Hvac actuator with range adjustment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017321925-A1
Application number	US-201715656207-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 21, 2017
Priority date	Dec 18, 2013
Publication date	Nov 9, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An HVAC actuator configured to actuate an HVAC component may include a rotatable output shaft having a full range of rotation between a first end position and a second end position, a drive mechanism configured to selectively drive the output shaft, and a housing having a front side that faces away from the HVAC component. The HVAC actuator may include a range adjustment lever manipulatable from the front side of the housing that allows a user to selectively limit rotation of the output shaft to a reduced range that is a subset of the full range. In some instances, the range adjustment lever allows the user to select between two or more predetermined reduced ranges. The two or more predetermined reduced ranges may each include the first end position but have a different second stop position, or include the second end position but have a different first stop position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An HVAC actuator configured to actuate an HVAC component, comprising:
a rotatable output shaft having a full range of rotation between a first end position and a second end position, the output shaft configured to actuate the HVAC component when the HVAC actuator is operatively coupled to the HVAC component; a drive mechanism configured to selectively drive the output shaft; a housing for housing the drive mechanism, the housing having a front side that faces away from the HVAC component and a back side that faces toward the HVAC component when the HVAC actuator is operatively coupled to the HVAC component; and a range adjustment lever manipulatable from the front side of the housing that allows a user to selectively limit rotation of the output shaft to a reduced range that is a subset of the full range of motion.

2 . The HVAC actuator of claim 1 , wherein the range adjustment lever allows the user to select between two or more predetermined reduced ranges.

3 . The HVAC actuator of claim 2 , wherein the two or more predetermined reduced ranges each includes the first end position but has a different second stop position.

4 . The HVAC actuator of claim 2 , wherein the two or more predetermined reduced ranges each includes the second end position but has a different first stop position.

5 . The HVAC actuator of claim 1 , further comprising a tab rigidly connected to the output shaft, and wherein the range adjustment lever moves a stop configured to limit the rotation of the output shaft when the tab is rotated into contact with the stop.

6 . The HVAC actuator of claim 1 , wherein the range adjustment lever is rotatably mounted concentric with the output shaft of the HVAC actuator, with a first portion of the range adjustment lever extending radially outward relative to the output shaft and a second portion extending from the first portion toward the front side of the housing.

7 . The HVAC actuator of claim 6 , further comprising:
a plate generally perpendicular to the output shaft of the HVAC actuator and proximal the first portion of the range adjustment lever, the plate including two or more receptacles, the plate rigidly affixed relative to the housing; wherein the range adjustment lever includes a projection engageable by any one of the two or more receptacles, wherein when the projection is engaged by any one of the two or more receptacles, their engagement substantially prevents rotation of the range adjustment lever relative to the plate and thus the housing; and wherein the range adjustment lever is manipulatable from the front side of the housing to disengage the projection from any one of the two or more receptacles, to rotate the range adjustment lever, and to engage the projection with another one of the two or more receptacles, thereby allowing adjustment of the rotational position of the range adjustment lever between two or more discrete locations.

8 . The HVAC actuator of claim 7 , wherein the first portion of the range adjustment lever includes the projection.

9 . The HVAC actuator of claim 8 , wherein the range adjustment lever includes a spring lever, such that when a force is applied to the range adjustment lever toward the back of the housing, the projection of the first portion of the range adjustment lever disengages from any one of the two or more receptacles of the plate, which releases the range adjustment lever for rotation to a new position.

10 . The HVAC actuator of claim 8 , wherein the range adjustment lever includes a spring lever, such that when a force is applied to the range adjustment lever toward the front of the housing, the projection of the first portion of the range adjustment lever disengages from any one of the two or more receptacles of the plate, which releases the range adjustment lever for rotation to a new position.

11 . The HVAC actuator of claim 7 , wherein the plate forms at least part of a back surface of the housing of the HVAC actuator.

12 . The HVAC actuator of claim 1 , wherein the range adjustment lever allows the user to select any of at least two stop positions or a no stop position of the output shaft, wherein each of the at least two stop positions prevents the output shaft from rotating completely to the first end position, and the no stop position allows the output shaft to rotate completely to the first end position.

13 . The HVAC actuator of claim 12 , further comprises an indicator that visually indicates which stop position if any has been selected.

14 . An HVAC actuator configured to actuate an HVAC component, comprising:
a rotatable output shaft configured to actuate an HVAC component when the HVAC actuator is operatively coupled to the HVAC component; a drive mechanism configured to selectively drive the output shaft; a housing for housing the drive mechanism, the housing having a front side that faces away from the HVAC component and a back side that faces toward the HVAC component when the HVAC actuator is operatively coupled to the HVAC component; and a range adjuster manipulatable from the front side of the housing, the range adjuster allowing a user to mechanically set a mechanical stop that limits rotation of the output shaft.

15 . The HVAC actuator of claim 14 , wherein the range adjuster comprises a range adjustment lever that is accessible from the front side of the housing.

16 . The HVAC actuator of claim 14 , wherein the range adjuster allows a user to selectively limit rotation of the output shaft to one of two or more discrete predetermined ranges.

17 . The HVAC actuator of claim 16 , wherein the two or more discrete predetermined ranges share a common first end position but have different second stop positions.

18 . The HVAC actuator of claim 14 , further comprising a tab rigidly connected to the output shaft, and wherein the range adjuster moves the mechanical stop, which is configured to limit the rotation of the output shaft when the tab is rotated into contact with the mechanical stop.

19 . A method for adjusting a range of motion of an HVAC actuator, the HVAC actuator having a housing and an output shaft, with the housing having a front side that faces away from the output shaft and a back side that faces toward the output shaft, the output shaft having a full range of rotation motion between a first end position and a second end position, the method comprising:
manipulating an adjustment lever from the front side of the housing to unlock the adjustment lever from a first lock position; moving the adjustment lever along a path to a second lock position; releasing the adjustment lever to lock the adjustment lever in the second lock position; and wherein at least one of the first lock position and the second lock position establishes a stop position that limits rotation of the output shaft from reaching the first end position.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein manipulating the adjustment lever includes pressing the lever in a direction that is toward the back side of the HVAC actuator.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Du Jack
• Emmons David J
• Wang Bin

Classifications

• F24F11/74 Primary

  for controlling air flow rate or air velocity · CPC title

• F24F13/1426

  characterised by actuating means · CPC title

• F24F2140/40

  Damper positions, e.g. open or closed · CPC title

• F24F11/52

  Indication arrangements, e.g. displays · CPC title

• F24F2011/0091

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic