Patents Assigned to Belimo Holding AG
  • Patent number: 10208804
    Abstract: A control device (10?) comprises a control unit (10?) with a control element for controlling a fluid flow and being rotatable about a first axis (13) between an open position and a closed position, and a separate motor-driven actuator unit (24), which is mechanically coupled to said control unit (10?) to rotate said control element about said first axis (13) in a controllable fashion, whereby said actuator unit (24) comprises a driving part (25) with a driving element (31) being rotatable about a second axis (26), to be mechanically coupled to said control element in a coupling position to rotate said control element about said first axis (13), and a control part (28) for driving said driving element (31) in a controllable fashion. Said driving element (31) is removably coupled to said control unit (10?) by means of a spur gearing (Hirth serration) (22, 29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Georg Bamberger, Urs Niederhauser
  • Publication number: 20190041878
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic flow controller (30) for applications in the HVAC field, said electronic flow controller comprising a one-piece valve body (31) which is penetrated by a flowing medium. The valve body is divided into a valve portion (31a) and a flow measurement portion (31b) along the flow direction, wherein a valve element (32) is arranged in the valve section (31a) for the control of flow, wherein said valve element can be controlled from the outside via a valve spindle (33), and wherein a measurement path (36) is formed in the flow measurement portion (31b) for determining the flow rate by means of ultrasound. In order to achieve a compact arrangement and a greatly simplified assembly, accesses (34a, b) for coupling and/or outcoupling ultrasound into or from the measuring path (36) are formed on the valve body (31) in the region of the flow measurement portion (31b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: Belimo Holding AG
    Inventors: Philip HOLOCH, Reto HOBI
  • Patent number: 10133251
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety controller for an actuating drive (2.1, 2.2, 2.3) for controlling a gas flow or a liquid flow in an open-loop or closed-loop manner by means of a flap (3.1, 3.2, 3.3) or a valve, in particular in the field of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, fire-protection systems, and/or room protection systems. A safety circuit (9.1, 9.2, 9.3) is implemented to ensure the energy supply in a safety operating mode if an electricity supply circuit (8.1, 8.2, 8.3) drops off or is lost. A control value output circuit (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) detects status signals, in particular signals of a sensor (11.1, 11.2, 11.3), and/or status parameters of a system and/or a specifiable setting of an adjustment device that can be actuated manually. The safety control value is set to one of at least two different control values (SW1, SW2, . . . ) depending on the status signals so that the safety position of the flap is determined adaptively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Andreas Furrer, Martin Ochsenbein
  • Patent number: 10132576
    Abstract: A method for operating a heat exchanger, through which a heat transfer medium flows on a primary side, entering the heat exchanger with a first temperature and exiting the heat exchanger with a second temperature. The heat transfer medium emits on a secondary side a heat flow to a secondary medium flowing through the heat exchanger in the case of heating or, in the case of cooling, absorbs a heat flow from the secondary medium which enters the heat exchanger with a third temperature and exits the heat exchanger again with a fourth temperature. The heat exchanger is capable of transferring a maximum heat flow. At least three of the four temperatures are measured and the respective saturation level of the heat exchanger is determined from these measured temperatures and is used for controlling the operation of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Markus Friedl, Marc Thuillard
  • Patent number: 10127173
    Abstract: A connecting device comprises housing, a board with electrical components, including at least one digital bus connection and an input/output section. It allows outsourcing of analog and digital I/O from a connected device, e.g. an HVAC actuator control unit by decentralizing inputs and outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Peter Schmidlin, Silvio Grogg
  • Publication number: 20180267493
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety controller for an actuating drive (2.1, 2.2, 2.3) for controlling a gas flow or a liquid flow in an open-loop or closed-loop manner by means of a flap (3.1, 3.2, 3.3) or a valve, in particular in the field of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, fire-protection systems, and/or room protection systems. A safety circuit (9.1, 9.2, 9.3) is implemented to ensure the energy supply in a safety operating mode if an electricity supply circuit (8.1, 8.2, 8.3) drops off or is lost. A control value output circuit (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) detects status signals, in particular signals of a sensor (11.1, 11.2, 11.3), and/or status parameters of a system and/or a specifiable setting of an adjustment device that can be actuated manually. The safety control value is set to one of at least two different control values (SW1, SW2, . . . ) depending on the status signals so that the safety position of the flap is determined adaptively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Andreas Furrer, Martin Ochsenbein
  • Publication number: 20180238645
