Back to results
US 2026/0118147 A1Published application
Techniques for universally detecting or mitigating fluid flow measurement errors
AssigneeBest Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJohn C Karamanos, Jose Luis Rodriguez Perez, Timothy Buford Briggs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Architectures and techniques are described that can facilitate detection of backlash or other elements of lost motion that can be exhibited in a gear train of an actuator that controls a fluid flow control device such as a damper, valve, or other suitable structure. Further described are techniques to mitigate said lost motion in the context of fluid flow control devices such as by adding a spring assembly that mitigates error or deviation of a fluid flow measurement due to lost motion.
Claims25
An apparatus, comprising:
- an actuator assembly that controls an orientation of a load shaft, wherein the orientation of the load shaft determines dimensions of at least one aperture of a fluid control device that controls a flow of a fluid through a conduit;
- a motor axel coupled to a gear train having at least two gears comprising a first gear coupled to the motor axel and a second gear coupled to the load shaft;
- and
- a spring assembly coupled to the load shaft, the spring assembly comprising:
- a spring that applies a torque force to the load shaft in a first direction about the load shaft, wherein the torque force applied by the spring is configured to have a magnitude that is:
- sufficient to eliminate lost motion with respect to the first gear and the second gear;
- and
- insufficient to rotate the first gear, resulting in the lost motion being eliminated without additional wear on a motor of the actuator assembly.
5 more elements
(canceled)
An apparatus, comprising:
- a shaft having a first end that is configured to operatively couple to an actuator device that controls an orientation of the shaft, and a second end configured to operatively couple to a fluid control device that controls a flow of a fluid through an aperture of the fluid control device, wherein the orientation of the shaft determines dimensions of the aperture;
- a motor axel coupled to a gear train having at least two gears comprising a first gear coupled to the motor axel and a second gear coupled to the shaft;
- and
- a spring assembly coupled to the shaft, the spring assembly comprising:
- a spring that applies a torque force to the shaft in a first direction about the shaft, wherein the spring is configured so that the torque force applied by the spring has a magnitude that is sufficient to reduce lost motion between the first gear and the second gear, yet not sufficient to communicate rotation to the first gear, resulting in the lost motion being reduced without additional wear on a motor of the actuator device.
2 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a load shaft that is designed to operatively couple to a fluid control device that controls a flow of a fluid through at least one aperture of the fluid control device, wherein an orientation of the load shaft determines dimensions of the at least one aperture;
- a motor that controls the orientation of the load shaft via a gear train having at least two gears comprising a first gear coupled to an axel of the motor and a second gear coupled to the load shaft;
- a sensor that generates orientation data indicative of the orientation of the load shaft;
- a communication device that transmits a signal comprising orientation data indicative of the orientation of the load shaft, wherein the orientation of the load shaft is representative of the dimensions of the at least one aperture;
- and
- a spring assembly coupled to the load shaft, the spring assembly comprising:
- a spring that applies a torque force to the load shaft in a first direction about the load shaft, wherein the spring is configured so that a torque force applied by the spring has a magnitude that is sufficient to reduce lost motion between the first gear and the second gear, while being insufficient to cause the second gear to rotate the first gear, resulting in the lost motion being reduced without additional wear on the motor during operation to control the orientation of the load shaft.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.