Abstract: There is described an actuator for a damper comprising an electrical circuit, a cable coupled to the electrical circuit, a lower housing supporting the electrical circuit, and an upper housing coupled to the lower housing. The electrical circuit controls positions of the damper. The cable provides power and control to the electrical circuit. The lower housing includes a first trough and a second trough to provide support for the cable in a first direction. The upper housing includes a first protuberance and a second protuberance to provide support for the cable in a second direction. The first and second protuberances are positioned offset from the first and second troughs of the lower housing.

Abstract: A testing device characterizes a damper/valve in situ in a HVAC system. It comprises a controller including a processor and a memory and circuitry. The testing device is mounted on a damper assembly having a control shaft and a damper rotatably coupled to the control shaft such that the control shaft is activated by the circuitry of the testing device. The testing device further comprises computer-readable logic code to: open and close the damper by actuating the control shaft, detect a rotational position of the damper and a torque required to move the damper to the rotational position, characterize a plurality of torques required to drive the damper to a plurality of pre-determined rotational positions of the damper when subjected to a fluid flow to generate damper rotational position data vs. torque data, and store the damper rotational position data vs. torque data to produce damper characteristic graphs.

Abstract: An arrangement for controlling flow includes a flow control element, an actuator, a linkage assembly, and a sensor module. The linkage assembly is coupled between the flow control element and the actuator, and includes a rotatable linkage element coupled to impart force to the flow control element. The sensor module is affixed to the rotatable linkage element. The sensor module includes a MEMs-based strain gauge affixed to a substrate and operably coupled to measure torque on the linkage element, and a processing circuit disposed on the substrate. The processing circuit is operably coupled to receive torque measurement information representative of the measured torque. The processing circuit generates a fluid flow measurement value based on the torque measurement information and position information representative of a position of a flow control device of the flow control element. The flow control device is mechanically coupled to the rotatable linkage element.

Abstract: Methods and systems include an actuator adapted to provide drive power and hold power to an external device. A motor provides for driving the external device to a determined position when the motor is energized. A switching circuit is configured to energize the motor with a high voltage to drive the external device to the determined position and energize the motor with a low voltage to hold the external device in the determined position.

Abstract: An actuating drive contains a housing which has a first housing part and a second housing part. The two housing parts each have an edge, each edge having an end face, and the two end faces face each other when the two housing parts are joined. The first housing part and the second housing part can be detachably joined. The actuating drive is configured to accommodate an exchangeable connection module for a cable feed. The exchangeable connection module can be inserted into an opening of the first edge of the first housing part and the exchangeable connection module can be connected in a form-closed manner to the end faces of the edges in a region of the opening when the two housing parts are joined. Thus, an actuating drive, in particular for ventilation flaps or fire dampers, having high flexibility in the electrical connection contacting is provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems include an actuator 40 adapted to provide drive power and hold power to an external device. A motor 34 provides for driving the external device to a determined position when the motor 34 is energized. A switching circuit is configured to energize the motor 34 with a high voltage to drive the external device to the determined position and energize the motor 34 with a low voltage to hold the external device in the determined position.

Abstract: An actuator arrangement having a rotational output includes a power input, a motor, at least an intermediate gear, a solenoid and an output. The power input connects to a source of electrical power. The motor has an output shaft including a worm gear. The motor is operably connected to the power input. The motor and output shaft are rotatably connected to a housing of the actuator. The output gear generates a rotational output at an axis thereof, and is operably coupled to be driven by the at least one intermediate gear. The solenoid is operably connected to the power input, and includes a piston member. The piston member has an actuated and a non-actuated position. The piston member in the actuated position urges the worm gear and the at least one intermediate gear into meshing connection.

Abstract: An actuating drive contains a housing which has a first housing part and a second housing part. The two housing parts each have an edge, each edge having an end face, and the two end faces face each other when the two housing parts are joined. The first housing part and the second housing part can be detachably joined. The actuating drive is configured to accommodate an exchangeable connection module for a cable feed. The exchangeable connection module can be inserted into an opening of the first edge of the first housing part and the exchangeable connection module can be connected in a form-closed manner to the end faces of the edges in a region of the opening when the two housing parts are joined. Thus, an actuating drive, in particular for ventilation flaps or fire dampers, having high flexibility in the electrical connection contacting is provided.

Abstract: An arrangement for controlling flow includes a flow control element, an actuator, a linkage assembly, and a sensor module. The linkage assembly is coupled between the flow control element and the actuator, and includes a rotatable linkage element coupled to impart force to the flow control element. The sensor module is affixed to the rotatable linkage element. The sensor module includes a MEMs-based strain gauge affixed to a substrate and operably coupled to measure torque on the linkage element, and a processing circuit disposed on the substrate. The processing circuit is operably coupled to receive torque measurement information representative of the measured torque. The processing circuit generates a fluid flow measurement value based on the torque measurement information and position information representative of a position of a flow control device of the flow control element. The flow control device is mechanically coupled to the rotatable linkage element.

Abstract: A sensor module includes a MEMs sensor device and a processing circuit. The MEMs sensor device is operable to determine a fluid flow induced mechanical force on a first flow control device connective element. The processing circuit is operably coupled to receive fluid flow induced mechanical force information based on the determined fluid flow induced mechanical force. The processing circuit is configured to generate a fluid flow measurement value based on the fluid flow induced mechanical force information and position information representative of a position of a flow control device coupled to the first flow control connective element.

