Linear actuator assembly and system
AssigneeProject Phoenix, LLC
InventorThomas Afshari
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims21
1-96. (canceled)
A pump system comprising:
- a pump including:
- a first gear disposed within an interior volume of a pump casing, the first gear having a plurality of first gear teeth, each of the first gear teeth having a first face;
- a second gear disposed within the interior volume, the second gear having a plurality of second gear teeth, each of the second gear teeth having a second face, wherein the second face of at least one tooth of the second gear teeth aligns with the first face of at least one tooth of the first gear teeth;
- a first motor that rotates the first gear to transfer a fluid from a first port of the casing to a second port of the casing along a first flow path;
- and
- a second motor that rotates the second gear to transfer the fluid from the first port to the second port along a second flow path;
- and
- a controller that establishes a normal mode of operation in which the first and second motors are independently driven so as to synchronize contact between the first gear and the second gear, the controller establishing a fail-safe mode of operation based on a determination that one of the first and second motors is non-operational, the fail-safe mode of operation shutting down the non-operational motor and driving the operational motor such that the first gear meshes with the second gear.
A method of operating a fluid-driven actuator via a pump system including a pump with a pump casing, the pump casing defining an interior volume and including first and second ports in fluid communication with the interior volume, the pump including first and second gears disposed within the interior volume of the pump casing, the method comprising:
- rotating the first gear via a first motor to transfer a fluid from the first port to the second port along a first flow path;
- rotating the second gear via a second motor to transfer the fluid from the first port to the second port along a second flow path;
- establishing, via a controller, a normal mode of operation in which the first and second motors are independently driven so as to synchronize contact between the first and the second gear;
- and
- establishing, via the controller, a fail-safe mode of operation based on a determination that one of the first and second motors is non-operational, the fail-safe mode of operation shutting down the non-operational motor and driving the operational motor such that the first gear meshes with the second gear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.