Redundant speed summing actuators
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsFloyd R. Emmons, Gregory DiVincenzo
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Abstract
A method and system for use with actuation system to control a plurality of vanes disposed within a turbine engine, wherein a vane position sensor provides a vane position signal corresponding to a vane position of the plurality of vanes, the actuation system includes a plurality of motors engaged in response to the vane position signal, and a differential gearbox having a plurality of inputs operatively coupled to the plurality of motors and an output operatively coupled to the plurality of vanes, wherein an output speed of the output is a sum of a plurality of input speeds of the plurality of inputs.
Claims15
An actuation system to control a plurality of vanes disposed within a turbine engine, wherein a vane position sensor provides a vane position signal corresponding to a vane position of the plurality of vanes, the actuation system comprising:
- first and second redundant actuators respectively comprising parallel first and second redundant actuation systems and a differential gearbox,
- each of the parallel first and second redundant actuation systems respectively comprising:
- a motor engaged in response to the vane position signal;
- and
- a brake,
- the differential gearboxes respectively having an input operatively coupled to the motor of each of the parallel first and second redundant actuation systems and an output operatively coupled to the plurality of vanes, wherein an output speed of the output is a sum of input speeds of each input,
- the brake of each of the parallel first and second redundant actuation systems being disposed to selectively prevent the corresponding motor from inputting speed to the corresponding differential gearbox when the corresponding motor fails.
A method for controlling a plurality of vanes disposed within a turbine engine, wherein a vane position signal corresponding to a vane position of the plurality of vanes is provided via a vane position sensor, the method comprising:
- providing first and second redundant actuators, each of the first and second redundant actuators respectively comprising parallel first and second redundant actuation systems and a differential gearbox;
- engaging a motor of each of the parallel first and second redundant actuation systems in response to the vane position signal;
- providing an input speed from each motor of each of the parallel first and second redundant actuation systems to an input of the corresponding differential gearbox;
- providing an output speed to an output operatively coupled to the plurality of vanes of each of the differential gearboxes, wherein the output speed of the output is a sum of the corresponding input speeds of the corresponding inputs;
- and
- engaging a brake of each of the parallel first and second redundant actuation systems to prevent the corresponding motor from providing the corresponding input speed to the corresponding input.
A multiple redundant actuation system to control a plurality of vanes disposed within a turbine engine, wherein a vane position sensor provides a vane position signal corresponding to a vane position of the plurality of vanes, the multiple redundant actuation system comprising:
- multiple redundant actuators, wherein each redundant actuator comprises a plurality of parallel actuation systems and a differential gearbox, wherein each actuation system comprises:
- a motor engaged in response to the vane position signal;
- and
- a brake,
- the differential gearbox of each redundant actuator having a plurality of inputs operatively coupled to the corresponding plurality of motors and an output operatively coupled to the plurality of vanes, wherein an output speed of the output is a sum of a plurality of input speeds of the plurality of inputs, and
- the brake of each actuation system of each redundant actuator is disposed to selectively prevent the corresponding motor from inputting speed to the corresponding differential gearbox when the corresponding motor fails.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.