Multiplexed hydraulic control system with multiplexing valve having planar port array
AssigneeWoodward Governor Company
InventorsJohn W. Wardle, Plato J. Leeson, David G. Clay, Dale W. Sievert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multiplexed hydraulic control system which avoids the use of a rotary multiplexer and thereby allows for random selection of the multiplexed outlet ports and variable dwell times for the respective ports. A single hydraulic input is multiplexed among a plurality of hydraulic outputs. A control system provides two types of signals: (1) modulation signals selected from a plurality of multiplexed input signals for producing a modulating hydraulic flow, and (2) selector signals for operating on the multiplexer means to route the modulated signal to the appropriately selected channel.
Claims19
A multiplexed hydraulic control system having a plurality of channels for individually controlling the positions of a plurality of actuators in the respective channels in accordance with a corresponding plurality of electrical control signals, the control system comprising the combination of:
- a single hydraulic input carrying hydraulic fluid to be individually and selectively passed to the respective channels,
- modulating means for responding to an applied electrical signal and associated with the single hydraulic input for producing a modulated hydraulic flow dependent upon the magnitude of the applied electrical signals,
- a plurality of output ports arranged in a predetermined planar two-dimensional array and connected to the respective channels for passing modulated hydraulic fluid thereto for control of the positions of the actuators in the associated channels,
- multiplexing means responsive to a plurality of selector signals for selecting among the output ports and connecting the single input to a selected output port by relative movement between the inlet and the array of output ports, and
- control means for selectively coordinating the application of the plurality of electrical control signals to the modulating means and the selector signals to the multiplexing means for providing hydraulic flow to each of the channels which is in accordance with the electrical control signals associated with those channels.
A multiplexed hydraulic control system having a plurality of channels for individually controlling the positions of a plurality of actuators in the respective channels in accordance with a corresponding plurality of electrical control signals, the control system comprising the combination of:
- a multiplexing valve having a plurality of output ports arranged in a predetermined planar two-dimensional array, each output port being connected to its associated hydraulic channel for passing hydraulic fluid thereto;
- a hydraulic input selectively modulated in accordance with individual ones of the plurality of electrical signals;
- multiplexing means responsive to a plurality of selector signals for selectively connecting the hydraulic input to individual ones of the hydraulic output ports;
- and
- control means for controlling the multiplexing means in coordination with said electrical signals for distributing modulated hydraulic fluid to the associated channels under a program of control for positioning of said actuators.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.