# US 11,994,154 B2 · Servovalve having a linear actuator and mechanical feedback

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- Number: US 11,994,154 B2
- Document ID: US11994154B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/911,084
- Filed: 2021-03-12
- Published: 2023-05-11
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-13
- Assignees: Safran Aerosystems
- Applicants: Safran Aerosystems
- Inventors: Matthieu Papoin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994154B2

## CPC

- F15B 13/0436: {the pilot valves being of the steerable jet type}
- F15B 13/0438: {the pilot valves being of the nozzle-flapper type}
- F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A servovalve having a pilot stage includes two hydraulic elements that are movable relative to each other so as to move a power-directing member, the pilot stage including a linear actuator having a main pusher arranged to modify the relative position of the hydraulic elements. The pilot stage has a position feedback lever.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A servovalve having a pilot stage comprising a hydraulic element for ejecting a jet of fluid and a hydraulic element for receiving the jet of fluid, the hydraulic elements being movable relative to each other so as to modify their relative position and thus generate a pressure difference usable for moving a power-directing member of the servovalve, one of the two elements being mounted in a fixed position on a body of the servovalve and the other one of the elements being mounted at the movable end of a support that is connected to the body of the servovalve, the pilot stage including a lever provided with a force transfer interface comprising an application, first point for applying an output force on the lever and a transmission, second point for transmitting the output force from the lever towards the support, the lever also being connected at a connection, third point to the power-directing member, wherein:
the pilot stage comprises a linear actuator including a main pusher arranged to exert the output force selectively on the support to modify the relative position of the hydraulic elements; and
the application, first point and the transmission, second point are situated on opposite sides of a first plane extending parallel to an output direction of the main pusher and perpendicularly to a neutral axis of the lever.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The servovalve according to claim 1, wherein the force transfer interface is arranged in such a manner that the connection at the application, first point or at the transmission, second point is a point connection or a ball joint connection or a linear connection or a pivot connection.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The servovalve according to claim 1, wherein the force transfer interface includes a cam.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The servovalve according to claim 3, wherein the cam is arranged to provide a pivot connection at the transmission, second point.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The servovalve according to claim 1, wherein the force transfer interface includes a first portion extending in a first direction intersecting the neutral axis of the lever and a second portion extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The servovalve according to claim 5, wherein the force transfer interface includes a third portion extending in a third direction intersecting the neutral axis of the lever and a fourth portion extending in a fourth direction intersecting the third direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The servovalve according to claim 1, wherein the transmission, second point acts on an auxiliary pusher that comes into contact with the support in order to push the support.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The servovalve according to claim 1, wherein the fixed-position hydraulic element is a fluid receiver and the hydraulic element carried by the support is a fluid ejector.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The servovalve according to claim 1, wherein the support is connected to the body of the servovalve by a fixed connection.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The servovalve according to claim 1, wherein the linear actuator comprises a piezoelectric actuator.