US 9,927,044 B2Granted

Dual shaft alternating drive actuator

AssigneeKMC Controls, Inc.

InventorKevin D. Kezar

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An actuator provides two step control of a dual valve or dual damper, such as in an HVAC system. The gear train includes projections on top and bottom faces of the final gear, the projections being rotationally offset from each other by an angle. Each projection mates into a slot of a Geneva-gear-type output member, with two such output members accessible, one on the top of the actuator and one on the bottom of the actuator. During the portion of the throw that the upwardly facing projection is in the slot of the upwardly exposed Geneva-type output gear, the final gear rotates the upper output member to control one flow blockage member in the valve or damper. During another portion of the throw, rotation of the final gear does not rotate the upper output member, but instead rotates the lower output member and its flow blockage member.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An HVAC actuator for use in opening and closing a valve or a damper to control fluid flow in an HVAC system in a two step control, the actuator comprising:

a motor which can be selectively powered to provide a rotational torque on a motor output shaft;
a gear train rotationally coupled to the motor output shaft, the gear train having a final gear rotatable about a final gear axis and having a first face perpendicular to the final gear axis, with a first projection on the first face of the final gear, wherein the motor can drive the final gear in either a forward or reverse direction for a throw between a fully open terminal position and a fully closed terminal position;
a first output member rotationally coupled to the final gear by having a first output slot which receives the first projection during only a portion of the throw, so during the portion of the throw that the first projection is in the first output slot the final gear rotates the first output member and, during another portion of the throw that the first projection is not in the first output slot, rotation of the final gear does not rotate the first output member;
and
a second output member rotationally coupled to the final gear so the second output member is rotationally driven by the final gear during the portion of the throw that the first projection is not in the first output slot.

2 more elements

A flow control device for controlling fluid flow through a duct or pipe, comprising:

a first flow blockage plate having its position for blocking flow in the duct or pipe controlled by a rotational shaft;
a second flow blockage plate having its position for blocking flow in the duct or pipe controlled by a rotational sleeve coaxially disposed on the shaft;
each of the first flow blockage plate and the second flow blockage plate in a closed position blocking separate portions of the cross-sectional flow area through the flow control device;
and
an actuator for use in rotating both the shaft and the sleeve, the actuator comprising:
a motor which can be selectively powered to provide a rotational torque on a motor output shaft;
a gear train rotationally coupled to the motor output shaft, the gear train having a final gear rotatable about a final gear axis and having a first face perpendicular to the final gear axis, with a first projection on the first face of the final gear, wherein the motor can drive the final gear in either a forward or reverse direction for a throw between a fully open terminal position and a fully closed terminal position;
a first output member rotationally coupled to the final gear by having a first output slot which receives the first projection during only a portion of the throw, so during the portion of the throw that the first projection is in the first output slot the final gear rotates the first output member and, during another portion of the throw that the first projection is not in the first output slot, rotation of the final gear does not rotate the first output member, the first output member being secured to one of the shaft and sleeve;
and
a second output member rotationally coupled to the final gear so the second output member is rotationally driven by the final gear during the portion of the throw that the first projection is not in the first output slot, the second output member being secured to the other of the shaft and sleeve.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/385,443Filed 20 Dec 2016 · us provisional application
Priority: 21 Dec 2015
Published: US 2017/0176044 A122 Jun 2017
Granted: 27 Mar 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification18 codes

F16K 31/043
For rotating valves: characterised by mechanical means between the motor and the valve, e.g. lost motion means reducing backlash, clutches, brakes…
F16H 19/001
Gearings comprising essentially only toothed gears or friction members and not capable of conveying indefinitely-continuing rotary motion: for…
F16H 21/44
All movement being in, or parallel to, a single plane: for conveying or interconverting oscillating or reciprocating motions
F16H 37/12
Combinations of mechanical gearings, not provided for in groups F16H1/00 - F16H35/00: gearings comprising primarily toothed or friction gearing,…