Electronic expansion valve (EEV) controller

An electronic expansion valve (EEV) controller allows a user to drive the stepper motor of EEVs. Thus, the EEVs toggle between an open position or a closed position. The EEV controller includes a housing, a portable power supply, a motor driver printed circuit board (PCB), a power switch, a directional switch, and a motor connector. The housing is used to protect and hold in place the motor driver PCB, the portable power supply, the power switch, the directional switch, and the motor connector. The portable power supply is used to provide electrical energy to the motor driver PCB and to the stepper motor of EEVs through the motor connector. The power switch allows a user to manually turn on or off the EEV controller and the stepper motor. The directional switch is used to toggle the stepper motor between a clockwise rotation or a counter-clockwise rotation.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for electronic expansion valves (EEVs) using unipolar stepper motors. More specifically, the present invention is an apparatus for EEVs that allows the user to toggle the EEVs between an open position and a closed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electronic expansion valves (EEVs) control the flow of refrigerant in a HVAC system. The EEVs opened or closed through the actuation of a stepper motor. The stepper motor of EEVs do not rotate continuously and, thus, are controlled by electronic controller. An issue of using conventional electronic controllers for a stepper motor of EEVs is that an external power source is required in order to either power the printed circuit board (PCB) of the electrical controller or to directly power the stepper motor. Another issue is that the switches and connectors of conventional electronic controllers are found on the PCB of the electrical controller. The switches and connectors are not easily accessible to a user.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide an EEV controller that allows a user to toggle EEVs between an open position and a closed position. This is accomplished through the use of a directional switch provided by the present invention. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a controller that does not require an external power source. This is accomplished through the use of a portable power supply that can power both the PCB and a stepper motor through a motor connector. Another objective of the present invention is to provide easily accessible switches and connectors in order to control the stepper motor of EEVs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An electronic expansion valve (EEV) controller allows a user to drive the stepper motor of EEVs. Thus, the EEVs toggle between an open position or a closed position. The EEV controller includes a housing, a portable power supply, a motor driver printed circuit board (PCB), a power switch, a directional switch, and a motor connector. The housing is used to protect and hold in place the motor driver PCB, the portable power supply, the power switch, the directional switch, and the motor connector. The portable power supply is used to provide electrical energy to the motor driver PCB and to the stepper motor of EEVs through the motor connector. The power switch allows a user to manually turn on or off the EEV controller and the stepper motor. The directional switch is used to toggle the stepper motor between a clockwise rotation or a counter-clockwise rotation.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

In reference toFIGS. 1 through 6, the present invention is an electronic expansion valve (EEV) controller that allows a user to drive the stepper motor of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) EEVs in a clockwise (CW) direction or a counter-clockwise (CCW) direction. Thus, the EEVs can be toggled between an open position or a closed position. A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing1, a portable power supply8, a motor driver printed circuit board (PCB)13, a power switch18, a directional switch19, and a motor connector20. The housing1is used to conceal and protect the motor driver PCB13, the portable power supply8, the power switch18, the directional switch19, and the motor connector20. The housing1is preferably made of a weather-resistant material such as, but not limited to, PTEG plastic in order for the housing1to effectively protect the electronic components of the present invention. The portable power supply8is used to provide electrical energy to the motor driver PCB13and to the stepper motor of EEVs through the motor connector20. The motor driver PCB13is preferably a unipolar stepper motor driver PCB13in order to efficiently drive the stepper motor of EEVs. The power switch18allows a user to manually turn on or off the present invention. The directional switch19is used to either drive the stepper motor CW direction or CCW direction. The motor connector20allows the present invention to interface and control a stepper motor of EEVS.

