Actuator having a test mode
First Claim
1. An actuator system for use with heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, comprising:
- a motor;
a motor controller connected to the motor;
a processor connected to the motor controller; and
a switch connected to the processor for engaging the motor to move an HVAC actuator shaft in a first direction to move an HVAC component during a normal application mode; and
wherein;
the switch has a position which is a test mode; and
selecting the position of test mode after installation of the actuator in an HVAC system causes the motor to move the actuator shaft in the first direction to a fully open position to verify operation of the actuator shaft, wherein the actuator shaft stays in the fully open position while the switch is in a position of test mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An actuator system which may incorporate a motor, a motor controller connected to the motor, a processor connected to the motor controller, and a switch connected to the processor for engaging the motor to open and close an actuator shaft. The switch may have a position which is a test mode. Selecting the position of test mode may cause the motor to move the actuator shaft to a certain position to verify operation of the actuator shaft. The actuator shaft may stay in the certain position while the switch is in a position of test mode. The system may also incorporate a spring attached to the actuator shaft. If power fails to the motor, then the actuator spring or another mechanism may return the actuator shaft to a fail safe position. The test mode may alternatively be selected at a controller via the communications bus to the processor.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An actuator system for use with heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, comprising:
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a motor; a motor controller connected to the motor; a processor connected to the motor controller; and a switch connected to the processor for engaging the motor to move an HVAC actuator shaft in a first direction to move an HVAC component during a normal application mode; and wherein; the switch has a position which is a test mode; and selecting the position of test mode after installation of the actuator in an HVAC system causes the motor to move the actuator shaft in the first direction to a fully open position to verify operation of the actuator shaft, wherein the actuator shaft stays in the fully open position while the switch is in a position of test mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. 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 gear train connected to the motor; a processor connected to the motor, the processor comprising actuator software; an actuator shaft coupling connected the gear train, wherein the actuator shaft coupling is configured to move in a first direction to move an HVAC component during a normal application mode; a shaft position sensor connected to the actuator shaft coupling and the processor; and a mode selector connected to the processor; wherein selecting a test mode on the mode selector after installation of the actuator in an HVAC system results in the actuator shaft coupling moving in the first direction to a test mode position, wherein the test mode position is a fully open position; and wherein the actuator software verifies selecting the test mode on the mode selector, the actuator software exercises an algorithm, and the algorithm states; IF Test Mode THEN Set actuator to maximum allowable speed Cause actuator to fully open by moving to an end of an allowable span Remain in this position while in Test Mode. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for verifying that a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) actuator has been installed correctly, comprising:
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installing the actuator in an HVAC system; installing a mode selector on an HVAC actuator, the mode selector having a test mode, wherein the actuator is configured to move in a first direction to move an HVAC component to a fully open position during a normal application mode; connecting the mode selector to a processor of the actuator, the processor comprising actuator software to verify that the mode selector has been turned to the test mode; and verifying that the actuator has been installed correctly by turning the mode selector to test mode thereby moving the actuator in the first direction to the fully open position at an end of an allowable span of the actuator within a predetermined time, wherein after turning the mode selector to test mode, the actuator software then exercises an algorithm as follows; IF Test Mode THEN Set actuator speed to maximum allowable speed Cause actuator to fully open by moving to an end of its allowable span Remain in this position while in Test Mode. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification