Actuator assist apparatus, actuator system and method
AssigneeGE Oil & Gas UK Limited
InventorsGraeme Alexander Thomson, Peter John Davey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An actuator assist apparatus for use with an actuator has a housing and a piston member slidably disposed in the housing. The piston member divides the interior of the housing into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. The actuator assist apparatus is configurable between a first, primed, configuration and an activated configuration. A force applicator is configured to store energy when the apparatus is in the primed configuration and release the energy to move the piston member relative to the housing. Movement of the piston member applies a force which assists in urging the actuator towards an extended configuration, thereby reducing the minimum operating pressure of the actuator.
Claims20
An actuator assist apparatus for use with an actuator, the actuator assist apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- a piston member moveably disposed in the housing;
- a force application arrangement operatively associated with the piston member, the force application arrangement configured to release energy to move the piston member relative to the housing, movement of the piston member applying a force which assists in urging the actuator towards an extended configuration;
- and
- a piston rod configured to engage the actuator to apply the force to the actuator which assists in urging the actuator to the extended configuration.
An actuator system comprising:
- an actuator for use in performing an operation;
- and
- an actuator assist apparatus comprising
- a housing;
- a piston member moveably disposed in the housing;
- a force application arrangement operatively associated with the piston member, the force application arrangement configured to release energy to move the piston member relative to the housing, movement of the piston member applying a force which assists in urging the actuator towards an extended configuration;
- and
- a piston rod configured to engage the actuator to apply the force to the actuator which assists in urging the actuator to the extended configuration.
An actuation method comprising:
- providing an actuator assist apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- a piston member moveably disposed in the housing;
- a force application arrangement operatively associated with the piston member, and a piston rod, the force application arrangement configured to release energy to move the piston member relative to the housing;
- coupling the actuator assist apparatus to an actuator;
- and
- activating the actuator assist apparatus by releasing energy from the force application arrangement to move the piston member relative to the housing, movement of the piston member applying a force which assists in urging the actuator towards an extended configuration and the piston rod engaging the actuator to apply the force to the actuator which assists in urging the actuator to the extended configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.