CONTROL OF STEPPER MOTOR OPERATED GAS VALVE
First Claim
1. A system including a controller in combination with a stepper motor operated gas valve configured to vary the gas flow rate for varying the level of heating operation of a heating apparatus, the system comprising:
- a valve element movable relative to a valve opening in the gas valve;
a main diaphragm chamber disposed in the gas valve;
a main diaphragm disposed in the main diaphragm chamber and coupled to the valve element, the main diaphragm being configured to controllably displace the valve element relative to the valve opening in response to changes in gas pressure acting against the main diaphragm;
a servo-regulator diaphragm configured to regulate flow of gas to the main diaphragm chamber that acts against the main diaphragm, to thereby adjust the valve element to vary the flow rate of gas through the valve opening;
a stepper motor configured to move in a stepwise manner to displace the servo-regulator diaphragm for varying the flow of gas to the diaphragm chamber, to thereby control the rate of gas flow through the valve opening;
a stepper motor position sensor configured to detect the stepwise movements of the stepper motor;
a controller having an input connector configured to receive an input signal indicating a specific level of heating operation; and
a microprocessor in communication with the stepper motor position sensor and the input connector of the controller, the microprocessor being configured to detect the presence of an input signal that is indicative of a desired operating capacity level at which to operate the heating apparatus, the microprocessor including a programmable memory encoded with one or more instructions operable to determine the number of steps the stepper motor must move to displace the servo-regulator diaphragm to establish a gas flow rate corresponding to the desired operating capacity level, generate a stepper motor control signal that causes the stepper motor to move the determined number of steps to displace the servo-regulator diaphragm to establish the gas flow rate corresponding to the desired operating capacity level, and compare the determined number of steps with the number of steps the stepper motor actually moves as detected by the stepper motor position sensor, to verify the position of the stepper motor.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A controller is provided for a gas valve including a movable valve element, a main diaphragm chamber having a main diaphragm therein coupled to the valve element to displace the valve element relative to a valve opening, and a servo-regulator diaphragm for regulating flow of gas that acts against the main diaphragm, to adjust the valve element and vary the flow rate. A stepper motor is configured to move in a stepwise manner to displace the servo-regulator diaphragm to adjust the valve element and gas flow rate. The controller for the stepper motor includes a microprocessor that receives an input signal indicating an operating capacity level, and determines the steps the stepper motor must move to displace the servo-regulator diaphragm to establish a flow rate corresponding to the operating capacity level. The microprocessor generates a signal to move the stepper motor the number of steps to adjust the gas valve.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system including a controller in combination with a stepper motor operated gas valve configured to vary the gas flow rate for varying the level of heating operation of a heating apparatus, the system comprising:
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a valve element movable relative to a valve opening in the gas valve; a main diaphragm chamber disposed in the gas valve; a main diaphragm disposed in the main diaphragm chamber and coupled to the valve element, the main diaphragm being configured to controllably displace the valve element relative to the valve opening in response to changes in gas pressure acting against the main diaphragm; a servo-regulator diaphragm configured to regulate flow of gas to the main diaphragm chamber that acts against the main diaphragm, to thereby adjust the valve element to vary the flow rate of gas through the valve opening; a stepper motor configured to move in a stepwise manner to displace the servo-regulator diaphragm for varying the flow of gas to the diaphragm chamber, to thereby control the rate of gas flow through the valve opening; a stepper motor position sensor configured to detect the stepwise movements of the stepper motor; a controller having an input connector configured to receive an input signal indicating a specific level of heating operation; and a microprocessor in communication with the stepper motor position sensor and the input connector of the controller, the microprocessor being configured to detect the presence of an input signal that is indicative of a desired operating capacity level at which to operate the heating apparatus, the microprocessor including a programmable memory encoded with one or more instructions operable to determine the number of steps the stepper motor must move to displace the servo-regulator diaphragm to establish a gas flow rate corresponding to the desired operating capacity level, generate a stepper motor control signal that causes the stepper motor to move the determined number of steps to displace the servo-regulator diaphragm to establish the gas flow rate corresponding to the desired operating capacity level, and compare the determined number of steps with the number of steps the stepper motor actually moves as detected by the stepper motor position sensor, to verify the position of the stepper motor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10)
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9. (canceled)
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11. A system for controlling the operating capacity level of a variable capacity heating apparatus, the system comprising:
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a valve element movable relative to a valve opening in the gas valve; a main diaphragm chamber disposed in the gas valve; a main diaphragm disposed in the main diaphragm chamber and coupled to the valve element, the main diaphragm being configured to displace the valve element relative to the valve opening in response to changes in pressure acting against the main diaphragm; a servo-regulator diaphragm for regulating gas flow to the main diaphragm chamber for controlling the pressure that acts against the main diaphragm and moves the valve element to vary the flow rate of gas through the valve opening; a stepper motor configured to move in a stepwise manner to displace the servo-regulator diaphragm for varying the gas flow to the main diaphragm chamber, to thereby control the rate of gas flow through the valve opening; a stepper motor position sensor configured to detect the stepwise movements of the stepper motor; a furnace controller configured to communicate an input signal comprising a pulse-width-modulation signal that is indicative of a specific level of heating operation for the variable capacity heating apparatus; a controller for controlling operation of the stepper motor, the controller having a microprocessor in communication with the stepper motor position sensor and the furnace controller, the microprocessor being configured to detect the presence of an input signal that is indicative of a desired operating capacity level, the microprocessor including a programmable memory encoded with one or more instructions operable to determine the number of steps the stepper motor must move to displace the servo-regulator diaphragm to establish a gas flow rate corresponding to the desired operating capacity level, generate a stepper motor control signal that causes the stepper motor to move the determined number of steps to displace the servo-regulator diaphragm to establish the gas flow rate corresponding to the desired operating capacity level, compare the determined number of steps with the number of steps the stepper motor actually moves, as detected by the stepper motor position sensor, to verify the position of the stepper motor; and
generate an output signal to the furnace controller confirming that the stepper motor has moved the number of steps to establish the gas flow rate corresponding to the desired operating capacity level requested by the furnace controller. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19)
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18. (canceled)
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20. (canceled)
Specification