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US 10,947,997 B2Granted
Aircraft hydraulic system with a dual spool valve and methods of use
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMichael Thomas Fox, Eric Anton Howell, Jeffrey M. Roach
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dual spool valve and methods of controlling hydraulic fluid that is moved to a hydraulic actuator of an aircraft. The dual spool valve may include ports to receive and discharge hydraulic fluid. The dual spool valve may also include first and second valve sections that are selectively positionable to control the flow of hydraulic fluid into and out of the actuator. One position provides for hydraulic fluid to move through closure lines. Method of controlling the dual spool valve may provide for selectively positioning the valve sections to control the flow of hydraulic fluid, and to position the valve sections to move hydraulic fluid through a closure line during certain circumstances.
Claims32
A dual spool valve to direct hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic actuator in an aircraft, the dual spool valve comprising:
- a first port to receive hydraulic fluid from a first supply line;
- a second port to discharge hydraulic fluid to a return line;
- a third port to receive hydraulic fluid from a second supply line;
- a first valve section comprising:
- a first manifold with a supply port, a return port, and an actuator port;
- a first closure line that extends between the third port and the actuator;
- and
- a first spool movable within the first manifold between a first position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the first valve section to and from the actuator through just the supply port, a second position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the first valve section to and from the actuator through just the return port, and a third position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the first valve section to and from the actuator through just the first closure line;
- a second valve section comprising:
- a second manifold with a supply port, a return port, and an actuator port;
- a second closure line that extends between the third port and the actuator;
- and
- a second spool movable within the second manifold between a first position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the second valve section to and from the actuator through just the supply port, a second position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the second valve section to and from the actuator through just the return port, and a third position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the second valve section to and from the actuator through just the second closure line.
10 more elements
An assembly to position a flight control member of an aircraft, the assembly comprising:
- a hydraulic actuator operatively connected to the flight control member and comprising a piston, a first chamber on a first side of the piston, and a second chamber on a second side of the piston;
- a dual spool valve comprising:
- a first valve section comprising:
- a first manifold with a supply port, a return port, and an actuator port;
- a first closure line that extends to the first chamber of the actuator;
- and
- a first spool movable within the first manifold between a first position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the first valve section to and from the first chamber of the actuator through just the supply port, a second position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the first valve section to and from the first chamber of the actuator through just the return port, and a third position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the first valve section to and from the first chamber of the actuator through just the first closure line;
- a second valve section comprising:
- a second manifold with a supply port, a return port, and an actuator port;
- a second closure line that extends to the second chamber of the actuator;
- and
- a second spool movable within the second manifold between a first position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the second valve section to and from the second chamber of the actuator through just the supply port, a second position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the second valve section to and from the second chamber of the actuator through just the return port, and a third position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the second valve section to and from the second chamber of the actuator through just the second closure line.
9 more elements
A method of controlling an actuator connected to a flight control member of an aircraft, the method comprising:
- operating a dual spool valve in a first setting by selectively positioning a first spool and controlling hydraulic fluid moving through first and second ports into and out of a first chamber of the actuator and selectively positioning a second spool and controlling hydraulic fluid moving through the first and second ports into and out of a second chamber of the actuator;
- and
- operating the dual spool valve in a second setting by positioning the second spool to a fixed position and preventing hydraulic fluid from moving into or out of the second chamber through either the first or second ports and allowing hydraulic fluid into and out of the second chamber through a third port and selectively positioning the first spool and controlling hydraulic fluid moving through the first and second ports into and out of the first chamber.
A method of controlling an actuator connected to a flight control member of an aircraft, the method comprising:
- operating a dual spool valve in a first setting by selectively positioning a first spool between first and second positions to block and open a supply port and a return port in the first manifold and controlling hydraulic fluid into and out of a first chamber of the actuator and simultaneously selectively positioning a second spool between first and second positions to block and open a supply port and a return port in the second manifold and controlling hydraulic fluid into and out of a second chamber of the actuator;
- determining that the second spool has failed and moving the second spool to a failed position and blocking the supply port and the return port in the second manifold and opening a second supply port and moving hydraulic fluid into and out of the second chamber;
- and
- while the second spool is in the failed position, selectively positioning the first spool between the first and second positions to block and open the supply port and the return port in the first manifold and controlling hydraulic fluid into and out of the first chamber of the actuator.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.