Reduced-energy-consumption actuator

Details Reduced-energy-consumption actuator Reduced-energy-consumption actuator

2000-02-29

2001-10-23

Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3751)

Valves and valve actuation

Electrically actuated valve

Remote or follow-up control system for electrical actuator

Reexamination Certificate

active

06305662

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to electromagnetic actuators and in particular to the systems that control them.
2. Background Information
For many automatic flow-control installations, such as automatic toilet and urinal flushers, one particularly stringent design requirement is that the system consume as little power as possible. The reason for this varies from case to case, but it is typically that the circuitry and other apparatus required to make the flusher's operation automatic are quite frequently provided on a retrofit basis. That is, manual flushers are being converted to automatic operation. Unless the retrofit unit can be battery-operated or otherwise self-contained, the installation process is quite expensive, typically requiring that walls be opened to provide the necessary wiring. That expense can be avoided if the automatic system is battery-operated, but a battery-operated system's acceptability depends greatly on battery life. A significant determinant of the battery's longevity is the energy that valve actuation consumes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention achieves this result by reducing the energy waste that usually occurs in driving the actuator's armature. The approach employed by the invention involves determining when the armature has reached the end of its travel by taking advantage of the sound that the armature makes when it reaches that point. When that point is detected, the coil drive is changed, typically to a level that is adequate to hold the armature at its end point but less than needed to move the armature to the end point with acceptable speed. This can reduce energy consumption greatly and result in a significant battery-longevity increase.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4097786 (1978-06-01), Lund
patent: 4887032 (1989-12-01), Hetrick
patent: 4894698 (1990-01-01), Hijikigawa et al.
patent: 5032812 (1991-07-01), Banick et al.
patent: 5109886 (1992-05-01), Tauscher
patent: 5127625 (1992-07-01), Kleinhappl
patent: 5169118 (1992-12-01), Whiteside
patent: 5375811 (1994-12-01), Reinicke
patent: 5408369 (1995-04-01), Miura et al.
patent: 5433245 (1995-07-01), Prather et al.
patent: 5481187 (1996-01-01), Marcott et al.
patent: 5574617 (1996-11-01), Shimanuki et al.
patent: 5583434 (1996-12-01), Moyers et al.
patent: 5584465 (1996-12-01), Ochsenreiter
patent: 5600237 (1997-02-01), Nippert
patent: 5636601 (1997-06-01), Moriya et al.
patent: 5708355 (1998-01-01), Schrey
patent: 5716038 (1998-02-01), Scarffe
patent: 5747684 (1998-05-01), Pace et al.
patent: 5787915 (1998-08-01), Bryers et al.
patent: 5797360 (1998-08-01), Pischinger et al.
patent: 5804962 (1998-09-01), Kather et al.
patent: 5905625 (1999-05-01), Schebitz
patent: 5964192 (1999-10-01), Ishii
patent: 6044814 (2000-04-01), Fuwa
patent: 6155231 (2000-12-01), Adachi et al.
patent: 6158715 (2000-12-01), Kirschbaum
patent: 663552A1 (1995-07-01), None
patent: 942214A1 (1999-09-01), None
patent: 2590088 (1987-05-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Reduced-energy-consumption actuator does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Reduced-energy-consumption actuator, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Reduced-energy-consumption actuator will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2594714