    Abstract: A method for operating a heat exchanger, through which a heat transfer medium flows on a primary side, entering the heat exchanger with a first temperature and exiting the heat exchanger with a second temperature. The heat transfer medium emits on a secondary side a heat flow to a secondary medium flowing through the heat exchanger in the case of heating or, in the case of cooling, absorbs a heat flow from the secondary medium which enters the heat exchanger with a third temperature and exits the heat exchanger again with a fourth temperature. The heat exchanger is capable of transferring a maximum heat flow. At least three of the four temperatures are measured and the respective saturation level of the heat exchanger is determined from these measured temperatures and is used for controlling the operation of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Markus Friedl, Marc Thuillard
  • Publication number: 20180238463
    Abstract: An actuator (1) comprises an electric motor (11) for moving an actuated part (2) to an actuated position. The actuator (1) further comprises a controller (10) connected to the electric motor (11) and configured to determine a motor current of the electric motor (11) and to detect motor rotations. The controller (10) is further configured to determine the actuated position by counting the motor rotations detected while the motor current is at or above a current threshold indicative of a load torque, and by not counting motor rotations detected while the motor current is below said current threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Marc THUILLARD, Stefan MISCHLER, Frank LEHNERT
  • Publication number: 20180210474
    Abstract: A method for operating and/or monitoring an HVAC system (10), in which a medium circulating in a primary circuit (26) flows through at least one energy consumer (11, 12, 13), the medium entering with a volume flow (?) through a supply line (14) into the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) at a supply temperature (Tv) and leaving the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) at a return temperature (TR) via a return line (15), and transferring heat or cooling energy to the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) in an energy flow (E). A control unit (21) adaptively operates the system by empirically determining the dependence of the energy flow (F) and/or the temperature difference ?T between supply temperature (Tv) and return temperature (TR) on the volume flow (?) for the energy consumers (11, 12, 13) in a first step, and by operating and/or monitoring the HVAC system (10) according to the determined dependency or dependencies in a second step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Vinod D'SILVA, Mark NIGHTLINGER, Marc THUILLARD, Ronald AEBERHARD
  • Publication number: 20180195753
    Abstract: For operating a thermal energy exchanger (1) for exchanging thermal energy between a thermal transfer fluid and air, a plurality of measurement data sets are recorded in a control system (40). The measurement data sets include for a different point in time data values which define a normalized energy transfer that represents the thermal energy transferred in the thermal energy exchanger (1) normalized by one or more normalization variables. The control system (40) calculates for each of the measurement data sets a normalized data point defined by the normalized energy transfer. The control system (40) further determines for the thermal energy exchanger (1) a characteristic energy transfer curve which fits the normalized data points. Normalizing the energy transfer makes it possible to operate the thermal energy exchanger (1) more efficiently over a wider range of changing conditions, as saturation can be prevented using more appropriate fixed or variable thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Forest REIDER, Marc THUILLARD, Stefan MISCHLER, Ronald AEBERHARD
  • Publication number: 20180172370
    Abstract: A method of controlling opening of a valve in an HVAC system is provided. The method includes controlling the opening of a six-way-valve according to a default control mode in dependence of a default sensor signal, the six-way-valve fluidicly coupling an inlet side and an outlet side of the heat exchanger alternatively with a first fluidic circuit in a first default control mode or a second fluidic circuit in a second default control mode; selecting a selected default control mode from the first default control mode and the alternative second default control mode; determining, while controlling the valve in the selected default control mode, whether the sensor signal is faulty; and switching, in case the signal is faulty, to controlling the opening according to a first fallback control mode or an alternative second fallback control mode, where the opening is controlled independently of the faulty sensor signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Ronald AEBERHARD, Marc THUILLARD, Philipp MAZENAUER
  • Patent number: 10001293
    Abstract: For controlling the flow of air into the zones (Z1, Z2, Z3, Zi) of a variable air volume HVAC system (1) having actuator driven dampers (D1, D2, D3, Di), which operate in a range from a minimum damper position to a maximum damper position for adjusting the flow of air into a zone (Z1, Z2, Z3, Zi), flow measurement values and current damper positions are transmitted via a telecommunications network (2) to a cloud-based HVAC control center (3). Using the flow measurement values and calibration values, which indicate HVAC system parameters at a defined calibration pressure in the HVAC system (1) and at different damper positions, the cloud-based HVAC control center (3) calculates the minimum damper position for the actuators (A1, A2, A3, Ai), such that the pressure in the HVAC system (1) does not exceed a defined maximum pressure threshold, and transmits the minimum damper position to the actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Peter Schmidlin
  • Patent number: 9982955
