Multi-actuation control system with pressure balancing plumbing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10393285-B2
Application number	US-201715722353-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2017
Priority date	Oct 2, 2017
Publication date	Aug 27, 2019
Grant date	Aug 27, 2019

Abstract

A multi-actuation system includes a first electrohydraulic servo valve and a first actuator. A first fluid line fluidically connects the first electrohydraulic servo valve to the first actuator. The multi-actuation system also includes a second electrohydraulic servo valve and a second actuator. A second fluid line fluidically connects the second electrohydraulic servo valve to the second actuator. A ring fluidically connects the first fluid line with the second fluid line.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A multi-actuation system comprising:
a first electrohydraulic servo valve;
a first actuator;
a first fluid line fluidically connecting the first electrohydraulic servo valve to the first actuator;
a second electrohydraulic servo valve;
a second actuator;
a second fluid line fluidically connecting the second electrohydraulic servo valve to the second actuator; and
a ring fluidically connecting the first fluid line with the second fluid line.

2. The multi-actuation system of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator both comprise hydraulic pistons with each hydraulic piston comprising an extend side opposite a retract side.

3. The multi-actuation system of claim 2 , wherein the first fluid line fluidically connects the first electrohydraulic servo valve to the extend side of the first actuator.

4. The multi-actuation system of claim 3 , wherein the second fluid line fluidically connects the second electrohydraulic servo valve to the extend side of the second actuator.

5. The multi-actuation system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a third fluid line fluidically connecting the first electrohydraulic servo valve to the retract side of the first actuator; and
a fourth fluid line fluidically connecting the second electrohydraulic servo valve to the retract side of the second actuator.

6. The multi-actuation system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a second ring fluidically connecting the third fluid line with the fourth fluid line;
a first flow restrictor disposed inside the first ring; and
a second flow restrictor disposed inside the second ring,
wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the first ring at the first flow restrictor is smaller than a minimum cross-sectional flow area of the first fluid line and the second fluid line, and
wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the second ring at the second flow restrictor is smaller than a minimum cross-sectional flow area of the third fluid line and the fourth fluid line.

7. A gas turbine engine comprising:
a plurality of actuation assemblies circumferentially spaced from one another about a centerline of the gas turbine engine, wherein each of the actuation assemblies comprises:
an electrohydraulic servo valve;
an actuator; and
a fluid line fluidically connecting the electrohydraulic servo valve to the actuator; and

a ring fluidically connecting the fluid lines of the actuation assemblies together.

8. The gas turbine engine of claim 7 , wherein each actuator in the plurality of actuation assemblies comprises a hydraulic piston with an extend side opposite a retract side.

9. The gas turbine engine of claim 8 , wherein the fluid line in each of the actuation assemblies fluidically connects the electrohydraulic servo valve to the extend side of the actuator.

10. The gas turbine engine of claim 9 , wherein each of the actuation assemblies further comprises:
a second fluid line fluidically connecting the electrohydraulic servo valve to the retract side of the actuator.

11. The gas turbine engine of claim 10 , further comprising:
a second ring fluidically connecting the second fluid lines of the actuation assemblies together.

12. The gas turbine engine of claim 11 , wherein the ring circumferentially extends completely around the centerline of the gas turbine engine in a complete loop.

13. The gas turbine engine of claim 11 , wherein the second ring circumferentially extends completely around the centerline of the gas turbine engine in a complete loop.

14. The gas turbine engine of claim 7 further comprising:
an effector connected to the plurality of actuation assemblies and configured to be translated by the plurality of actuation assemblies to modify a gas flow within the gas turbine engine.

15. The gas turbine engine of claim 14 , wherein the effector is selected from the group consisting of variable area nozzles, flow reversers, and flow diverters.

16. A multi-actuation system comprising:
a first electrohydraulic servo valve;
a first actuator, wherein the first actuator comprises an extend side and a retract side;
a first extend line fluidically connecting the first electrohydraulic servo valve to the extend side of the first actuator;
a first retract line fluidically connecting the first electrohydraulic servo valve to the retract side of the first actuator;
a second electrohydraulic servo valve;
a second actuator; wherein the second actuator comprises an extend side and a retract side;
a second extend line fluidically connecting the second electrohydraulic servo valve to the extend side of the second actuator;
a second retract line fluidically connecting the second electrohydraulic servo valve to the retract side of the second actuator; and
a first ring fluidically connecting the first extend line with the second extend line.

17. The multi-actuation system of claim 16 further comprising:
a second ring fluidically connecting the first retract line with the second retract line.

18. The multi-actuation system of claim 17 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator comprise a hydraulic piston.

19. The multi-actuation system of claim 17 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are disposed on an annular case and are circumferentially spaced apart from one another.

20. The multi-actuation system of claim 19 , wherein the first ring and the second ring are disposed on or within the case, and extend the full circumference of the case.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Amari Martin Richard
• Berry James K
• Blackwell Geoffrey T
• He Xiao D

Classifications

• F15B2211/782

  Concurrent control, e.g. synchronisation of two or more actuators · CPC title

• F15B2211/41545

  being connected to multiple output members · CPC title

• F15B2211/40507

  with constant throttles or orifices · CPC title

• F15B2211/3059

  having multiple valves for multiple output members · CPC title

• F15B11/22

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