Actuator with diagnostics
First Claim
1. An actuator system for use with heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, comprising:
- an HVAC actuator; and
wherein the actuator comprises;
a motor;
a motor controller connected to the motor;
a processor connected to the motor controller; and
a coupling for a shaft connection attached to an output of the motor; and
wherein;
the processor comprises a diagnostics program;
the processor is connected to a communications bus;
the processor indicates a status of active or inactive of the actuator on the communications bus;
if the status is indicated as inactive, then a condition of whether the actuator is operable or inoperable is determined; and
diagnostic results of the diagnostics program are communicated from the processor over the communications bus to a system controller.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system incorporating an actuator. The actuator may have a motor unit with motor controller connected to it. A processor may be connected to the motor controller. A coupling for a shaft connection may be attached to an output of the motor unit. The processor may incorporate a diagnostics program. The processor may be connected to a polarity-insensitive two-wire communications bus. Diagnostic results of the diagnostics program may be communicated from the processor over the communications bus to a system controller. If the diagnostic results communicated from the processor over the communications bus to the system controller indicate an insufficiency of the actuator, then an alarm identifying the insufficiency may be communicated over the communications bus to the system controller.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An actuator system for use with heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, comprising:
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an HVAC actuator; and wherein the actuator comprises; a motor; a motor controller connected to the motor; a processor connected to the motor controller; and a coupling for a shaft connection attached to an output of the motor; and wherein; the processor comprises a diagnostics program; the processor is connected to a communications bus; the processor indicates a status of active or inactive of the actuator on the communications bus; if the status is indicated as inactive, then a condition of whether the actuator is operable or inoperable is determined; and diagnostic results of the diagnostics program are communicated from the processor over the communications bus to a system controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An actuator system for use with heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment (HVAC), comprising:
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an HVAC actuator; and wherein the actuator comprises; a motor; a gear train mechanically connected to the motor; an actuator shaft mechanically connected to the gear train; a shaft position indicator connected to the actuator shaft; and a processor connected to the motor and the shaft position indicator; a current sensor connected to the motor and the processor; a voltage sensor connected to the motor and the processor; and wherein the processor comprises a diagnostics program. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for attaining diagnostics of an actuator for use in heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), comprising:
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entering a diagnostics program for an HVAC actuator into a processor of the actuator; transmitting results of the diagnostics program on a communications bus; and reviewing the results from the communications bus; and wherein the actuator comprises; a motor; a gear train connected to the motor; an actuator shaft coupling connected to the gear train; a shaft position indicator connected to the actuator shaft coupling and to the processor; and one or more sensors situated at the actuator and connected to the processor; sending an alarm via the processor to a controller via the communications bus if the actuator shaft coupling fails to move upon transmitting signals to the processor commanding a movement of the motor; and wherein the controller is an economizer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An actuator system for use with heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, comprising:
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an HVAC actuator; and wherein the actuator comprises; a motor; a motor controller connected to the motor; a processor connected to the motor controller; and a coupling for a shaft connection attached to an output of the motor; and wherein; the processor comprises a diagnostics program; the processor is connected to a communications bus; and diagnostic results of the diagnostics program are communicated from the processor over the communications bus to a system controller wherein the system controller; identifies an actuator as communicating diagnostic results according to an address of the actuator; and is an economizer.
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Specification