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US 11,235,861 B2Granted
Horizontal stabilizer trim actuator systems and methods
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsDerek M. Joseph, Kevin B. Eck, Christopher D. Feet, Yonas T. Meshesha, Timothy J. Soderquist, Barry D. Hance
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle control surface, such as an aircraft horizontal stabilizer, is hydraulically controlled using solenoid operated valves (SOVs) controlling directional control valves and/or rate control valves with small numbers of ports, e.g. a four port three position directional control value and/or a four port two position rate control valve.
Claims27
A control surface control system comprising:
- a hydraulic inlet configured to receive pressurized hydraulic fluid;
- a first hydraulic path fluidically connected to the hydraulic inlet;
- a second hydraulic path;
- a hydraulic shutoff apparatus fluidically connected to the first hydraulic path and the second hydraulic path and configured to be switched between a plurality of hydraulic positions, wherein at least one of the hydraulic positions allows for the pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow from the first hydraulic path through the hydraulic shutoff apparatus to the second hydraulic path;
- a directional and rate control apparatus;
- a third hydraulic path fluidically connected to the directional and rate control apparatus;
- and
- a hydraulic motor fluidically connected to the directional and rate control apparatus via the third hydraulic path, wherein:
- the directional and rate control apparatus is configured to be switched between a plurality of directional control positions wherein at least one of the directional control positions allows for the pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow from the second hydraulic path through the directional and rate control apparatus to the hydraulic motor;
- the hydraulic motor is configured to turn an output shaft to actuate the control surface of the vehicle responsive to receiving the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the directional and rate control apparatus and configured to be locked responsive to not receiving the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the directional and rate control apparatus;
- a brake apparatus connected to the hydraulic motor and/or the output shaft;
- a fourth hydraulic path;
- a fifth hydraulic path, wherein the directional and rate control apparatus comprises a directional control valve and a pressure centered apparatus fluidically connected to the fourth hydraulic path and the fifth hydraulic path and configured to switch between the plurality of directional control positions responsive to the flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the fourth hydraulic path and the fifth hydraulic path;
- a control trim up solenoid operated valve (SOV) fluidically connected to the second hydraulic path and the fourth hydraulic path, wherein the control trim up SOV is a three port two position SOV configured to allow flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the fourth hydraulic path in an open position and configured to prevent flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid in a closed position;
- and
- a control trim down SOV fluidically connected to the second hydraulic path and the fifth hydraulic path, wherein the control trim down SOV is a three port two position SOV configured to allow flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the fifth hydraulic path in an open position and configured to prevent flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid in a closed position;
- wherein the directional control valve is a four port valve and is configured to be switched between at least three positions comprising:
- a first position configured to prevent flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid through the directional control valve;
- a second position configured to allow for the pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow through the directional control valve to the hydraulic motor in a first manner;
- and
- a third position configured to allow for the pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow through the directional control valve to the hydraulic motor in a second manner.
18 more elements
A control surface control system
- a hydraulic inlet configured to receive pressurized hydraulic fluid;
- a first hydraulic path fluidically connected to the hydraulic inlet;
- a second hydraulic path;
- a hydraulic shutoff apparatus fluidically connected to the first hydraulic path and the second hydraulic path and configured to be switched between a plurality of hydraulic positions, wherein at least one of the hydraulic positions allows for the pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow from the first hydraulic path through the hydraulic shutoff apparatus to the second hydraulic path;
- a directional and rate control apparatus;
- a third hydraulic path fluidically connected to the directional and rate control apparatus;
- and
- a hydraulic motor fluidically connected to the directional and rate control apparatus via the third hydraulic path, wherein:
- the directional and rate control apparatus is configured to be switched between a plurality of directional control positions wherein at least one of the directional control positions allows for the pressurized hydraulic fluid to flow from the second hydraulic path through the directional and rate control apparatus to the hydraulic motor;
- the hydraulic motor is configured to turn an output shaft to actuate the control surface of the vehicle responsive to receiving the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the directional and rate control apparatus and configured to be locked responsive to not receiving the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the directional and rate control apparatus;
- and
- a brake apparatus connected to the hydraulic motor and/or the output shaft;
- wherein the directional and rate control apparatus includes a directional control valve and a rate apparatus that comprises:
- a rate control solenoid valve (SOV) fluidically connected to the second hydraulic path, wherein the rate control SOV is a three port two position SOV configured to allow flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to a rate control spool in an open position and configured to prevent flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid in a closed position;
- and
- the rate control spool, wherein the rate control spool is a four port two position pilot operated valve configured to, responsive to the rate control SOV allowing flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid, further restrict flow of hydraulic fluid through the rate control spool.
13 more elements
A method of controlling a control surface, the method comprising:
- receiving pressurized hydraulic fluid;
- flowing the pressurized hydraulic fluid into a hydraulic shutoff apparatus;
- switching, responsive to the flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid into the hydraulic shutoff apparatus, the hydraulic shutoff apparatus to a first hydraulic position;
- flowing the pressurized hydraulic fluid into a directional and rate control apparatus;
- switching, responsive to the flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid into the directional and rate control apparatus, a rate control solenoid operated valve (SOV) to an open position to allow flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to a rate control spool, wherein the rate control SOV is a three port two position SOV configured to allow flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the rate control spool in the open position and configured to prevent flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid in a closed position;
- changing a flow restriction of hydraulic fluid through the rate control spool responsive to the rate control SOV allowing flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the rate control spool, wherein the rate control spool is a four port two position pilot operated valve configured to allow hydraulic fluid to flow both to and from a hydraulic motor in each of the two positions of the rate control valve, with one of the two positions being more restrictive to the flow of hydraulic fluid through the rate control spool than the other of the two positions;
- switching, responsive to the flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid through the rate control spool, a directional control valve of the directional and rate control apparatus to a first directional control position;
- monitoring the position of the directional control valve;
- responsive to the flow of the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the directional control valve into the hydraulic motor, turning an output shaft of the hydraulic motor, and
- actuating the control surface connected to the output shaft.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.