Abstract: An actuator arrangement having a rotational output includes a power input, a motor, at least an intermediate gear, a solenoid and an output. The power input connects to a source of electrical power. The motor has an output shaft including a worm gear. The motor is operably connected to the power input. The motor and output shaft are rotatably connected to a housing of the actuator. The output gear generates a rotational output at an axis thereof, and is operably coupled to be driven by the at least one intermediate gear. The solenoid is operably connected to the power input, and includes a piston member. The piston member has an actuated and a non-actuated position. The piston member in the actuated position urges the worm gear and the at least one intermediate gear into meshing connection.

Abstract: A first embodiment is an actuator arrangement having a rotational output and a motor. The actuator arrangement further includes at least one intermediate gear, an output gear, and an encoding detector. The motor has an output shaft that includes a worm gear. The output gear generates a rotational output at an axis thereof. Position encoding indicia are fixedly arranged on the output gear. The encoding detector is disposed in position to detect the position encoding indicia.

Abstract: A damper actuator assembly comprises an actuator and an electronic fusible link (EFL) connected by at least one wire. The actuator comprises an actuator housing with actuator leads extending from the actuator housing. The actuator leads include a first quick connect positioned on an end of the actuator lead. A flexible conduit material covers the actuator lead. The EFL comprises an EFL housing which is separate from the actuator housing. The EFL housing includes a quick connect seat and an integral conduit adaptor. A second quick connect is positioned on an end of the EFL lead. When the end of the flexible conduit material that includes the actuator lead and first quick connect is inserted into the integral conduit adaptor of the EFL housing, the first quick connect is coupled to the second quick connect and an electrical connection is established between the actuator and the EFL.

Abstract: A first embodiment is an actuator arrangement having a rotational output and a motor. The actuator arrangement further includes at least one intermediate gear, an output gear, and an encoding detector. The motor has an output shaft that includes a worm gear. The output gear generates a rotational output at an axis thereof. Position encoding indicia are fixedly arranged on the output gear. The encoding detector is disposed in position to detect the position encoding indicia.

Abstract: A chiller refrigeration system provides optimum operation of controlled cooling for a building during low ambient temperatures. The chiller refrigeration system includes a second receiver that stores sufficient refrigerant to flood the condenser at low ambient temperatures. The chiller refrigeration system also includes a pressure control valve to selectively bypass pressurized refrigerant gas around the condenser to the second receiver when the ambient air is too cold to sustain continuous compressor operation. The system also includes a check valve to prevent refrigeration from migrating backwards to the low pressure point in the system and a pressure relief valve to serve as a system safety device.

Abstract: A sensor module includes a MEMs sensor device and a processing circuit. The MEMs sensor device is operable to determine a fluid flow induced mechanical force on a first flow control device connective element. The processing circuit is operably coupled to receive fluid flow induced mechanical force information based on the determined fluid flow induced mechanical force. The processing circuit is configured to generate a fluid flow measurement value based on the fluid flow induced mechanical force information and position information representative of a position of a flow control device coupled to the first flow control connective element.

Abstract: An electromechanical actuator is adapted to be connected to an external device for displacing the external device to a predetermined position and maintaining the external device at that position. The actuator includes a housing which holds a drive motor for driving the external device to the predetermined position when the motor is energized and a brake mechanism for maintaining the external device at the predetermined position when the brake mechanism is activated. A switching device generates switching signals for energizing the motor to drive the external device to the predetermined position and for de-energizing the motor and activating the brake mechanism when a predetermined time has passed from a moment the drive motor is energized, to maintain the external device at the predetermined position.

Abstract: An electromechanical actuator maintains an external device to which the actuator is connected at an operating position when power is applied to the actuator, and allows the external device to return to a default position when the power is removed. Included in the actuator is a housing and an output coupling rotatably mounted thereon. The output coupling is configured to be connected to the external device and displaces the external device between the operating position and the default position. A driving device is mounted in the housing for providing a torque to the output coupling to displace the external device between the default position and the operating position when the driving device is energized. Also provided is a torque transmitting device for transmitting and changing the torque from the driving device to the output coupling. The torque transmitting device is cooperatively engaged to and is located between the driving device and the output coupling.

Abstract: An acoustic wave device wherein each electrode element of an interdigital transducer is buried or embedded between a pair of layers of piezoelectric material. The use of a multi-layer stack of layers of piezoelectric material enables each electrode element of the transducer to be sandwiched between a distinct pair of layers and thus to be insulated from the other electrode element or elements. Because of the insulation thus provided, the spacing between the fingers of each electrode element may be selected without fear of causing short circuits between electrode elements.

Abstract: A Sagnac interferometer gyroscope includes a semiconductor chip on which is formed an optical waveguide. Means are provided on the optical waveguide to inject a laser light beam into the waveguide and onto a divider to produce first and second divided beams. Second and third dividers are provided in the waveguide to generate a reference signal onto a pair of photodectors disposed to receive the divided light waves. The light waves are modulated with first and second frequencies prior to their second division by a pair of Bragg frequency shifter interdigital transducers. The divided and modulated light beams are then directed through an optical path encompassing an axis of sensitivity of the gyro. In one embodiment the path is formed by an optical fiber with connections to the chip. In another embodiment the optical path is defined within the chip itself by reflectors or deflectors at selected locations about the peripheral of the chip.