# US 10,871,293 B2 · Push pin bearing mechanism for actuators

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- Number: US 10,871,293 B2
- Document ID: US10871293B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/869,859
- Filed: 2018-01-12
- Published: 2018-12-27
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2017-06-27
- Assignees: Computime, Ltd.
- Applicants: Computime, Ltd.
- Inventors: Dick Kwai Chan; Hamza Yilmaz; Ben Ren Tan; Wai-Leung Ha
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871293B2

## CPC

- F24D 19/1018: {Radiator valves}
- F16K 31/002: {actuated by temperature variation (thermo-electric F16K31/025)}
- F16K 31/047: {characterised by mechanical means between the motor and the valve, e.g. lost motion means reducing backlash, clutches, brakes or return means (F16K31/043 takes precedence)}
- F16K 31/53: with toothed gearing
- G05D 23/19: characterised by the use of electric means {(G05D23/1393 takes precedence)}
- F24D 2220/0257: Thermostatic valves
- F24D: DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR (using steam or condensate extracted or exhausted from steam engine plants for heating purposes F01K17/02)
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES

## Abstract

A thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) assembly or automatic temperature balanced actuator (ABA) assembly controls a manifold assembly through a push pin bearing mechanism. The push pin bearing mechanism comprises a push pin that moves in a linear direction responsive to rotational movement of a motor gear that is coupled through a helical gear. Rotational movement of the push pin is prevented by a ball bearing assembly. Movement of the push pin is transferred to a manifold pin, which in turn, controls the manifold assembly. Because the push pin moves in a linear rather than a rotational fashion, erosion of the mated manifold pin is substantially reduced with respect to transitional approaches.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An automatic temperature balanced actuator (ABA) for supporting a manifold assembly, the automatic temperature balanced actuator comprising:
a housing;
a motor gear capable of providing a rotation movement;
a coupling gear screwed into the housing and coupled to the motor gear in order to transfer the rotational movement from the motor gear to the coupling gear;
a bearing assembly;
a tube pressed fixed onto the coupling gear;
a push pin inserted to the bearing assembly and fixed onto the tube, the push pin moving in a linear direction responsive to the rotational movement of the coupling gear and capable of being in contact with a manifold pin; and
the bearing assembly preventing the rotational movement from being transferred to the push pin when the push pin is in contact with the manifold pin.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The automatic temperature balanced actuator of claim 1, wherein the bearing assembly comprises:
an upper plate;
a lower plate;
a middle plate situated between the upper plate and the lower plate and retaining a plurality of bearings; and
the upper plate and the middle plate capable of rotating with the coupling gear while the lower plate and the push pin are stationary with respect to the manifold pin when the push pin and the manifold pin are in contact with each other.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The automatic temperature balanced actuator of claim 1 further comprising:
a support plate; and
the push pin inserted to the support plate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The automatic temperature balanced actuator of claim 1, wherein the coupling gear comprises a helical gear.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The automatic temperature balanced actuator of claim 2, wherein the plurality of bearings comprises ball bearings.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The automatic temperature balanced actuator of claim 2, wherein the middle plate comprises a bearing retainer integral to the middle plate and wherein the bearing retainer retains the plurality of bearings.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The automatic temperature balanced actuator of claim 2, the automatic temperature balanced actuator comprising a bearing retainer, wherein the bearing retainer is fastened to the middle plate to retain the plurality of bearings.

### Claim 8

An automatic temperature balanced actuator (ABA) assembly comprising:
a motor responsive to a control signal that initiates motor movement, wherein the control signal is responsive to a differential temperature and wherein the differential temperature characterizes temperature characteristics of the automatic temperature balanced actuator assembly;
a push pin bearing mechanism comprising:
a motor gear capable of providing a rotation movement responsive to the motor movement;
a coupling gear coupled to the motor gear in order to transfer the rotational movement from the motor gear to the coupling gear;
a bearing assembly, the bearing assembly including:
an upper plate;
a lower plate;
a middle plate situated between the upper plate and the lower plate and retaining a plurality of bearings; and
the upper plate and the middle plate capable of rotating with the coupling gear while the lower plate and a push pin are stationary with respect to a manifold pin when the push pin and the manifold pin are in contact with each other;
a tube pressed fixed onto the coupling gear; and
the push pin, wherein the push pin is inserted to the bearing assembly and fixed onto the tube and the push pin moves in a linear direction responsive to the rotational movement of the coupling gear, and the bearing assembly prevents the rotational movement from being transferred to the push pin when the push pin is in contact with the manifold pin.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The automatic temperature balanced actuator assembly of claim 8, further comprising:
a manifold control mechanism comprising:
the manifold pin; and
a manifold valve, wherein the manifold valve is positioned in response to linear movement of the push pin.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The automatic temperature balanced actuator assembly of claim 9, further comprising:
a manifold assembly, the manifold assembly comprising an emitter flow pipe and a return pipe, wherein the control signal is indicative of the differential temperature between the emitter flow pipe and the return pipe and wherein a rate of fluid flow through the manifold assembly is controlled by the position of the manifold valve based on the differential temperature.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The automatic temperature balanced actuator assembly of claim 8, wherein the coupling gear comprises a helical gear.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The automatic temperature balanced actuator assembly of claim 10 further comprising a first and second temperature sensors located at the emitter flow pipe and the return pipe, respectively, wherein the differential temperature essentially equals a difference between first and second temperature measurements obtained from the first and second temperature sensors, respectively.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The automatic temperature balanced actuator assembly of claim 8 further comprising:
a support plate; and
the push pin inserted to the support plate.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The automatic temperature balanced actuator assembly of claim 8 further comprising a control circuit, wherein the control circuit obtains an input signal indicative of the temperature differential and converts the input signal to the control signal.