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US 12,203,787 B2Granted
System and method for measuring the amount of backlash in an actuator assembly
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsDavid Podola, Michal Nozka, Radek Hedl, Albert Mikan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for measuring an amount of backlash in an actuator assembly that includes a housing assembly, an actuator, a drive source, an actuator position sensor, a drive source position sensor, and a controller. The controller is in operable communication with the drive source, the actuator position sensor, and the drive source position sensor, and is configured to selectively implement a built-in test that determines the amount of backlash in the actuator assembly.
Claims18
A system for measuring an amount of backlash in an actuator assembly, comprising:
- a housing assembly having a retract end stop and an extend end stop mounted therein;
- an actuator disposed at least partially in the housing, the actuator coupled to receive a drive force and configured, in response to the drive force, to move to an actuator position between and including (i) a fully-retracted position, in which the actuator contacts the retract end stop, and (ii) a fully-extended position, in which the actuator contacts the extend end stop;
- a drive source coupled to receive actuator commands and configured, upon receipt of the actuator commands, to supply the drive force to the actuator;
- an actuator position sensor configured to sense an actuator position;
- a drive source position sensor configured to sense a drive source position;
- and
- a controller in operable communication with the drive source, the actuator position sensor, and the drive source position sensor, the controller configured to selectively implement a built-in test during which the controller:
- (i) commands to the drive source to move the actuator to the fully-extended position, and then commands the drive source to move the actuator to a first predetermined position that is past the fully-extended position,
- (ii) while commanding the drive source to move the actuator to the first predetermined position, reads a first actuator position from the actuator position sensor and a first drive source position from the drive source position sensor,
- (iii) commands to the drive source to move the actuator to the fully-retracted position, and then commands the drive source to move the actuator to a second predetermined position that is past the fully-retracted position,
- (iv) while commanding the drive source to move the actuator to the second predetermined position, reads a second actuator position from the actuator position sensor and a second drive source position from the drive source position sensor,
- (v) determines a first travel distance from the first and second actuator positions,
- (vi) determines a second travel distance from the first and second drive source positions, and
- (vii) determines the amount of backlash from the first and second travel distances.
11 more elements
A method for measuring an amount of backlash in an actuator assembly, comprising the steps of:
- commanding, with a controller, a drive source to move the actuator assembly to a fully-extended position;
- commanding, with the controller, the drive source to move the actuator assembly to a first predetermined position that is past the fully-extended position;
- while commanding the drive source to move the actuator assembly to the first predetermined position, reading, with the controller, a first actuator position from an actuator position sensor and a first drive source position from a drive source position sensor;
- commanding, with the controller, the drive source to move the actuator assembly to a fully-retracted position;
- commanding, with the controller, the drive source to move the actuator to a second predetermined position that is past the fully-retracted position;
- while commanding the drive source to move the actuator to the second predetermined position, reading, with the controller, a second actuator position from the actuator position sensor and a second drive source position from the drive source position sensor;
- determining, with the controller, a first travel distance from the first and second actuator positions;
- determining, with the controller, a second travel distance from the first and second drive source positions;
- and
- determining, with the controller, the amount of backlash from the first and second travel distances.
7 more elements
An actuator built-in test system for measuring an amount of backlash in an actuator assembly, comprising:
- a controller in operable communication with an actuator position sensor, a drive source position sensor, and a drive source that is coupled to an actuator, the controller configured to selectively implement a built-in test during which the controller:
- (i) commands to the drive source to move the actuator to a fully-extended position, and then commands the drive source to move the actuator to a first predetermined position that is past the fully-extended position,
- (ii) while commanding the drive source to move the actuator to the first predetermined position, reads a first actuator position from the actuator position sensor and a first drive source position from the drive source position sensor,
- (iii) commands to the drive source to move the actuator to a fully-retracted position, and then commands the drive source to move the actuator to a second predetermined position that is past the fully-retracted position,
- (iv) while commanding the drive source to move the actuator to the second predetermined position, reads a second actuator position from the actuator position sensor and a second drive source position from the drive source position sensor,
- (v) determines a first travel distance from the first and second actuator positions;
- (vi) determines a second travel distance from the first and second drive source positions, and
- (vii) determines the amount of backlash from the first and second travel distances.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.