High-precision hydraulic actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10156245-B2
Application number	US-201615050046-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2016
Priority date	Feb 22, 2016
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus includes a drive mechanism, a first cylinder comprising a first piston coupled to the drive mechanism, and a second cylinder comprising a second piston. The first cylinder includes a first fluid reservoir and a second fluid reservoir, with the first piston disposed between the first fluid reservoir and the second fluid reservoir. The second cylinder includes a third fluid reservoir and a fourth fluid reservoir, with the second piston disposed between the third fluid reservoir and the fourth fluid reservoir. The apparatus further includes a first fluid line coupling the first fluid reservoir to the fourth fluid reservoir, and a second fluid line coupling the second fluid reservoir to the third fluid reservoir. The first piston comprises a threaded portion disposed in a threaded aperture of the first cylinder.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a drive mechanism being one of a hex drive, a threaded bolt, and an adjustable screw;
a first cylinder comprising a first piston coupled to the drive mechanism, the first cylinder comprising a first fluid reservoir and a second fluid reservoir, the first piston being disposed between the first fluid reservoir and the second fluid reservoir;
a second cylinder comprising a second piston, the second cylinder comprising a third fluid reservoir and a fourth fluid reservoir, the second piston being disposed between the third fluid reservoir and the fourth fluid reservoir;
a first fluid line coupling the first fluid reservoir to the fourth fluid reservoir;
a second fluid line coupling the second fluid reservoir to the third fluid reservoir; and
one or more of a release valve configured to remove air from the fluid lines a fill port configured to add hydraulic fluid to the fluid lines, and a circuit control valve configured to selectively allow fluid to flow from the fill port into the fluid lines;
wherein:
the first piston comprises a threaded portion disposed in a threaded aperture of the first cylinder, the threaded portion comprising approximately 28 threads per inch;
a sum of a volume of the first reservoir, the first fluid line, and the fourth reservoir is approximately equal to a sum of a volume of the second reservoir, the second fluid line, and the third reservoir; and
a diameter of the first cylinder is less than a diameter of the second cylinder; and
wherein the first piston is manually-rotatable by the drive mechanism.

2. A system, comprising:
an apparatus comprising:
a drive mechanism being one of a hex drive, a threaded bolt, and an adjustable screw;
a first cylinder comprising a first piston coupled to the drive mechanism, the first cylinder comprising a first fluid reservoir and a second fluid reservoir, the first piston being disposed between the first fluid reservoir and the second fluid reservoir;
a second cylinder comprising a second piston, the second cylinder comprising a third fluid reservoir and a fourth fluid reservoir, the second piston being disposed between the third fluid reservoir and the fourth fluid reservoir;
a first fluid line coupling the first fluid reservoir to the fourth fluid reservoir; and
a second fluid line coupling the second fluid reservoir to the third fluid reservoir;
wherein the first piston comprises a threaded portion disposed in a threaded aperture of the first cylinder;

a shaft coupled to the second piston;
a mechanical attachment coupled to the shaft; and
wherein the first piston is manually-rotatable by the drive mechanism.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein a sum of a volume of the first reservoir, the first fluid line, and the fourth reservoir is approximately equal to a sum of a volume of the second reservoir, the second fluid line, and the third reservoir.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein a diameter of the first cylinder is less than a diameter of the second cylinder.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the threaded portion of the first piston comprises approximately 28 threads per inch.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first cylinder and the second cylinder are disposed within a housing.

7. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first cylinder and the second cylinder are disposed within separate housings.

8. The system of claim 2 , further comprising one or more of a release valve configured to remove air from the fluid lines, a fill port configured to add hydraulic fluid to the fluid lines, and a circuit control valve configured to selectively allow fluid to flow from the fill port into the fluid lines.

9. The system of claim 2 , wherein the second cylinder further comprises an inner bore.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the shaft coupled to the second piston is disposed within the inner bore.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
one or more sensors coupled to the inner bore; and
a computer system coupled to the one or more sensors, the computer system comprising a memory and a processor, the memory comprising instructions and the processor configured, when executing the instructions, to record one or more measurements from the one or more sensors.

12. An apparatus, comprising:
a drive mechanism being one of a hex drive, a threaded bolt, and an adjustable screw;
a first cylinder comprising a first piston coupled to the drive mechanism, the first cylinder comprising a first fluid reservoir and a second fluid reservoir, the first piston being disposed between the first fluid reservoir and the second fluid reservoir;
a second cylinder comprising a second piston, the second cylinder comprising a third fluid reservoir and a fourth fluid reservoir, the second piston being disposed between the third fluid reservoir and the fourth fluid reservoir;
a first fluid line coupling the first fluid reservoir to the fourth fluid reservoir; and
a second fluid line coupling the second fluid reservoir to the third fluid reservoir;
wherein the first piston comprises a threaded portion disposed in a threaded aperture of the first cylinder; and
wherein the first piston is manually-rotatable by the drive mechanism.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a sum of a volume of the first reservoir, the first fluid line, and the third reservoir is approximately equal to a sum of a volume of the second reservoir, the second fluid line, and the fourth reservoir.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a diameter of the first cylinder is less than a diameter of the second cylinder.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the threaded portion of the first piston comprises approximately 28 threads per inch.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the second cylinder further comprises an inner bore.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first cylinder and the second cylinder are disposed within a housing.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first cylinder and the second cylinder are disposed within separate housings.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising one or more of a release valve configured to remove air from the fluid lines, a fill port configured to add hydraulic fluid to the fluid lines, and a circuit control valve configured to selectively allow fluid to flow from the fill port into the fluid lines.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:
one or more sensors coupled to the inner bore; and
a computer system coupled to the one or more sensors, the computer system comprising a memory and a processor, the memory comprising instructions and the processor configured, when executing the instructions, to record one or more measurements from the one or more sensors.

Assignees

• Lockheed Corp

Inventors

• Luepke Richard A
• Mann Anthony R

Classifications

• F15B7/005 Primary

  With rotary or crank input · CPC title

• F16H25/20

  Screw mechanisms (with automatic reversal F16H25/12) · CPC title

• F15B2015/1495

  with screw mechanism attached to the piston · CPC title

• F15B15/149

  Fluid interconnections, e.g. fluid connectors, passages · CPC title

• F15B11/10 Primary

  in which the servomotor position is a function of the pressure {also pressure regulators as operating means for such systems, the device itself may be a position indicating system} · CPC title