US 12,278,585 B2
Valve actuator with dc braking system
Christopher Matthew Bethea, Kent, WA (US); Richard Peter Braun, Kent, WA (US); and Seth Axel Coady, Kent, WA (US)
Assigned to Tri-Tec Manufacturing, LLC, Kent, WA (US)
Filed by TRI-TEC MANUFACTURING, LLC, Kent, WA (US)
Filed on Aug. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/890,076.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/274,864, filed on Nov. 2, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0139060 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. H02P 3/08 (2006.01); F16K 3/22 (2006.01); F16K 31/04 (2006.01); F16K 37/00 (2006.01); H02P 6/24 (2006.01)
CPC H02P 3/08 (2013.01) [F16K 31/042 (2013.01); F16K 37/0041 (2013.01); H02P 6/24 (2013.01); F16K 3/22 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
driving a valve toward a closed position by applying an AC voltage to a motor with a first switching device;
disconnecting the AC voltage from the motor prior to the valve reaching the closed position; and
stopping motion of the valve by applying a DC voltage with a second switching device to the motor after disconnecting the AC voltage from the motor, wherein the motor is exclusively coupled to either the first switching device or the second switching device.