Actuator

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuator (1), used in automation technology, for actuating a fitting, such as a valve or a slide, in a channel such as a pipeline, the actuator comprising: a motor (10), for example an electric motor or a fluid motor such as a pneumatic motor or a hydraulic motor; an output drive (20) for actuating the fitting; a gearbox (30) for transmitting a force or a torque to the output drive; an electronic operating circuit (40) for operating the motor and for detecting an actuator position; a power-supply interface (50) which is designed to supply power to the motor and to the electronic operating circuit; and a communication interface (60) which is designed to exchange data with a technical environment, characterised in that the communication interface (60) is designed to enable power supply to the electronic operating circuit (40) or to individual circuit sections (41) of the electronic operating circuit, in the absence of a power supply via the power-supply interface.

Description

[0001] PC 25 0922 C 16 June 2025

[0002] actuator

[0003] The invention relates to an actuator for automation technology for actuating a fitting such as a valve or a gate in a channel as shown for example in DE102011106372A1.

[0004] Actuators are typically powered via a power supply interface. In the event of a power outage, the actuator cannot be operated, nor can its position be determined. A lack of knowledge of the actuator's position can lead to serious problems with a valve in an industrial plant. To mitigate such problems, actuators are sometimes equipped with batteries to ensure a power supply in such cases. However, this is not always desirable from a safety perspective.

[0005] The object of the invention is therefore to propose an actuator with a safe and robust solution by means of which necessary operations such as the detection of a positioning position or the reading of an actuator status can be carried out safely even in the event of a power failure.

[0006] The problem is solved by an actuator according to independent claim 1.

[0007] An actuator according to the invention for automation technology for actuating a fitting such as a valve or a gate in a pipeline, comprises: a motor such as an electric motor or a fluid motor such as a pneumatic motor or a PC 25 0922 C 2 / 13 16. June 2025

[0008] Hydraulic motor; an output for actuating the valve; a gearbox for transmitting a force or torque to the output; an electronic operating circuit for operating the motor and, for example, for detecting a position; a power supply interface configured to supply power to the motor and the electronic operating circuit; a communication interface configured to exchange data with a technical environment, wherein the communication interface is configured to enable power supply to the electronic operating circuit, or at least to a single circuit area of ​​the electronic operating circuit, in the absence of a power supply via the power supply interface.

[0009] The electronic operating circuit is therefore designed to allow the power supply to only at least one single circuit area.

[0010] In this way, a user can connect to the actuator via the communication interface using a communication device such as a handheld, I / O module, or network switch, and supply electrical power to the electronic operating circuit or selected circuit sections of the electronic operating circuit. This allows, for example, the configuration of the electronic operating circuit or the reading of the current actuator position. For instance, the I / O module or network switch can have a connection for a communication device or a control system, which allows the operating circuit to be configured or read. The communication device can be powered, for example, by a battery, mains connection, or even via a communication interface itself.

[0011] Especially when the communication interface is power-limited with regard to the transmission of electrical energy to the actuator, so that the entire electronic operating circuit cannot be supplied, it is advantageous if a single relevant circuit area can be supplied, or a few relevant circuit areas of the electronic operating circuit can be supplied.

[0012] Examples of low-performance communication interfaces within the meaning of the invention are HART, Foundation Fieldbus or IO-Link.

[0013] For example, exactly one circuit section can be supplied with energy.

[0014] In one embodiment, the electronic operating circuit can be configured and / or diagnosed via the communication interface when there is no power supply.

[0015] For example, a configuration can be performed before commissioning even without a power supply via the

[0016] Power supply interface operation and / or an actuator state can be detected even without power supply via the power supply interface.

[0017] In this way, a battery solution can be dispensed with PC 25 0922 C 4 / 13 16 . June 2025, as the energy requirement for this is only small.

[0018] In one embodiment, the electronic operating circuit for detecting the position has a position control circuit with a position sensor.

[0019] The positioning circuit is a circuit area within the meaning of the invention.

