US 12,228,151 B2Granted

Solenoid driven actuator

AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation

InventorsRyan Susca, Morgan O'Rorke, Todd Haugsjaahabink

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Abstract

A method of controlling an actuator includes switching a primary solenoid valve to a first mode to fluidically connect a supply pressure source to a control chamber of a pilot valve. A fluid from the supply pressure source is directed through the primary solenoid valve to fill the control chamber of the pilot valve and put the pilot valve in a first position. The first position fluidically connects a second chamber of the actuator to a return pressure source. The actuator includes a cylinder between the first chamber and the second chamber and a rod attached to the cylinder. The fluid from the supply pressure source is directed into the first chamber of the actuator to move the cylinder and the rod in a first direction while the pilot valve is in the first position.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

an actuator comprising:
an actuator housing;
a first chamber within the actuator housing fluidically;
a second chamber within the actuator housing;
a cylinder within the housing and between the first chamber and the second chamber;
and
a rod attached to the cylinder;
a supply pressure source;
a return pressure source;
a pilot valve comprising:
a pilot valve housing;
a supply port fluidically connected to the supply pressure source;
a return port fluidically connected to the return pressure source;
a first actuator port fluidically connected to the first chamber of the actuator;
a second actuator port fluidically connected to the second chamber of the actuator;
a valve block within the pilot valve housing, wherein the valve block comprises:
a first window fluidically connecting the supply port and the first actuator port when the pilot valve is in a first position;
a second window fluidically connecting the return port and the second actuator port when the pilot valve is in the first position;
a third window fluidically connecting the supply port and the second actuator port when the pilot valve is in a second position;
and
a fourth window fluidically connecting the return port and the second actuator port when the pilot valve is in the second position;
a control chamber within the pilot valve housing;
a spring chamber within the pilot valve housing, wherein the valve block is between the control chamber and the spring chamber, and wherein the spring chamber is fluidically connected directly to the return pressure source;
and
a spring within the spring chamber;
a selector valve comprising:
a selector valve housing:
a first port;
a second port;
and
a third port fluidically connected to the control chamber of the pilot valve;
a primary chamber within the selector valve housing;
a secondary chamber within the selector valve housing;
a selector valve block within the selector valve housing and between the primary chamber and the secondary chamber;
and
a second spring within the primary chamber;
a primary solenoid valve comprising:
a first port fluidically connected to the supply pressure source;
a second port fluidically connected to both the first port of the selector valve and to the primary chamber of the selector valve;
and
a third port fluidically connected to the return pressure source;
and
a secondary solenoid valve, wherein the secondary solenoid valve comprises:
a first port fluidically connected to the supply pressure source;
a second port fluidically connected to both the second port of the selector valve and to the secondary chamber of the selector valve;
and
a third port fluidically connected to return pressure source.

44 more elements

A method of controlling an actuator, wherein the method comprises:

switching a primary solenoid valve to a first mode to fluidically connect a supply pressure source to a primary chamber of a selector valve and a first port of the selector valve, and wherein a selector valve spring is in the primary chamber of the selector valve and biases the selector valve to a primary position that fluidically connects the first port of the selector valve to a third port of the selector valve;
directing a fluid from the supply pressure source through the primary solenoid valve, and through the first port of the selector valve and the third port of the selector valve to fill a control chamber of a pilot valve and compress a spring within a spring chamber of the pilot valve to put the pilot valve in a first position, wherein the spring chamber is connected directly to a return pressure source that is lower in pressure than the supply pressure source, wherein the pilot valve in the first position fluidically connects the supply pressure source to a first chamber of the actuator and fluidically connects a second chamber of the actuator to the return pressure source, and wherein the actuator comprises a cylinder between the first chamber and the second chamber and a rod attached to the cylinder;
directing the fluid from the supply pressure source into the first chamber of the actuator to move the cylinder and the rod in a first direction while the pilot valve is in the first position;
switching the primary solenoid valve to a second mode to fluidically disconnect the first port of the selector valve from the supply pressure source and to fluidically connect the first port of the selector valve to the return pressure source with the control chamber of the pilot valve;
expanding the spring within the spring chamber of the pilot valve to evacuate the fluid in the control chamber to the return pressure source via the third port of the selector valve, via the first port of the selector valve, and via the primary solenoid valve and to put the pilot valve in a second position that fluidically connects the supply pressure source to the second chamber of the actuator and fluidically connects the first chamber of the actuator to the return pressure source;
and
directing the fluid from the supply pressure source into the second chamber of the actuator and evacuating the fluid in the first chamber to the return pressure source to move the cylinder and the rod in a second direction while the pilot valve is in the second position.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/450,800Filed 13 Oct 2021
Published: US 2023/0111165 A113 Apr 2023
Granted: 18 Feb 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

F15B 13/0402
Valve members; Fluid interconnections therefor: for linearly sliding valves, e.g. spool valves
F15B 20/008
Safety arrangements for fluid actuator systems; Applications of safety devices in fluid actuator systems; Emergency measures for fluid actuator…:…
F02C 9/00
Controlling gas-turbine plants
F15B 11/08
Servomotor systems without provision for follow-up action ; Circuits therefor: with only one servomotor