IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
공개
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0133100
(2016-04-19)
|
공개번호 |
US-0204986
(2017-07-20)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- PRAHL, Kevin A.
- LUND, Garry A.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
0 |
초록
A combination mechanical/electrical valve actuator providing tactile feedback similar to a purely mechanical valve actuator is disclosed.
대표청구항
▼
1. A combination valve and valve actuator, comprising: a mechanical actuator having a closed position and an open position and moveable over a mechanical actuator travel distance to and between said closed position and said open position, said mechanical actuator having a resistance to movement over
1. A combination valve and valve actuator, comprising: a mechanical actuator having a closed position and an open position and moveable over a mechanical actuator travel distance to and between said closed position and said open position, said mechanical actuator having a resistance to movement over said travel distance between said closed position and said open position that must be overcome to move said mechanical actuator between said closed position and said open position, said mechanical actuator comprising: an input actuator positioned to receive user input and moveable over an input actuator range of motion, whereby a user can supply an input force to move said input actuator over the input actuator range of motion;an intermediate actuator mechanically linked to said input actuator, said input actuator positioned and arranged to receive the input force transmitted from the input actuator and move over an intermediate actuator range of motion in response to the input force;a signal generator secured relative to said intermediate actuator;a motor communicatively connected to said mechanical actuator; anda valve body moveable in a conduit between a valve body closed position and a valve body open position, said motor positioned and arranged to drive said valve body to and between said valve body closed position and said valve body open position, said mechanical actuator triggering a signal from the signal generator to energize said motor to drive said valve body based on a position of the mechanical actuator such that movement of the mechanical actuator to the closed position triggers a signal to the motor to drive the valve body to the valve body closed position, movement of the mechanical actuator to the open position triggers a signal to the motor to drive the valve body the valve body open position and movement of the mechanical actuator to a position between the closed position and the open position triggers a signal to the motor to drive the valve body to a corresponding position between the valve body closed position and the valve body open position, whereby the position of the mechanical actuator between the closed position and the open position is proportional to the position of the valve body between the valve body closed position and the valve body open position. 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the input actuator range of motion comprises a linear translation. 3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the intermediate actuator range of motion comprises a rotation. 4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the input actuator range of motion comprises a rotation. 5. The combination of claim 3, wherein the input actuator comprises a pull rod structured and arranged to define the linear translation of the input actuator range of motion to be at least 4 inches of linear translation of the pull rod, the mechanical actuator further comprising a yoke block secured for translation with the pull rod, wherein the intermediate actuator comprises a rotating rod having at least one helical groove engaged by a pin carried by the yoke block, whereby the linear translation of the input actuator causes the rotation of the intermediate actuator. 6. The combination of claim 5, wherein the pull rod includes an exterior flat along the length of the pull rod and the mechanical actuator further comprises a leaf spring positioned to selectively align with the exterior flat of the pull rod, whereby said pull rod maintains an unlocked configuration when the leaf spring aligns with the exterior flat of the pull rod and a locked configuration when the leaf spring does not align with the exterior flat of the pull rod, the leaf spring pressing against the pull rod in the locked configuration to resist translation of the pull rod along the input actuator range of motion, the pull rod rotatable between the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration. 7. The combination of claim 3, wherein the input actuator comprises a rack structured and arranged to define the linear translation of the input actuator range of motion to be at least 4 inches of linear translation of the rack, wherein the intermediate actuator comprises a rotating gear in toothed engagement with the rack, whereby the linear translation of the input actuator causes the rotation of the intermediate actuator. 8. The combination of claim 7, further comprising an intermediate gear position in toothed engagement with the rack and with the intermediate actuator. 9. The combination of claim 1, further comprising a friction element engaged with the mechanical actuator, whereby the input force must overcome a frictional force from the friction element to move the input actuator over the input actuator range of motion. 