Patents Assigned to Belimo Holding AG
  • Patent number: 12281923
    Abstract: An HVAC flow measurement system (1) comprises an ultrasonic flowmeter (10) for measuring a flow of gas through a channel (2). The ultrasonic flowmeter (10) comprises ultrasonic transducers (11, 12) arranged at a distance from each other in flow direction (f). The ultrasonic transducers (11, 12) are configured to emit an ultrasonic pulse into the channel (2) and to receive an ultrasonic pulse in the channel (2). The flow measurement system (1) further comprises a processor (100) connected to the two ultrasonic transducers (11, 11a, 11b, 12, 12a, 12b) and configured to determine and store transit times of ultrasonic pulses propagating in and against flow direction (f) along more than one path (R1, R2) in the channel (2), and to determine the flow of gas using the transit times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Patrick Reissner
  • Publication number: 20250123131
    Abstract: An HVAC flow measurement system (1) comprises an ultrasonic flowmeter (2) for measuring a flow of gas through a channel (3). The ultrasonic flowmeter (2) comprises ultrasonic transducers (20, 21) arranged at a distance L from each other in flow direction f. The ultrasonic transducers (20, 21) are configured to emit an ultrasonic pulse into the channel (3) and to receive an ultrasonic pulse in the channel (3). The flowmeter (2) further comprises a processor (200) connected to the two ultrasonic transducers (20, 21) and configured to measure transit times in such a manner that a flow velocity of the fluid and at least one characteristic parameter(s) of the channel (30) are determined by using the transit times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2024
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Patrick REISSNER, Lucien BUCHMANN
  • Patent number: 12264953
    Abstract: An HVAC flow measurement system (1) comprises an ultrasonic flowmeter (10) for measuring a flow of gas through a channel (2). The ultrasonic flowmeter (10) comprises ultrasonic s transducers (11, 12) arranged at a distance from each other in flow direction (f) and configured to emit an ultrasonic pulse into the channel (2) and to receive an ultrasonic pulse in the channel (2). The flow measurement system (1) further comprises a processor (100) connected to the two ultrasonic transducers (11, 11a, 11b, 12, 12a, 12b) and configured to determine and store transit times of ultrasonic pulses propagating in and against flow direction (f) along one or more than one path (R1, R2) in the channel (2), and to determine the flow of gas using the transit times. A damper system (40) having a damper blade (4) arranged in the channel (2) is provided downstream of the ultrasonic flowmeter (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Patrick Reissner
  • Patent number: 12259047
    Abstract: Disclosed is a three-way valve (1) with an A-port (1A), a B-port (1B), and an AB-port (1AB), a valve body (11) and a regulation body (12). The three-way valve (1) further includes an A-sided valve seat (3A), an AB-sided valve seat (3AB) and an auxiliary valve seat (3?), wherein the A-sided valve seat (3A), the AB-sided valve seat (3AB) and the auxiliary valve seat (3?) are each arranged inside the valve body (11) and contact the regulation body (12) in a sealing manner. The A-sided valve seat (3A) is arranged at the A-port (1A), the AB-sided valve seat (3AB) is arranged at the AB-port, and the auxiliary valve seat (3?) is arranged opposite to the B-port (1B), with the regulation body (12) between the B-port (1B) and the auxiliary valve seat (3?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Andrew James Jukes, Urs Keller
  • Publication number: 20250085145
    Abstract: A method for self-diagnosing an ultrasonic flowmeter assembly (I) comprising at least one ultrasonic transducer (20, 21) fixed to the conduit section (3) and configured to emit ultrasonic pulses into the conduit (3) and to receive ultrasonic pulses after having travelled along at least one path (R, I) in the conduit section (3) and to output measurement data, further comprising a controller (200) for processing the measurement data, wherein a reference measurement and test measurement each comprises emitting and receiving at least one ultrasonic pulse along at least one same or comparable path (R). The method comprises: (a) providing a reference measurement data; (b) obtaining a test measurement data; (c) comparing the reference and test measurement data, wherein the reference measurement data (A) comprises an ultrasonic reference signal characteristic (51,61), and the test measurement data (B) comprises an ultrasonic test signal characteristic (52, 62).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Patrick REISSNER, Lucien BUCHMANN
  • Publication number: 20250085008
    Abstract: A method of communication between a remote computer and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning HVAC devices includes communicatively connecting the HVAC devices to a communication bus via a bus communication interface of each HVAC device, selecting one of the HVAC devices having a remote communication interface as a gateway device, communicatively connecting the remote computer to the remote communication interface of the gateway device, identifying, by the HVAC gateway device, one or more of the HVAC devices connected to the communication bus by retrieving respective identification data of the HVAC devices via the bus communication interface, retrieving, by the gateway device, one or more device profiles corresponding to the identification data of the one or more identified HVAC devices, and enabling, by the gateway device using the retrieved one or more device profiles, data communication between the one or more identified HVAC devices and the remote computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Silvio GROGG, Robert WUEEST, Stefan JENNI
  • Publication number: 20250012464