    Abstract: A method for operating a heat exchanger, through which a heat transfer medium flows on a primary side, entering the heat exchanger with a first temperature and exiting the heat exchanger with a second temperature. The heat transfer medium emits on a secondary side a heat flow to a secondary medium flowing through the heat exchanger in the case of heating or, in the case of cooling, absorbs a heat flow from the secondary medium which enters the heat exchanger with a third temperature and exits the heat exchanger again with a fourth temperature. The heat exchanger is capable of transferring a maximum heat flow. At least three of the four temperatures are measured and the respective saturation level of the heat exchanger is determined from these measured temperatures and is used for controlling the operation of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Markus Friedl, Marc Thuillard
  • Patent number: 9964963
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure equalizing insert (1) which is provided for installation in a valve (10) for regulating a fluid stream in particular in a HVAC system. The pressure equalizing insert (1) comprises a housing (2) having an actuating member (3) which is movably mounted thereon and is configured to at least partially guide the fluid stream regulated by the valve (10) and, when the pressure equalizing insert (1) is installed, co-operates with a valve seat (15) depending upon a pressure difference prevailing in the fluid stream in order to regulate the fluid stream. The invention further relates to a valve (10) having an installed pressure equalizing insert (1), wherein the pressure equalizing insert (1) can be inserted in particular as a pre-assembled assembly into the valve (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Andrew James Jukes, Urs Keller
  • Patent number: 9964329
    Abstract: A 6-way valve (20) comprises two similar 3-way sub-valves (20a, 20b) being mechanically coupled with each other, such that both sub-valves (20a, 20b) are always in the same position, whereby each sub-valve (20a, 20b) has three different valve ports (33, 34, 35) and a valve member (22?) with an internal connecting channel (29), which valve member (22?) can moved between first and second end positions via an intermediate position such that in said first end position the first (33) and third (35) valve ports are connected with each other by means of said connecting channel (29), in said second end position the second (34) and third (35) valve ports are connected with each other by means of said connecting channel (29), and in said intermediate position said connecting channel (29) is disconnected from said first and second valve ports (33, 34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Ryan Whitmore, Daryl Kaufman, Urs Keller, Beat Hotz
  • Patent number: 9958883
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating and/or monitoring an HVAC system (10), in which medium circulating in a primary circuit (26) flows through at least one energy consumer (11, 12, 13), the medium entering with a volume flow (?) through a supply line (14) into the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) at a supply temperature (TV) and leaving the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) at a return temperature (TR) via a return line (15), and transferring heat or cooling energy to the energy consumer (11, 12, 13) in an energy flow (E). A considerable improvement in the operating behavior of the system is achieved by empirically determining the dependence of the energy flow (E) and/or the temperature difference (AT) between supply temperature (TV) and return temperature (TR) on the volume flow (?) for the energy consumers (11, 12, 13) in a first step, and by operating and/or monitoring the HVAC system (10) according to the determined dependency or dependencies in a second step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Vinod D'Silva, Mark Nightlinger, Marc Thuillard, Ronald Aeberhard
  • Patent number: 9921011
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a method of controlling opening of a valve (10) in an HVAC system (100). The method includes controlling the opening of the valve (10) according to a default control mode in dependence of a default sensor signal. The method further includes determining, while controlling the opening of the valve (10) according to the default control mode, whether the default sensor signal is faulty and switching, in case of the default sensor signal being faulty, to controlling the opening of the valve (10) according to a fallback control mode, with the opening of the valve (10) being controlled independently of the faulty sensor signal in the fallback control mode. The present invention is further directed towards a corresponding control device opening of a valve (10) in an HVAC system as well as a corresponding computer program product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Ronald Aeberhard, Marc Thuillard, Philipp Mazenauer
  • Patent number: 9903481
    Abstract: A control valve having a closing element, mounted in a housing between an inlet side and an outlet side and rotatable about an axis between a first and second end positions, and a passage channel through the closing element perpendicularly with respect to the rotational axis. The channel has inlet and outlet openings and connects the inlet side to the outlet side in the first end position, disconnects the inlet side from the outlet side in the second end position, and permits an increasing throughflow of a medium during the transition from the second end position into the first end position with a characteristic curve. Low valve noise is achieved because of the shape, size and configuration of the inlet and outlet openings of the passage channel and the configuration of walls of the passage channel without steps and edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Urs Keller, Andrew James Jukes, Giuseppe Cicerchia
  • Patent number: D842733
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: BELIMO Holding AG
    Inventors: Walter Jungen, Josef Niederberger
  • Patent number: D842735
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: BELIMO Holding AG
    Inventors: Walter Jungen, Josef Niederberger