Reduced-energy-consumption latching actuator
US6450478B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 7, 2001 |
| Grant date | Sep 17, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 7, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16K31/082
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A latching-valve system (10) includes a piezoelectric transducer (44) mounted on its housing (16). To change the valve's state, a microcontroller (54) causes a valve driver (58) to drive current through the actuator's coil (12). It continues driving current through the coil (12) until the transducer's output reaches a magnitude characteristic of the disturbance that typically results when the actuator's armature (22) reaches the end of its travel. At that point, the microcontroller (54) stops driving current through the coil. If the characteristic sound does not occur within a predetermined duration, the microcontroller (54) causes a voltage-multiplier circuit (Q1, L1, D1) to increase the voltage that the valve driver (58) applies to the coil.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.