HVAC actuator with one-way clutch motor

1. An actuator in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the actuator comprising:

a drive device configured to attach to a movable HVAC component and to drive the movable HVAC component between multiple positions; and

a motor coupled to the drive device to provide torque to the drive device in a first direction; and

a return spring coupled to the drive device to provide torque to the drive device in a second direction opposite the first direction,

the motor comprising:

a shell defining an outer perimeter of the motor;

a rotor shaft contained within the shell and configured to rotate when an electric current is applied to the motor;

a drive shaft extending through the shell and coupled to the drive device; and

a one-way clutch contained within the shell and rotatably coupling the rotor shaft to the drive shaft;

wherein the one-way clutch is configured to permit the rotor shaft to slip relative to the drive shaft when rotating in the second direction to gradually dissipate a rotational inertia of the motor after the drive device stops upon reaching an end stop.

2. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the one-way clutch is configured to:

engage both the rotor shaft and the drive shaft when the rotor shaft rotates in the first direction such that the drive shaft is driven by the rotor shaft in the first direction, and

slip relative to at least one of the rotor shaft and the drive shaft when the rotor shaft rotates in the second direction opposite the first direction to allow rotation of the rotor shaft relative to the drive shaft in the second direction.

3. The actuator of claim 1 ,

wherein the torque provided by the return spring causes the drive device to move toward the end stop and to drive the motor in the second direction;

the end stop defining an end of a mechanical range of motion for at least one of the drive device and the movable HVAC component.

4. The actuator of claim 3 , wherein:

the motor gains rotational inertia as the motor is driven in the second direction;

the drive device is configured to stop upon reaching the end stop; and

the one-way clutch is configured to allow continued rotation of the motor in the second direction after the drive device stops to gradually dissipate the rotational inertia of the motor.

5. The actuator of claim 1 , further comprising a pinion gear rotatably fixed to an end of the drive shaft outside the shell and configured to drive the drive device.

6. The actuator of claim 5 , wherein the pinion gear is injection molded from a polymer material and press fit onto the end of the drive shaft.

7. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the one-way clutch comprises a wrap spring wrapped around an end of the rotor shaft and an end of the drive shaft; and

the wrap spring is fixed to one of the rotor shaft and the drive shaft and configured to slip relative to the other of the rotor shaft and the drive shaft when the rotor shaft rotates in the second direction.

8. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein:

the shell comprises an outer rotor configured to rotate when the electric current is applied to the motor; and

the rotor shaft and the outer rotor are formed as a single piece.

9. The actuator of claim 1 , further comprising:

stator windings contained within the shell; and

a flange coupled to the stator windings and defining a surface of the shell.

10. The actuator of claim 9 , wherein:

the stator windings comprise a central axial channel; and

the rotor shaft, the drive shaft, and the one-way clutch are at least partially contained within the central axial channel.

11. The actuator of claim 10 , further comprising:

a first bearing located within the central axial channel and configured to facilitate rotation of the rotor shaft relative to the stator windings; and

a second bearing located within the central axial channel and configured to facilitate rotation of the rotor shaft relative to the stator windings.

12. An actuator in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the actuator comprising:

a drive device configured to attach to a movable HVAC component and to drive the movable HVAC component between multiple positions; and

a motor comprising a rotor shaft and a one-way clutch, the motor configured to provide torque to the drive device in a first direction;

wherein torque is provided to the drive device in a second direction opposite the first direction by a return spring; and

wherein the one-way clutch is configured to couple the rotor shaft to the drive device when the rotor shaft rotates in the first direction and to allow the rotor shaft to slip relative to the drive device when the rotor shaft rotates in the second direction to gradually dissipate a rotational inertia of the motor after the drive device stops upon reaching an end stop.

13. The actuator of claim 12 , further comprising a pinion gear rotatably fixed to an end of a drive shaft outside a perimeter of the motor and configured to drive the drive device.

14. The actuator of claim 12 , wherein:

the motor comprises an outer rotor configured to rotate when the electric current is applied to the motor; and

the one-way clutch is contained within a perimeter of the outer rotor.

15. The actuator of claim 12 ,

wherein the torque provided by the return spring causes the drive device to move toward the end stop and to drive the motor in the second direction;

the end stop defining an end of a mechanical range of motion for at least one of the drive device and the movable HVAC component.

16. The actuator of claim 15 , wherein:

the motor gains rotational inertia as the motor is driven in the second direction; and

the drive device is configured to stop upon reaching the end stop.

17. The actuator of claim 12 , wherein:

the motor further comprises a drive shaft rotatably coupled to the drive device and configured to drive the drive device; and

the one-way clutch comprises a wrap spring wrapped around an end of the rotor shaft and an end of the drive shaft.

18. The actuator of claim 17 , wherein the wrap spring is configured to:

engage both the rotor shaft and the drive shaft when the rotor shaft rotates in the first direction such that the drive shaft is driven by the rotor shaft in the first direction; and

slip relative to at least one of the rotor shaft and the drive shaft when the rotor shaft rotates in the second direction to allow rotation of the rotor shaft relative to the drive shaft in the second direction.