; a drive mechanism configured to selectively drive the rotatable actuator output; the rotatable actuator output comprises a damper shaft receiving opening for receiving at least part of the rotatable damper shaft; a screw configured to engage the rotatable actuator output and the rotatable damper shaft so as to prevent the rotatable damper shaft from completely moving axially out of the damper shaft receiving opening of the rotatable actuator output; and wherein removing the screw allows a user to axially move the rotatable damper shaft completely out of the damper shaft receiving opening and to completely disengage the damper actuator from the HVAC damper. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification