Engine nozzle synchronization system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10113565-B2
Application number	US-201515312123-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2015
Priority date	Jun 3, 2014
Publication date	Oct 30, 2018
Grant date	Oct 30, 2018

Abstract

An actuator synchronization system comprising a control valve in fluid communication with a plurality of actuators; each of the actuators comprising an input member moveable by the control valve, a main valve moveable from a null to an off-null position, an output member moveable from a first to a second output position, and a feedback linkage and a drive link configured such that selective movement of the input member causes movement of the valve from the null to the off-null position and movement of the output member to the second output position causes movement of the valve member from the off-null to the null position; and a mechanical connector between each of the input members or drive links of the actuators configured such that rotational motion of each of the respective drive links is synchronized.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An actuator synchronization system comprising:
a control valve in fluid communication with a plurality of actuators, each of said actuators comprising:
an input stage element in fluid communication with said control valve and having an input member movably mounted along an input axis, and configured to be moved from a first input position to a second input position along said input axis by said control valve;
a main valve having a valve member movably mounted in a valve chamber along a main valve axis, and configured to be moved from a null position to an off-null position along said main valve axis to selectively meter fluid flow from at least one port defined between said valve member and said valve chamber;
an output stage element in fluid communication with said port of said main valve and having an output member moveably mounted along an output axis, and configured to be moved from a first output position to a second output position along said output axis by a pressure differential applied on said output member by said main valve;
said main valve and said output member configured such that said output member is at a pressure equilibrium and does not move when said valve member is in said null position;
a feedback linkage acting between said valve member and said output member;
an eccentric drive link acting between said input member and said feedback linkage and configured to rotate about a fixed drive axis;
said drive link rotationally connected to said feedback linkage at a first pivot that is off-set a distance from said fixed drive axis and configured such that selective motion of said input member between said first input position and said second input position along said input axis causes said pivot of said feedback linkage to rotate about said drive axis;
said feedback linkage and said drive link configured such that selective movement of said input member from said first position to said second position causes said drive link and said feedback linkage to move said valve member from said null position to said off-null position;
said movement of said valve member from said null position to said off-null position causes said pressure differential on said output member and said output member to thereby move from said first output position to said second output position; and
said movement of said output member to said second output position causes said feedback linkage to move said valve member from said off-null position back to said null position; and

a mechanical connector between each of said input stage elements and/or said drive links configured such that rotational motion of each of said respective drive links about said respective fixed drive axis is substantially the same and thereby synchronized.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said control valve comprises a servo valve.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said respective fixed drive axes of said actuators are aligned and said mechanical connector comprises a shaft extending between said respective input stage elements and/or said respective drive links.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said respective fixed drive axes of said actuators are not aligned and said mechanical connector comprises a cable or universal joint extending between said respective input stage elements and/or said respective drive links.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said input member comprises an input piston moveably mounted in an input chamber in fluid communication with said control valve.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said input piston comprises a portion having a slot bounded by substantially-parallel walls and said drive link comprises a rounded marginal end portion engaging said slot walls.

7. A system as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said output member comprises an output piston moveably mounted in an output chamber in fluid communication with said port of said main valve.

8. A system as set forth in claim 7 , wherein said feedback linkage comprises a first link engaging said valve member at a first connection and a second link engaging said output piston at a second connection.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8 , wherein said valve member comprises a slot bounded by substantially-parallel walls and said first link of said feedback linkage comprises a rounded marginal end portion contacting said slot walls to form said first connection.

10. A system as set forth in claim 8 , wherein said output piston comprises a contoured surface and said second link of said feedback linkage comprises a rolling marginal end portion configured to contact said contoured surface of said output piston to form said second connection.

11. A system as set forth in claim 8 , wherein said feedback linkage comprises a third link connected to said first link at a third connection and connected to said second link at a fourth connection.

12. A system as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said first link and said third link are rotationally coupled at said third connection and said second link and said third link are rotationally coupled at said fourth connection.

13. A system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said second link is configured to rotate about a fixed feedback axis and said fourth connection is off-set a distance from said fixed feedback axis such that selective motion of said output piston between said first output position and said second output position along said output axis causes said fourth connection of said feedback linkage to rotate about said feedback axis.

14. A system as set forth in claim 13 , wherein said feedback linkage is configured to move said valve member from said null position to said off-null position with selective rotation of said drive link about said drive axis.

15. A system as set forth in claim 13 , wherein said feedback linkage is configured to move said valve member from said off-null position back to said null position with selective rotation about said feedback axis.

16. A system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein:
said main valve comprises a second port;
said output member comprises an output piston moveably mounted in an output chamber in fluid communication with said port of said main valve;
said output chamber comprises a first chamber and a second chamber;
said first port is flow connected to said first chamber and said second port is flow connected to said second chamber; and
said output piston is adapted to be moved from said first position to said second position along said output axis as a function of a hydraulic pressure differential between said first chamber and said second chamber.

17. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each of said respective actuators further comprises a bias mechanism configured to bias one or more of said valve member, said drive link and said feedback linkage.

18. The system as set forth in claim 17 , wherein said second link is configured to rotate about a fixed feedback axis and said bias mechanism comprises a first bias element configured to bias said valve member along said main valve axis, a second bias element configured to bias said output member about said feedback axis and a third bias element configured to bias said drive link about said drive axis.

19. The system as set forth in claim 18 , wherein said first bias element comprises a compression spring and said third bias element comprises a torsional spring.

20. A system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said valve member comprises a valve sp

Assignees

• Moog Inc

Inventors

• Kopp John

Classifications

• F15B9/10

  in which the controlling element and the servomotor each controls a separate member, these members influencing different fluid passages or the same passage · CPC title

• F15B11/22 Primary

  Synchronisation of the movement of two or more servomotors · CPC title

• F15B9/16

  Systems essentially having two or more interacting servomotors {, e.g. multi-stage (F15B18/00, F15B20/00 take precedence)} · CPC title

• F15B13/16

  Special measures for feedback {, e.g. by a follow-up device} · CPC title