Electric actuator return-to-normal using capacitor energy storage with regulated output
AssigneeJohnson Service Company
InventorsLawrence J. Strojny, Gerald A. Duenkel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electric actuator return-to-normal failsafe system that utilizes a bank of storage capacitors to store electrical energy for returning an electrical actuator to a safe position in the event of a power failure. The failsafe system includes a regulator circuit that regulates the output of the storage capacitor such that a constant power output is applied to the electric actuator. The constant power output from the regulator circuit is also available to provide directional control of the actuator.
Claims20
An electronic device comprising:
- a voltage input circuit, said voltage input circuit responsive to an input voltage signal;
- a capacitor storage bank including at least one capacitor, said capacitor storage bank responsive to a voltage signal from the voltage input circuit so as to charge the at least one capacitor and provide a stored voltage signal;
- and
- a first voltage regulator responsive to the stored voltage signal from the capacitor storage bank, said first voltage regulator providing a stable output voltage signal operable to drive an actuator, wherein the capacitor storage bank applies the stored voltage signal directly to the first voltage regulator so that in the event the voltage signal from the input voltage circuit is removed from the capacitor storage bank, the output signal from the first voltage regulator will move the actuator to a predetermined failsafe position.
A return-to-normal system for returning an actuator to a safe position, said system comprising:
- a voltage regulator, said voltage regulator responsive to an input voltage signal and providing a regulated voltage output signal;
- a capacitor storage bank including a plurality of capacitors, said capacitor storage bank responsive to the regulated output signal from the voltage regulator to charge the plurality of capacitors when the input voltage signal is applied to the voltage regulator so as to provide a stored voltage signal;
- a step-up regulator directly responsive to the stored voltage signal from the capacitor storage bank, said step-up regulator providing a stable output voltage signal operable to drive the actuator;
- and
- a switch, said switch responsive to the regulated voltage output signal from the voltage regulator, said switch also responsive to the stable output voltage signal from the step-up regulator, wherein the switch is switched off when the regulated voltage output signal is applied to the switch and is switched on when the regulated voltage output signal is removed from the switch, and wherein the stable output voltage signal is applied to the actuator through the switch when the switch is switched on.
A method of returning an actuator to a safe position in the event of a power failure, said method comprising the steps of:
- applying an input voltage signal to a capacitor storage bank including a plurality of capacitors so as to provide a stored voltage signal;
- applying the stored voltage signal directly to a voltage regulator, wherein the voltage regulator provides a stable voltage output signal of the stored voltage signal;
- and
- causing the voltage regulator to apply the stored voltage signal to the actuator in the event that the input voltage signal is removed from the capacitor storage bank so as to cause the actuator to move to the safe position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.