    Abstract: A method for predictive maintenance of an ultrasonic sensor in an HVAC system, the ultrasonic sensor including one or more ultrasonic transducers that measure ultrasonic signals as a function of time during an operation of the HVAC system, and produce raw electronic signals as a function of time, the method including the method elements of extracting a signal parameter from the raw electronic signals; creating a set of data including the signal parameter as a function of time; selecting one or more limit parameters; and estimating a time limit based on the set of data. The time limit is a time when the signal parameter is predicted to reach the limit parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Patrick REISSNER, Lucien BUCHMANN
  • Patent number: 12181317
    Abstract: An HVAC flow measurement system (1) comprises an ultrasonic flowmeter (2) for measuring a flow of gas through a channel (3). The ultrasonic flowmeter (2) comprises ultrasonic transducers (20, 21) arranged at a distance L from each other in flow direction f. The ultrasonic transducers (20, 21) are configured to emit an ultrasonic pulse into the channel (3) and to receive an ultrasonic pulse in the channel (3). The flowmeter (2) further comprises a processor (200) connected to the two ultrasonic transducers (20, 21) and configured to measure transit times in such a manner that a flow velocity of the fluid and at least one characteristic parameter(s) of the channel (30) are determined by using the transit times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Patrick Reissner, Lucien Buchmann
  • Publication number: 20240410374
    Abstract: A fluid transportation network includes plural parallel zones, a common supply line for feeding a total flow of fluid to the parallel zones, each parallel zone being connected to the common supply line and associated with a pump that controls a flow of fluid through the respective parallel zone, one or more zone valves arranged in one of the parallel zones and controlling the flow of fluid through the parallel zone, and a processor that controls one or more of the pumps, and/or the at least one zone valve, to control the flow of fluid through the parallel zones. The pumps control the flow of fluid through one or more of the plural parallel zones only when a respective pump is operating within a specified efficient operating range of the respective pump, and the respective pump regulates flow of fluid above a respective flow threshold value of the respective pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Andy BROOKS, Urs KELLER, Andreas ALLENSPACH
  • Patent number: 12146580
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Marc Thuillard, Stefan Mischler, Frank Lehnert
  • Publication number: 20240353140
    Abstract: A method of operating an HVAC system that includes a thermal energy source and a thermal energy transfer device, using a flow regulating device arranged to regulate a flow rate of a fluid between the thermal energy source and the thermal energy transfer device, the method including determining a supply temperature of the fluid, determining a return temperature of the fluid, determining the flow rate of the fluid, and regulating the flow rate of the fluid such as to maintain a target temperature difference between the supply temperature and the return temperature, while ensuring that the return temperature is above a minimum return temperature threshold and the flow rate is above an operational flow rate threshold of the thermal energy transfer device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Stefan MISCHLER, Ronald AEBERHARD, Volkher SCHOLZ
  • Publication number: 20240298159
    Abstract: An antenna extension system for an actuator of a Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Cooling (HVAC) system includes a first radio communication module configured for near field communication (NFC) with the actuator over a direct wireless communication link, a second radio communication module having a greater communication range than the first radio communication module, and a gateway module that interconnects the first and second radio communication modules and that receives data from the actuator over the direct wireless communication link via the first radio communication module and transmits the data received from the actuator via the second radio communication module to a mobile communication device, and receives data from the mobile communication device via the second radio communication module and transmits the data received from the mobile communication device via the first radio communication module over the direct wireless communication link to the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Peter SCHMIDLIN, Marc Thuillard, Kurt Meier, Daniel Roner
  • Patent number: 12072116
    Abstract: For controlling energy transfer (Q) of a thermal energy exchanger of an HVAC system, a control system determines flow-dependent model parameters (M) for modelling performance of the thermal energy exchanger, using a plurality of measurement data sets, each measurement data set including for a respective measurement time a value of a measured flow of fluid (?act), a value of a measured supply temperature (Tsup) of the fluid, and a value of the measured return temperature (Tret) of the fluid. The control system calculates an estimated energy transfer (Qest) of the thermal energy exchanger, using the flow-dependent model parameters (M), and controls (S4) the energy transfer (Q) of the thermal energy exchanger by regulating (S5) the flow of fluid (?) through the thermal energy exchanger, using the estimated energy transfer (Qest).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Jürg Keller, Armon Hänseler, Forest Reider, Stefan Mischler
  • Publication number: 20240263825
    Abstract: A method of commissioning physical HVAC devices for an HVAC application including communicatively connecting physical HVAC devices to a communication bus, one physical HVAC device being selected as master HVAC device, identifying the physical HVAC devices connected to the communication bus, determining device type(s) of the physical HVAC devices, receiving an application model including a device list listing virtual HVAC devices of the HVAC application, generating, by the master HVAC device, a mapping of the physical HVAC devices to the virtual HVAC devices using the device type(s) of the physical HVAC devices and of the virtual HVAC devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Oliver TOPF, Benjamin OTT, Silvio GROGG, Stefan JENNI
