Linear actuator assembly and system
AssigneeProject Phoenix, LLC
InventorThomas Afshari
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A linear actuator system includes a linear actuator and an integrated pump assembly connected to the linear actuator to provide fluid to operate the linear actuator. The integrated pump assembly includes a pump with two fluid drivers, each fluid driver comprising a prime mover and a fluid displacement assembly to be driven by the prime mover such that fluid is transferred from a first port of the pump to a second port of the pump. The pump assembly also includes two valve assembles to isolate the pump from the system. The linear actuator system also includes a controller that establishes the pump in a normal mode of operation in which the prime movers are independently driven and switches to a fail-safe mode of operation in which only one prime mover is operated.
Claims18
A hydraulic system, comprising:
- a linear hydraulic actuator having first and second ports;
- an integrated hydraulic pump assembly conjoined with the linear hydraulic actuator to provide hydraulic fluid to operate the linear hydraulic actuator, the integrated hydraulic pump assembly including,
- a casing wall defining an interior volume, the casing wall having a third port to provide fluid communication between the interior volume and the first port, and a fourth port to provide fluid communication between the interior volume and the second port,
- a fluid driver assembly disposed inside the interior volume, the fluid driver assembly having at least one fluid driver with each fluid driver having at least one of a variable-speed motor or a variable torque motor,
- at least one sensor assembly disposed in at least one of the casing wall or the interior volume and having at least one of a pressure transducer, a temperature transducer, or a flow transducer,
- a first valve assembly disposed in at least one of the casing wall or the interior volume and in fluid communication with the third port, and
- a second valve assembly disposed in at least one of the casing wall or the interior volume and in fluid communication with the fourth port;
- and
- a controller that opens the first and second valve assemblies to provide fluid communication between the interior volume and the third and fourth ports, respectively, and establishes at least one of a speed or a torque of the motor in each of the at least one fluid driver to exclusively adjust at least one of a flow or a pressure in the hydraulic system to an operational set point.
A method of controlling relative movement between a first structural element and a second structural element in an industrial machine using a linear actuator assembly having a linear actuator, which extracts and retracts a piston assembly, and a hydraulic pump assembly, the hydraulic pump assembly including a first valve assembly, a second valve assembly and a hydraulic pump to provide fluid to one of a first port or a second port of the linear actuator, the hydraulic pump including a casing that defines an interior volume, a motor, a first gear having a plurality of first gear teeth, and a second gear having a plurality of second gear teeth, the method comprising:
- disposing the motor in the interior volume;
- operating the first valve assembly to provide fluid communication between the hydraulic pump and the first port of the linear actuator;
- operating the second valve assembly to provide fluid communication between the hydraulic pump and the second port of the linear actuator;
- disposing the second gear in the interior volume such that a first face of at least one tooth of the plurality of first gear teeth meshes with a second face of at least one tooth of the plurality of second gear teeth when the first gear is rotated;
- rotating the motor to rotate the first gear about a first axial centerline of the first gear in a first direction to transfer the fluid to the linear actuator, a meshing force from the first face rotating the second gear about a second axial centerline of the second gear in a second direction to transfer the fluid to the linear actuator;
- establishing at least one of a speed or a torque of the motor to exclusively adjust at least one of a flow or a pressure to the linear actuator to an operational set point;
- and
- performing at least one of an extraction or a retraction of the piston assembly to provide relative movement between the first structural element and the second structural element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.