Stepper motor gas valve and method of control
US8275484B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 2010 |
| Grant date | Sep 25, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 14, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05D23/1951
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A controller for a variable heating system is operable to control a stepper motor operated gas valve to adjust gas flow to vary the heating level. The controller includes a first terminal for receiving a thermostat signal requesting heating, an electronic memory, and a microprocessor in communication with the electronic memory and first terminal. The microprocessor detects a thermostat signal requesting heating, and generates a control signal for the stepper motor to operate the gas valve. The microprocessor includes a programmable read-only-memory encoded with an instruction to store a time duration during which the microprocessor detects a thermostat signal requesting heating, and further encoded with an instruction operable to determine a predetermined heating level based on the stored time duration. The microprocessor responds to a thermostat signal requesting heating by determining the number of steps the motor must move to vary the gas flow corresponding to the predetermined heating level.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.