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US 11,788,561 B2Granted
Hydraulic fluid flow control
AssigneeGoodrich Corporation
InventorHarald Klode
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydraulic fluid system is disclosed and that utilizes a hydraulic motor or gear pump and a magneto-rheological fluid (MRF) brake that is interconnected with an output of the hydraulic motor. The MRF brake may utilize a rotatable rotor that is disposed within a magneto-rheological fluid and that is interconnected with an output (e.g., a rotatable output shaft) of the hydraulic motor. An electrical control signal may be provided to the MRF brake (e.g., to a magnetic coil) to adjust the viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid, and thereby a braking torque exerted on the output of the hydraulic motor.
Claims15
A hydraulic fluid system, comprising:
- a first hydraulic motor comprising an output;
- a first magneto-rheological fluid (MRF) brake interconnected with the output of the first hydraulic motor, the first MRF brake comprising a magneto-rheological fluid, wherein the first hydraulic motor and the first MRF brake define a first set;
- a second hydraulic motor and a second MRF brake operatively interconnected with the second hydraulic motor and that defines a second set, wherein the first set and the second set are connected in series;
- a third hydraulic motor and a third MRF brake operatively interconnected with the third hydraulic motor and that defines a third set;
- a fourth hydraulic motor and a fourth MRF brake operatively interconnected with the fourth hydraulic motor and that defines a fourth set, wherein the third set and the fourth set are connected in series, and wherein the first set and the second set are collectively connected in parallel with the third set and the fourth set;
- and
- a controller coupled to at least one of the first MRF brake, the second MRF brake, the third MRF brake, or the fourth MRF brake,
- wherein the controller is configured to control an amount of current flowing through a magnetic coil of the at least one of the first MRF brake, the second MRF brake, the third MRF brake, or the fourth MRF brake based on an input,
- wherein the current flowing through the magnetic coil of the at least one of the first MRF brake, the second MRF brake, the third MRF brake, or the fourth MRF brake corresponds with a viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid of the at least one of the first MRF brake, the second MRF brake, the third MRF brake, or the fourth MRF brake, and
- wherein the input to the controller is selected from a group consisting of a differential pressure between an input side of at least one of the first hydraulic motor, the second hydraulic motor, the third hydraulic motor, or the fourth hydraulic motor and an output side of the at least one of the first hydraulic motor, the second hydraulic motor, the third hydraulic motor, or the fourth hydraulic motor and an operational speed of the at least one of the first hydraulic motor, the second hydraulic motor, the third hydraulic motor, or the fourth hydraulic motor.
7 more elements
A method of controlling a hydraulic fluid system, comprising:
- directing a hydraulic fluid through at least one of a first hydraulic motor comprising an output, a second hydraulic motor, a third hydraulic motor, or a fourth hydraulic motor;
- applying a braking torque to the output using at least one of a first magneto-rheological fluid (MRF) brake, a second MRF brake, a third MRF brake, or a forth MRF brake, the applying comprising using a magneto-rheological fluid, wherein the first MRF brake is operatively interconnected with the first hydraulic motor and define a first set, wherein the second MRF brake is operatively interconnected with the second hydraulic motor and define a second set, wherein the first set and the second set are connected in series, wherein the third MRF brake is operatively interconnected with the third hydraulic motor and define a third set, wherein the fourth MRF brake is operatively interconnected with the fourth hydraulic motor and define a fourth set, wherein the third set and the fourth set are connected in series, and wherein the first set and the second set are collectively connected in parallel with the third set and the fourth set;
- and
- controlling, via a controller, a magnitude of the braking torque using a current applied to the magnetic coil of the at least one of the first MRF brake, the second MRF brake, the third MRF brake, or the fourth MRF brake,
- wherein the controller is configured to control an amount of the current flowing through a magnetic coil of the at least one of the first MRF brake, the second MRF brake, the third MRF brake, or the fourth MRF brake based on an input,
- wherein the current flowing through the magnetic coil of the at least one of the first MRF brake, the second MRF brake, the third MRF brake, or the fourth MRF brake corresponds with a viscosity of the magneto-rheological fluid of the at least one of the first MRF brake, the second MRF brake, the third MRF brake, or the fourth MRF brake and thus magnitude of the braking torque, and
- wherein the input to the controller is selected from a group consisting of a differential pressure between an input side of at least one of the first hydraulic motor, the second hydraulic motor, the third hydraulic motor, or the fourth hydraulic motor and an output side of the at least one of the first hydraulic motor, the second hydraulic motor, the third hydraulic motor, or the fourth hydraulic motor and an operational speed of the at least one of the first hydraulic motor, the second hydraulic motor, the third hydraulic motor, or the fourth hydraulic motor.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.