Valve actuators
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A valve actuator, comprising:
- a drive shaft, which, in use, is configured to adjust a valve between an open position and a closed position;
an brushless motor configured to drive the drive shaft;
a contactless position sensor, which, in use, configured to output a signal representing an angular position of the drive shaft or the valve; and
a controller configured to control the brushless motor in accordance with the signal output by position sensor,wherein the controller sets a rate at which the brushless motor drives the drive shaft dependent upon a position of the drive shaft, andwherein the controller is further configured to store data representing a plurality of drive shaft angular positions and to vary a rate at which the brushless motor drives the drive shaft between the stored drive shaft angular positions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A valve actuator having a drive shaft, which, in use, is configured to adjust a valve between an open position and a closed position, an AC induction motor for driving the drive shaft a contactless position sensor configured to, in use, output a signal representing an angular position of the drive shaft or the valve, and a controller configured to control the AC motor in accordance with the signal output by position sensor.
8 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A valve actuator, comprising:
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a drive shaft, which, in use, is configured to adjust a valve between an open position and a closed position; an brushless motor configured to drive the drive shaft; a contactless position sensor, which, in use, configured to output a signal representing an angular position of the drive shaft or the valve; and a controller configured to control the brushless motor in accordance with the signal output by position sensor, wherein the controller sets a rate at which the brushless motor drives the drive shaft dependent upon a position of the drive shaft, and wherein the controller is further configured to store data representing a plurality of drive shaft angular positions and to vary a rate at which the brushless motor drives the drive shaft between the stored drive shaft angular positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A valve actuator controller, comprising:
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a device configured to receive a signal from a contactless position sensor, the contactless position sensor being configured to, in use, output a signal representing an angular position of a drive shaft or a valve and a device configured to control a brushless motor, the brushless motor being configured to drive the drive shaft, in accordance with the signal output by position sensor, wherein the device configured to control the brushless motor sets a rate at which the brushless motor drives the drive shaft dependent upon a position of the drive shaft, and wherein the device configured to control the brushless motor is further configured to store data representing a plurality of drive shaft angular positions and to vary a rate at which the brushless motor drives the drive shaft between the stored drive shaft angular positions. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of operating a drive shaft, the drive shaft being configured to, in use, adjust a valve between an open position and a closed position, the method comprising:
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receiving a signal from a contactless position sensor configured to, in use, output a signal representing an angular position of the drive shaft or the valve; and controlling a brushless motor, the brushless motor configured to drive the drive shaft, in accordance with the signal output by the position sensor, wherein controlling the brushless motor in accordance with the signal output by the position sensor comprises; setting a rate at which the brushless motor drives the drive shaft dependent upon a position of the drive shaft, storing data representing a plurality of drive shaft angular positions, and varying a rate at which the brushless motor drives the drive shaft between the stored drive shaft angular positions. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification