The European Patent Office, based at Munich in Germany, has granted a European patent to Amrish Chopra of Anergy Instruments for Fail-Safe Actuating System (commonly known as Spring Return Actuator). The fail-safe/spring-return actuator uses an innovative gear train concept that results in very short fail-safe return time of less than five seconds, reduced torque gear train, reduced power consumption and increased spring life. The present day actuators charge the spring and operate the damper at the same time, resulting in use of higher torque motor and gear train. Fail-safe return time varies from 30 to 120 seconds.