The general configuration of the aforementioned components allows the present invention to toggle EEVs between an open position or a closed position. With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, the motor driver PCB13comprises a PCB power input14, a directional input15, a motor power input16, and at least one motor output17. The portable power supply8and the motor driver PCB13are mounted within the housing1in order to be concealed and protected by the housing1. The power switch18, the directional switch19, and the motor connector20are integrated into the housing1in order to be concealed and protected by the housing1while still allowing a user to easily access the power switch18, the directional switch19, and the motor connector20. The portable power supply8is electrically connected to the PCB power input14through the power switch18. In further detail, the portable power supply8is electrically connected to a first input of the power switch18, and a first output of the power switch18is electrically connected to the PCB power input14. Thus, the motor driver PCB13can receive electrical energy from the portable power supply8. Further, the portable power supply8is electrically connected to the motor power input16through the power switch18. In further detail, the portable power supply8is electrically connected to a second input of the power switch18, and a second output of the power switch18is electrically connected to the motor power input16. Thus, the motor driver PCB13can route electrical energy from the portable power supply8to the at least one motor output17. Moreover, the at least one motor output17is electrically connected to the motor connector20. Thus, the present invention can supply electrical energy to the stepper motor of EEVs through the motor connector20. Due to the common electrical connection type of stepper motors of EEVs and the type of electrical connection of the at least one motor output17, the motor connector20is preferably a 6-pin female connector. The directional switch19is electrically connected to the directional input15. The directional switch19is preferably a single pole double throw (SPDT) switch in order to toggle a CW motor spin output and a CCW motor spin output. Thus, the stepper motor can be driven in a CW direction or a CCW direction by manually toggling the directional switch19.

With reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, the housing1may further comprise a receptacle2, at least one power supply compartment5, and a PCB compartment6in order to effectively conceal and protect the portable power supply8and the motor driver PCB13. The at least one power supply compartment5and the PCB compartment6are positioned within the receptacle2. Thus, the portable power supply8and the motor driver PCB13can be fully concealed and held in place by the housing1. Further, the at least one power supply compartment5is positioned adjacent to the PCB compartment6. This arrangement separates the at least one power supply compartment5and the PCB compartment6while still keeping the at least one supply and the PCB compartment6close to each other in order to efficiently establish the electrical connections of the present invention. The portable power supply8is positioned within the at least one power supply compartment5in order to be effectively protected and held in place by the housing1. The motor driver PCB13is positioned within the PCB compartment6in order to be effectively protected and held in place by the housing1.

With reference toFIG. 3, the housing1may further comprise a cover7in order to allow a user to access the electronic components of the present invention for maintenance or replacement. The cover7is positioned into an opening of the receptacle2, and the receptacle2is perimetrically attached to the cover7. This arrangement allows the cover7to be attached or removed when desired. Thus, a user can easily access the electronic components of the present invention by removing the cover7. Further and with reference toFIG. 4, the receptacle2comprises a lateral portion3and a base portion4. The at least one power supply compartment5and the PCB compartment6are integrated across the base portion4in order to provide enough space for the portable power supply8and the motor driver PCB13. The power switch18, the directional switch19, and the motor connector20are integrated into the lateral portion3in order to be easily accessible as the base portion4is situated upon a surface. The power switch18and the directional switch19are positioned adjacent to each other in order for the user to quickly change spin direction of a stepper motor or to turn on or off the present invention. The motor connector20is positioned offset from the power switch18and the directional switch19about the lateral portion3. This arrangement prevents interference of a user accessing the power switch18and the directional switch19as the motor connector20is cabled to a stepper motor.

The power switch18is preferably a double pole double throw (DPDT) switch. This allows the power switch18to receive two inputs and provide multiple outputs. For example, with reference toFIG. 5, and in one embodiment of the portable power supply8, the portable power supply8comprises a PCB battery9and at least one motor battery10. The PCB battery9is preferably a 9-volt battery. The at least one motor battery10is preferably a 9-volt battery and two 1.5-volt batteries. The PCB battery9is electrically connected to the PCB power input14through the power switch18, and the at least one motor battery10is connected to the motor power input16through the power switch18. The PCB battery9and the at least one motor battery10are electrically connected to the power switch18as the first input of the power switch18and the second input of the power switch18, respectively. This arrangement allows the power switch18to route electrical energy from the PCB battery9to the motor driver PCB13and to route electrical energy from the at least one motor battery10to a stepper motor of EEVs through the motor connector20.

In another embodiment of the portable power supply8and with reference toFIG. 6, the portable power supply8comprises a single battery11and a voltage converter12. The voltage converter12is used to adjust the voltage of the single battery11in order for the single battery11to be used to safely provide electrical energy to both the motor driver PCB13and a stepper motor of EEVs through the motor connector20. The single battery11is electrically connected to the voltage converter12and is preferably a 9-volt battery. This arrangement allows the voltage of the single battery11to be regulated by the voltage converter12. The voltage converter12is electrically connected to the PCB power input14through the power switch18, which allows the voltage converter12to output electrical energy at a voltage that is catered for the motor drive PCB13to safely function. Moreover, the voltage converter12is electrically connected to the motor power input16through the power switch18, which allows the voltage converter12to output electrical energy at a voltage that is catered for a stepper motor of EEVs to safely function.