Intelligent control of simple actuators
AssigneePoolside Tech, LLC
InventorsWilliam R. Doan, Stan Reznik
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One aspect of the invention provides a computer-implemented method including: monitoring a current flow to a valve actuator; determining a previous position of the valve actuator; and determining a direction of movement of the valve actuator from the current flow and the determined previous position. Another aspect of the invention provides a control system including: memory; one or more processors; and a set of instructions stored in the memory that, when executed by the one or processors, cause the control system to perform a computer-implemented method as described herein.
Claims22
A computer-implemented method comprising:
- monitoring a current flow to a valve actuator;
- determining a previous position of the valve actuator;
- and
- determining a direction of movement of the valve actuator from the current flow and the determined previous position;
- wherein the computer-implemented method further comprises one or more of:
- (a):
- determining when current flow is terminated to the valve actuator;
- and
- identifying a time period between applying power to the valve actuator and the determination when current flow is terminated to the valve actuator;
- determining an intermediate valve actuator position based on the identified time period;
- applying power to the valve actuator;
- and
- terminating power to the valve actuator according to the determined intermediate valve actuator position and prior to completion of the time period;
- and
- (b) if the actuator is a dual-limit-switch-constrained actuator:
- determining that no current flow occurs while applying power to one of the plurality of electrical leads;
- and
- determining that a polarity of the valve actuator is reversed based on the no current flow.
A system comprising:
- a valve;
- a valve actuator comprising:
- a motor in mechanical communication with the valve;
- and
- at least one limit switch configured to terminate motor actuation upon contacting the motor;
- and
- a control system in electrical communication with the valve actuator and configured to:
- monitor a current flow to the motor;
- determine a previous position of the valve;
- and
- determine a direction of movement of the valve based on the monitored current flow and the determined previous position;
- and
- one or more of:
- (a):
- determining when current flow is terminated to the motor;
- and
- identifying a time period between applying power to the motor and the determination when current flow is terminated to the motor;
- determining an intermediate valve actuator position based on the identified time period;
- applying power to the motor;
- and
- terminating power to the motor according to the determined intermediate valve actuator position and prior to completion of the time period;
- and
- (b) if the actuator is a dual-limit-switch-constrained actuator:
- determining that no current flow occurs while applying power to one of the plurality of electrical leads;
- and
- determining that a polarity of the valve actuator is reversed based on the no current flow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.