[0020] In one embodiment, if there is no energy supply via the energy supply interface, the position control circuit can be supplied with energy via the communication interface and a position can be read out.

[0021] In this way, a battery solution can be dispensed with, as the energy requirement for this is low.

[0022] In one embodiment, the communication interface is suitable for providing or supplying at least 250 milliwatts, preferably at least 500 milliwatts, and in particular at least 1000 milliwatts, to the electronic operating circuit or individual circuit sections thereof.

[0023] In one configuration, the communication interface features an Advanced Physical Layer (APL) or Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) Industrial Ethernet interface. Both interfaces allow for the transmission of electrical power of at least 250 milliwatts, and in particular at least 500 milliwatts, thus eliminating the need for energy buffering, such as a buffer capacitor as required for a 4-20mA HART interface. This offers significant advantages, especially regarding certifications, costs, and explosion protection.

[0024] In one embodiment, the communication interface features a Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (HART) interface PC 25 0922 C 5 / 13, June 16, 2025, wherein the electronic operating circuit or the communication interface includes at least one buffer capacitor which, in the event of insufficient power supply via the power supply interface, is configured to be charged via the communication interface and to temporarily ensure a power supply to the electronic operating circuit or an individual circuit section. For example, in the case of a circuit section that is clocked and has a power requirement exceeding the maximum power of the HART interface during a clock cycle, while the average power requirement remains below the maximum power, a power buffer device can enable a sufficient power supply via the HART interface.With a functioning power supply via the power supply interface, the capacitor can remain in a de-energized state.

[0025] The invention is described below using an exemplary embodiment.

[0026] Fig. 1 shows an exemplary actuator 1 according to the invention, comprising a motor 10, an output 20, and an intermediate gearbox. The motor can be, for example, an electric motor or a fluid motor such as a pneumatic or hydraulic motor and is configured to generate a force or torque to actuate a fitting, such as a valve or gate, in a channel, such as a pipeline. The actuation of the fitting is effected via an output 20 of the actuator, with a gearbox 30 being configured to transmit the force or torque to the output. An electronic operating circuit 40 is configured to operate the motor and, as shown here, can also be configured to detect an actuation position. PC 25 0922 C 6 / 13 16 June 2025The power supply is normally provided via a power supply interface 50, which supplies power to the motor 10 and the electronic operating circuit. A communication interface 60 is provided for data exchange with the actuator's technical environment and for configuring the electronic operating circuit. The electronic operating circuit has a switching area 41 with a position control circuit 41.1 and a position sensor 41.2. In this way, the position of the valve can be detected, for example, via the position of the gearbox or the output.

[0027] According to the invention, the electronic operating circuit 40 or individual circuit sections 41 can be supplied with energy via the communication interface via the power supply interface 50 in the event of a power supply failure. In this way, for example, the electronic operating circuit can be configured during a power supply failure and / or the actuator position, or derived from it, the valve position, can be read out. The design according to the invention eliminates the need for an expensive and safety-critical battery pack.

[0028] Especially when the communication interface is power-limited with regard to the transmission of electrical energy to the actuator, so that the entire electronic operating circuit cannot be supplied, it is advantageous if a single relevant circuit area can be supplied, or a few relevant circuit areas of the electronic operating circuit can be supplied.

[0029] Limited-performance communication interfaces in the sense of

[0030] Examples of inventions include HART, Foundation Fieldbus, IO-PC 25 0922 C 7 / 13 16 June 2025

[0031] Link APL, or SPE .

[0032] For example, the communication interface 60 can have a Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (HART) interface, wherein the electronic operating circuit or the communication interface in particular has at least one energy buffer device 80 such as a buffer capacitor or a buffer battery, which energy buffer is designed to be charged via the communication interface in the event of a lack of energy supply via the energy supply interface and to temporarily ensure an energy supply to the electronic operating circuit or a single circuit area.For example, in a circuit section that operates in a clocked manner and exhibits a power demand exceeding the maximum power of the HART interface during a single clock cycle, while the average power demand remains below the maximum, an energy buffer device can provide sufficient power via the HART interface. This can be the case, for example, with a position control circuit 41.1, as outlined here. With a functioning power supply via the power supply interface, the capacitor can remain in a de-energized state.

