Fluid conduit for use with hydraulic actuator
AssigneeGeneral Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Inc.
InventorGregory W. Terpay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid conduit is provided for use in a hydraulic actuating system for controlling an instrumentality disposed on a rotating portion of a machine. The fluid conduit transports pressurized fluid between a fluid source disposed on a non-rotating portion of the machine and the instrumentality and comprises a rigid tubular member formed in the shape of a helix having at least about 2 revolutions and a non-constant pitch length. The ends of the tube are adapted to be sealingly connected between the fluid source and the instrumentality. The fluid conduit is used, for example, in an apparatus and system for controlling a hydraulic actuator mounted on a rotating blade.
Claims18
A fluid conduit for use in a hydraulic actuating system for controlling an instrumentality disposed on a rotating portion of a machine, the fluid conduit transporting pressurized fluid between a fluid source disposed on a non-rotating portion of the machine and the instrumentality, the fluid conduit comprising:
- a rigid tubular member formed in the shape of a helix having at least about two revolutions and a non-constant pitch length, the ends of the tube adapted to be sealingly connected between the fluid source and the instrumentality.
An apparatus for use in a hydraulic actuating system including a fluid source adapted to be disposed on a non-rotating portion of a machine, a hydraulic actuator mounted on an articulated instrumentality disposed on a rotating portion of the machine, and hydraulic actuating means for transferring fluid between the fluid source and the hydraulic actuator for moving the instrumentality relative to the rotating portion of the machine, the apparatus comprising:
- a rigid tubular member formed in the shape of a helix having at least about 2 revolutions and a non-constant pitch length, the ends of the tube adapted to be sealingly connected between the fluid source and the hydraulic actuator.
A fluid line for use in an active control device on a rotary wing aircraft having an airframe and a rotor rotatable relative to the airframe, the rotor including a hub and at least one elongated rotor blade connected at one end to the hub and extending radially outwardly therefrom such that when the rotor hub is rotatably driven the rotor blade rotates with the hub, the rotor blade movable relative to the hub about a blade pitch axis extending along its length, and a hydraulic actuation system for moving the blade about the blade pitch axis including a fluid source associated with the airframe, means for controlling the position of the rotor blade about the blade pitch axis, and a hydraulic actuator operatively connected to and rotating with the blade for changing the position of the blade about the blade pitch axis in response to a signal from the controlling means, the fluid line comprising:
- a rigid tubular member formed in the shape of a helix having at least about 2 revolutions and a non-constant pitch length, the ends of the tube adapted to be sealingly connected between the fluid source and the hydraulic actuator for transferring pressurized fluid between the fluid source and the hydraulic actuator.
A fluid line for use in an active control device on a rotary wing aircraft having an airframe and a rotor rotatable relative to the airframe, the rotor including a hub and at least one elongated rotor blade connected at one end to the hub and extending radially outwardly therefrom such that when the rotor hub is rotatably driven the rotor blade rotates with the hub, the rotor blade comprising a flap attached to and movable relative to the blade about an axis, and a hydraulic actuation system for moving the flap about the axis, the hydraulic actuation system including a fluid source associated with the airframe, means for controlling the position of the flap about the axis, and a hydraulic flap actuator operatively connected to the flap for changing the position of the flap with respect to the blade in response to a signal from the controlling means, the fluid line comprising:
- a rigid tubular member formed in the shape of a helix having at least about 2 revolutions and a non-constant pitch length, the ends of the tube adapted to be sealingly connected between the fluid source and the hydraulic flap actuator for transferring pressurized fluid between the fluid source and the flap actuator.
An active control device for hydraulically controlling the position of a rotor blade flap on a rotary wing aircraft having an airframe and a rotor rotatable relative to the airframe, the rotor including a hub and at least one elongated rotor blade connected at one end to the hub and extending radially outwardly therefrom such that when the rotor hub is rotatably driven the rotor blade rotates with the hub, the rotor blade flap movably attached to and movable relative to the blade about an axis, the active control device comprising:
- a fluid source adapted to be mounted to the airframe;
- means for controlling the position of the flap about the axis;
- a hydraulic flap actuator adapted to be operatively connected to the flap for changing the position of the flap with respect to the blade in response to a signal from the controlling means;
- and
- a rigid tubular member formed in the shape of a helix having at least about 2 revolutions and a non-constant pitch length, the ends of the tube sealingly connected between the fluid source and the hydraulic flap actuator for transferring pressurized fluid between the fluid source and the flap actuator.
A rotary wing aircraft, comprising:
- an airframe;
- a rotor rotatable relative to the airframe including
- a hub,
- and at least one elongated rotor blade connected at one end to the hub and extending radially outwardly therefrom such that when the rotor hub is rotatably driven the rotor blade rotates with the hub, the rotor blade comprising
- a flap attached to and movable relative to the blade about an axis;
- a fluid source associated with the airframe;
- means for hydraulically controlling the position of the flap about the axis;
- a hydraulic flap actuator operatively connected to the flap for changing the position of the flap with respect to the blade in response to a signal from the controlling means;
- and
- a rigid tubular member formed in the shape of a helix having least about 2 revolutions and a non-constant pitch length, the ends of the tube adapted to be sealingly connected between the fluid source and the hydraulic flap actuator for transferring pressurized fluid between the fluid source and the flap actuator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.