Electromechanical actuator for a bulk-goods shut-off element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11215496-B2
Application number	US-201716320694-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2017
Priority date	Jul 27, 2016
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

An electromechanical actuating drive (1) for a bulk-goods shut-off element, comprising an electric motor (2) and a control and drive electronics unit (3) associated with the electric motor (2), wherein the electromechanical actuating drive (1) comprises a mechanism for storing energy.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for dosing, or weighing, or dosing and weighing bulk material comprising at least one bulk material shut-off element, the bulk material shut-off element being operable by at least one electromechanical actuator, wherein the operation of the bulk material shut-off element is an opening or closing or opening and closing thereof, said bulk material shut-off element being a pivoting flap and being operatively connected to at least one load cell, so that a weight of accumulated bulk material can be determined with the flap in a closed position, and
wherein the electromechanical actuator comprises:
an electric motor,
control and drive electronics assigned to the electric motor, and the electromechanical actuator comprises capacitors, which are configured and arranged to act as a buffer that bridges peak power demand when actuating the actuator.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the capacitors are supercapacitors.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is a direct current motor.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the direct current motor is a brushless direct current motor.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is a servo motor.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is configured for generating electrical energy.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the electromechanical actuator is operated with a maximum current of 3 amperes.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the electromechanical actuator further comprises a gear.

9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the gear is a compact gear.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the control and drive electronics are arranged directly on the electric motor.

11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the electromechanical actuator comprises a toggle joint which connects a motor or gear shaft to the shut-off element, and the toggle joint is configured in such a way that a dead point of the toggle joint enables a position of the shut-off element to be maintained when the electric motor has no electrical power supplied to it.

12. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the toggle joint comprises:
a first lever with an eccentrically arranged first stub shaft, which first lever is rotatably mounted on a motor or gear shaft, and
a coupling rod, which is rotatably mounted on the first stub shaft, and the toggle joint further comprises a second lever with an eccentrically arranged second stub shaft, which second lever is rotatably mounted about the pivot axis of a pivotable shut-off member and on the first stub shaft.

13. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is a bulk material scale and the bulk material shut-off element comprises a pivotable flap.

14. A method for operating a device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein when the electromechanical actuator is operated, and energy is stored in the capacitors.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the energy being stored as electrical energy is stored in supercapacitors of the control and drive electronics.

Assignees

• Buehler Ag

Inventors

• Schai Peter
• Haid René
• Kleiner Andreas
• Brand Heinz

Classifications

• G01G17/06 Primary

  having means for controlling the supply or discharge · CPC title

• F16K31/04

  using a motor · CPC title

• F16K31/043

  characterised by mechanical means between the motor and the valve, e.g. lost motion means reducing backlash, clutches, brakes or return means · CPC title

• F16K31/535

  for rotating valves (F16K31/54 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16K31/041

  for rotating valves (F16K31/055 takes precedence) · CPC title