Valve actuation assembly

Abstract

A valve actuation assembly includes a housing and a vane connected to a shaft. The vane is at least partially disposed within the housing. The valve actuation assembly further includes a valve assembly connected to the housing and a feedback device connected to at least one of the vane and the shaft. The feedback device is configured to apply a feedback force to the valve assembly.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . A method of controlling a mixing valve with a valve actuation assembly connected thereto, the valve actuation assembly including a valve assembly, the mixing valve being configured to control flow to a power source, the method comprising:
 sensing at least one of an operating characteristic of the power source and a flow characteristic of an exhaust flow of the power source;   determining a desired position of the mixing valve based on the sensing;   changing a position of a vane of the valve actuation assembly to an equilibrium position, wherein the equilibrium position is based on the desired valve position of the mixing valve; and   providing feedback to the valve assembly, the feedback depending on a position of the vane.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the feedback includes a spring force applied to a spool of the valve assembly. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 26 , further including changing the position of the spool of the valve assembly from the biased position to a neutral position. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the operating characteristic of the power source is one of throttle position, oil pressure, power source temperature, and power source speed. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the flow characteristic of the exhaust flow is one of mass air flow, flow temperature, and particulate content. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein changing the position of the vane changes the composition of a flow of gas directed to an intake of the power source by the mixing valve. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 20 , further including changing a position of a spool of the valve assembly to a biased position in response to the determination of the desired position of the mixing valve. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 20 , further including changing the position of the vane of the valve actuation assembly using a pressurized working fluid. 
   
   
       28 . A method of controlling a mixing valve with a valve actuation assembly connected thereto, the valve actuation assembly including a valve assembly, the method comprising:
 determining a desired position of the mixing valve;   changing a position of a spool of the valve assembly to a biased position in response to the determination of the desired position of the mixing valve;   changing a position of a vane of the valve actuation assembly in response to the determination of the desired position of the mixing valve; and   providing feedback to the valve assembly, the feedback depending on a position of the vane.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , further including:
 transmitting an input signal to a control valve of the valve assembly; and   adjusting the input signal to the control valve to change the position of the spool of the valve assembly.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , further including changing the position of the vane of the valve actuation assembly using a flow of pressurized working fluid in the valve actuation assembly 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , further including controlling the flow of pressurized working fluid by changing the position of the spool of the valve. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 28 , further including changing the position of the spool of the valve assembly from the biased position to a neutral position. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the position of the spool of the valve assembly is changed to the neutral position as the vane of the valve actuation assembly is positioned in an equilibrium position. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the feedback is applied to the spool of the valve assembly. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , further including applying a force to the spool that opposes the feedback applied to the spool, wherein the position of the vane of the valve actuation assembly is changed to an equilibrium position as the feedback applied to the spool is approximately equal to the force applied to the spool that opposes the feedback. 
   
   
       36 . A method of controlling a mixing valve with a valve actuation assembly connected thereto, the valve actuation assembly including a valve assembly, the mixing valve being configured to control a flow to a flow receiving apparatus, the method comprising:
 sensing a characteristic of the flow receiving apparatus;   determining a desired position of the mixing valve based on the sensing;   changing a configuration of the valve actuation assembly based on the desired position of the mixing valve; and   providing feedback to the valve assembly, the feedback depending on the configuration of the valve actuation assembly.   
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the flow receiving apparatus includes a power source. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the sensing of the characteristic of the flow receiving apparatus includes sensing at least one of an operating characteristic of the flow receiving apparatus and a flow characteristic of an output flow of the flow receiving apparatus. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the operating characteristic of the flow receiving apparatus is one of a position, pressure, temperature and speed of the flow receiving apparatus. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the flow characteristic of the output flow of the flow receiving apparatus is one of mass air flow, flow temperature, and particulate content of the output flow.