Johnson Controls Technology Company

Johnson Service Company

David C Ritmanich

Kevin A Weiss

Dennis J Ulicny

Hugh F Hudson

William R Kuckuk

David R Fuhr

Douglas G Knutzen

Peter J Klomberg

An actuator is operated to move a mechanical device between two extreme positions of travel. While that motion is occurring, the system quantifies the amount of movement that occurs between those positions. The quantification may involve counting the number of steps of a stepper motor. The number of steps may be used directly as a quantification. Alternatively, the number of steps can be multiplied by the time period of each step to derive the time of the movement between the extreme positions. In addition to being used to setup the actuator upon installation, this automatic ranging method can be performed periodically to compensate for effects of wear on the mechanical device.

Method for automatically determining range of movement of an electromechanical actuator

An apparatus for effecting actuation of a positioning member and a method for commissioning the apparatus wherein the apparatus includes a controller coupled to a drive motor and adapted to receive an input signal and to apply positioning signals to the drive motor. The positioning signals selectively effect positioning of the positioning member and determine a first position and a second position of the positioning member. The method for commissioning the apparatus selectively includes performing an end stop determination sequence in response to an end stop determination signal, winding a bias member, and determining a range of rotation for the positioning member. The end stop determination sequence seeks to detect the presence of both a load and spring when rotating the positioning member and biasing member, respectively, in one of a first and second direction. The load and spring are detected, if present, by monitoring the rotation of the positioning member and bias member, respectively, to detect a stall before the positioning member and biasing member, respectively, exceed a predetermined position. Similarly, during the wind spring sequence and range sequence, the rotation of the biasing member and positioning member, respectively, are monitored for a stall that indicates that the biasing member is cocked and the end stop of the positioning member is determined, respectively.

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Brookfield, WI, United States of America

David C Ritmanich