Back to results
US 12,163,537 B1Granted
Three way transfer valve for parallel electrohydraulic servo valve control of actuator
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsSachin Ramprashad, August M. Coretto, Frank Perrelli, Ryan Prescott Susca
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method includes using two parallel electrohydraulic servo valves EHSVs with a single transfer valve to move an actuator during a normal operation mode. The method includes upon failure of one of the EHSVs, using the single transfer valve to disconnect a non-operational one of the EHSVs and continuing to move the actuator with a functional one of the EHSVs in a backup mode.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a first electrohydraulic servo valve (EHSV) configured to be in fluid communication with a pressure supply and with a pressure return, the first EHSV including a first actuator extend line and a first actuator retract line and being operatively connected to pressurize one of the first actuator extend line or the first actuator retract line;
- a second EHSV configured to be in fluid communication with the pressure supply and with the pressure return, the second EHSV including a second actuator extend line and a second actuator retract line and being operatively connected to pressurize one of the second actuator extend line or the second actuator retract line;
- a transfer valve connected in fluid communication with the first EHSV via the first extend actuator line and via the first retract actuator line, wherein the transfer valve is connected in fluid communication with the second EHSV via the second extend actuator line and via the second retract actuator line;
- and
- an actuator with an extend chamber in fluid communication with both of the first and second extend actuator lines through the transfer valve, and a retract chamber in fluid communication with both of the first and second retract actuator lines through the transfer valve for extending an end effector when the first and second EHSVs pressurize the extend chamber, and for retracting the end effector when the first and second EHSVs pressurize the retract chamber,
- wherein the transfer valve has three states including:
- a first state connecting both of the first EHSV and the second EHSV in fluid communication with the extend chamber and with the retract chamber for normal operation of the actuator with combined power from both the first EHSV and the second EHSV;
- a second state disconnecting the first EHSV from the actuator but connecting the second EHSV in fluid communication with the actuator for a first backup mode in event of the first EHSV being non-operational;
- and
- a third state disconnecting the second EHSV from the actuator but connecting the first EHSV in fluid communication with the actuator for a second backup mode in event of the second EHSV being non-operational.
7 more elements
A transfer valve comprising:
- a housing including respective ports configured to be connected in fluid communication with a first EHSV via a first extend actuator line and via a first retract actuator line, wherein the transfer valve is configured to be connected in fluid communication with a second EHSV via a second extend actuator line and via a second retract actuator line;
- and
- a spool within the valve housing, wherein the spool has three states including:
- a first state for connecting ports for both of the first EHSV and the second EHSV in fluid communication with a valve extend chamber of the housing and with a valve retract chamber of the housing;
- a second state disconnecting ports for the first EHSV from the valve extend chamber and from the valve retract chamber but connecting ports for the second EHSV in fluid communication with the valve extend chamber and the valve retract chamber for a first backup mode;
- and
- a third state disconnecting ports for the second EHSV from the valve extend chamber and from the valve retract chamber but connecting ports for the first EHSV in fluid communication with the valve extend chamber and the valve retract chamber for a second backup mode in event of the second EHSV being non-operational.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- using two parallel electrohydraulic servo valves EHSVs with a single transfer valve to move an actuator during a normal operation mode;
- and
- upon failure of one of the EHSVs, using the single transfer valve to disconnect a non-operational one of the EHSVs and continuing to move the actuator with a functional one of the EHSVs in a backup mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.