Patent ID: 8347686

Claim:
A method of calibrating a valve used between a blower and a pressure load, the method comprising the steps of: measuring and recording an idle flow characteristic downstream of the blower with the blower in an idle state and the valve in an open position; accelerating the blower to a selected speed; measuring and recording a steady-state, valve-open flow characteristic downstream of the blower and valve; closing the valve at a selected rate of closure; detecting a first change in flow characteristic of a first predetermined amount from the valve-open flow characteristic downstream of the blower and valve as the valve closes and recording a first flow characteristic, valve position and time; detecting a second change in flow characteristic of a second predetermined amount from the valve-open flow characteristic downstream of the blower and valve as the valve closes and recording a second flow characteristic, valve position and time; stopping closure of the valve; measuring and recording the time required to achieve a second steady-state flow characteristic downstream of the blower and valve while the valve is stopped; resuming closure of the valve at the selected rate; measuring and recording the time required to achieve a third steady-state flow characteristic; and calculating and storing valve position data based on values selected from the recorded flow characteristics, recorded valve positions, rate of valve closure, and recorded times.