10. The combination of claim 7, wherein the rack includes an exterior flat along the length of the rack and the mechanical actuator further comprises a leaf spring positioned to selectively align with the exterior flat of the rack, whereby said rack maintains an unlocked configuration when the leaf spring aligns with the exterior flat of the rack and a locked configuration when the leaf spring does not align with the exterior flat of the rack, the leaf spring pressing against the rack in the locked configuration to resist translation of the rack along the input actuator range of motion, the rack rotatable between the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration. 11. The combination of claim 4, wherein the input actuator comprises a handwheel and the intermediate actuator comprises a gear, the handwheel mechanically linked to the gear so that the rotation of the handwheel causes a rotation of the gear, the gear rotatable through less than 360 degrees through the entire input actuator range of motion. 12. The combination of claim 1, wherein said signal generator comprises a magnet and the combination further comprises a sensor node including a sensor configured to detect the position of the magnet and generate a corresponding position signal. 13. The combination of claim 1, wherein said signal generator comprises a magnet. 14. The combination of claim 1, wherein said resistance to movement is at least about 4 lbf. 15. The combination of claim 14, wherein said resistance to movement is at least about 8 lbf. 16. The combination of claim 1, wherein said resistance to movement is in the range of about 8 lbf to about 20 lbf. 17. The combination of claim 11, wherein said handwheel is rotatable over an input range of motion that is more than one full revolution of the mechanical actuator. 18. A combination valve and valve actuator, comprising: an interface means for providing a control interface having the look and feel of a purely mechanical valve actuator, said interface means having a closed position and an open position and moveable over an interface means travel distance between said closed position and said open position, said interface means having a resistance to movement over said travel distance between said closed position and said open position that must be overcome to move said interface means between said closed position and said open position;a motor communicatively connected to said interface means; anda valve body moveable in a conduit between a valve body closed position and a valve body open position, said motor positioned and arranged to drive said valve body to and between said valve body closed position and said valve body open position, said interface means triggering a signal to energize said motor to drive said valve body based on the position of the interface means such that movement of the interface means to the closed position triggers a signal to the motor to drive the valve body to the valve body closed position, movement of the interface means to the open position triggers a signal to the motor to drive the valve body the valve body open position and movement of the interface means to a position between the closed position and the open position triggers a signal to the motor to drive the valve body to a corresponding position between the valve body closed position and the valve body open position. 19. The combination valve and valve actuator of claim 18, wherein said resistance to movement over said travel distance is at least about 4 lbf. 20. The combination valve and valve actuator of claim 18, wherein said resistance to movement over said travel distance is at least about 8 lbf. 21. The combination valve and valve actuator of claim 18, wherein said resistance to movement over travel distance is at least about 8 lbf to about 20 lbf. 22. The combination valve and valve actuator of claim 18, wherein said travel distance is at least 4 inches. 23. The combination valve and valve actuator of claim 18, wherein said travel distance is greater than 360 degrees of rotation. 24. An electro-mechanical actuator comprising: a mechanical actuator having a closed position, an open position, and an intermediate position therebetween, the mechanical actuator moveable over a travel distance to and between said closed position and said open position, said mechanical actuator having a resistance to movement over said travel distance between said closed position and said open position that must be overcome to move said mechanical actuator between said closed position and said open position, said mechanical actuator including a rotatable element configured to rotate responsive to movement over the travel distance; and a sensor device including a sensor configured to detect an angular position of the rotatable element, and a transceiver configured to transmit a value corresponding to the angular position over a network to open a valve an amount proportional to the value. 25. The electro-mechanical actuator of claim 24, further comprising control logic configured to translate the angular position to the value. 26. The electro-mechanical actuator of claim 24, further comprising a local universal network. 27. The electro-mechanical actuator of claim 24, wherein said rotatable element has a range of motion of less than 360 degrees of rotation. 28. The electro-mechanical actuator of claim 24, wherein the network comprises a local interconnect network (LIN) coupled to a controller area network (CAN). 29. The electro-mechanical actuator of claim 2328, wherein the LIN is coupled to the CAN by a local universal network (LUN). 30. The electro-mechanical actuator of claim 29, wherein the LIN configured to communicate values corresponding to angular positions of a plurality of electro-mechanical actuators to a plurality of valves coupled to the CAN.
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