[0033] For example, the communication interface 60 can have an Advanced Physical Layer (APL) interface or a Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) Industrial Ethernet interface. In this case, the communication interface 60 is configured to provide, deliver, or transmit at least 250 milliwatts, preferably at least 500 milliwatts, and particularly at least 1000 milliwatts. This eliminates the need for an energy buffer device 80. PC 25 0922 C 8 / 13 16 June 2025

[0034] The actuator further comprises a housing arrangement 70 with, for example, a housing 71 in which the motor 10, output 20, gearbox 30, electronic operating circuit 40, as well as the power supply interface 50 and the communication interface 60 are arranged. This is shown here purely as an example; the housing arrangement 70 could also have several housings, with the listed actuator components being distributed among the housings in any practical way. Individual housings can have several housing chambers. A person skilled in the art is able to adapt the housing arrangement to their needs.

[0035] / Reference list

[0036] PC 25 0922 C 9 / 13 16 . June 2025

[0037] Reference symbol list

[0038] 1 actuator

[0039] 10 Motor 20 Output

[0040] 30 gearboxes

[0041] 40 electronic operating circuit

[0042] 41 Circuit range

[0043] 41.1 Position control circuit 41.2 Position sensor

[0044] 50 Energy supply interface

[0045] 60 Communication interface

[0046] 70 Housing arrangement

[0047] 71 Housing 80 Energy buffer device

[0048] / Claims

Claims

PC 25 0922 C 10 / 13 June 16, 2025 Claims 1. Actuator (1) of automation technology for actuating a fitting such as a valve or a gate in a channel such as a pipeline, comprising: a motor (10) such as an electric motor or a fluid motor such as a pneumatic motor or a hydraulic motor; an output (20) for actuating the fitting; a gearbox (30) for transmitting a force or torque to the output; an electronic operating circuit (40) for operating the motor;a power supply interface (50) which is configured to supply the motor and the electronic operating circuit with energy, a communication interface (60) which is configured to exchange data with a technical environment, characterized in that the communication interface (60) is configured to enable a power supply to the electronic operating circuit (40) or at least to a single circuit area (41) of the electronic operating circuit in the absence of a power supply via the power supply interface. PC 25 0922 C 11 / 13 June 16, 2025 2. Actuator according to claim 1, wherein the electronic operating circuit (40) can be configured and / or diagnosed via the communication interface (60) when there is no power supply via the power supply interface (50).

3. Actuator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electronic operating circuit (40) comprises an actuating position circuit (41.1) with an actuating position sensor (41.2) for the purpose of detecting an actuating position and / or a change in the actuating position.

4. Actuator according to claim 3, wherein, in the absence of energy supply via energy supply interface (50), the actuating position circuit (41.1) can be supplied with energy via the communication interface (60) and an actuating position can be read out.

5. Actuator according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication interface (60) is suitable for providing at least 250 milliwatts and preferably at least 500 milliwatts and in particular at least 1000 milliwatts.

6. Actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the communication interface (60) comprises an Advanced Physical Layer (APL) or Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) Industrial Ethernet interface.

7. Actuator according to one of claims 1 to 4, PC 25 0922 C 12 / 13 June 16, 2025, wherein the communication interface (60) is a highway Features an Addressable Remote Transducer (HART) interface 8. Actuator according to claim 7, wherein the electronic operating circuit (40) and / or the communication interface (60) comprises at least one Energy buffer (80) such as a buffer capacitor or has a buffer battery which, in the event of insufficient power supply via the power supply interface (50), is designed to be charged via the communication interface and to temporarily ensure a power supply to the electronic operating circuit or a single circuit area. / Summary

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