  • Patent number: 12044427
    Abstract: For balancing a hydronic network that comprises a plurality of parallel zones with a regulating valve in each zone, individual flow characteristics are determined (S1) for each of the regulating valves, by recording the total flow of fluid measured at different valve positions of a respective regulating valve, while the remaining other regulating valves are set to a closed valve position. Dependent flow characteristics are determined (S2) by recording the total flow of fluid measured at different valve positions of the respective regulating valve, while the remaining other regulating valves are set to an open valve position. Correction factors are determined (S3) for each of the regulating valves, using the individual flow characteristics and the dependent flow characteristics. The hydronic network is balanced (S4) by setting the valve positions of the regulating valves using target flows and the correction factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Volkher Scholz, Stefan Mischler, Forest Reider, Marc Thuillard
  • Publication number: 20240230120
    Abstract: An air treatment device is disclosed. The air treatment device includes an air duct configured to deliver an air flow. A first filter stage is included and comprises at least one air filter arranged in the air duct for filtering the air flow. At least a second filter stage is also included and comprises at least one further air filter and is arranged downstream of the first filter stage (for filtering the air flow after having passed the first filter stage. The second filter stage is controllable between at least two states with different filtration efficiencies, whereby, with respect to a filtration efficiency in the first state, a filtration efficiency in the second state is lower, in particular the filtration efficiency in the second state is essentially zero. An air quality sensor is also present, the sensor allowing for measuring the air quality of the air flow in between the first and the second air filter stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: BELIMO Holding AG
    Inventors: Patrick REISSNER, Roman WYSS
  • Publication number: 20240230140
    Abstract: A method of controlling an HVAC system (10) that comprises least one flow regulator (16), an electromechanical actuator (20), one or more sensors (34) associated with the actuator, and a controller (32) operatively connected with the actuator and with the sensors. The method includes the steps of actuating the flow regulator, receiving signals from the sensors, and determining an actual or forthcoming malfunction based on the signals. It is determined whether the malfunction is in the actuator or the flow regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: BELIMO Holding AG
    Inventors: Frank LEHNERT, Urs NIEDERHAUSER, Volker SCHOLZ, Reto WÄLCHLI, Christoph NEUKOM, Christoph REBSAMEN
  • Patent number: 12018851
    Abstract: For controlling opening (B2) of a valve in an HVAC system to regulate the fluid flow through a thermal energy exchanger and adjust power transfer of the thermal energy exchanger, a control system sets (S6) a control signal for the valve to different setpoints and records (S1) a plurality of data points. Each data point includes for a certain setpoint operating data values related to the power transfer effectuated by the thermal energy exchanger with the control signal set to the certain setpoint. The control system determines (S2) a fitting curve for the data points and determines (S3) a transformation which transforms the fitting curve into a transformed curve having a given target shape. The control system controls (B2) the opening of the valve by transforming (S5) the setpoint to a transformed setpoint, using the transformation, and setting (S6) the control signal for the valve to the transformed setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Forest Reider
  • Publication number: 20240191896
    Abstract: An HVAC sensor device (50) comprising a control signal input (54in) for receiving control signal(s) for controlling one or more HVAC actuator(s) (10) from an HVAC controller (20); a control signal output (54out) for transmitting control signal(s) for controlling the HVAC actuator(s) (10) and an electronic circuit (56). The electronic circuit (56) is configured to: receive a sensor signal(s) indicative of condensation and/or relative humidity in the HVAC system; pass through the control signal(s) received at the control signal input (54in) to the control signal output (54out) if the sensor signal(s) indicative of condensation and/or relative humidity is within a defined range(s); and overwrite the control signal(s) received at the control signal input (54in) with a control reference value (V1) and output the overwritten control signal(s) at the control signal output (54out) if the sensor signal(s) indicative of condensation and/or relative humidity is outside the defined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Applicant: BELIMO HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Henri HUYNH-QUAN-TRUNG, Robert WUEEST, Maik HOFFMANN
  • Publication number: 20240191897
    Abstract: A room unit for an HVAC system is disclosed including a connection means to connect the device to the HVAC system, a controller and a housing. The housing includes a mounting plate for installing a room unit on a wall of a building. The mounting plate includes a base plate with a circumferential rim projecting away perpendicularly from the base plate. The mounting plate includes at least one first protrusion projecting away from an outer surface of the rim in a direction parallel to the base plate. The housing frame includes a circumferential side wall that laterally surrounds the inside of the room unit. The side wall is configured to receive the rim of the mounting plate with positive fit. The housing frame includes at least one second protrusion projecting away from an inner surface of the side wall towards an opposite inner surface of the housing frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Applicant: BELIMO Holding AG
    Inventors: Pascal GERNER, Michael BAUERNSCHMITT, Sebastian EBERLE, Yoram MOTTAS, Roman KAPPELER