Electric boost actuation system for translating rings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10502159-B2
Application number	US-201414503892-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2014
Priority date	Oct 1, 2014
Publication date	Dec 10, 2019
Grant date	Dec 10, 2019

Abstract

An actuation system for a gas turbine engine oriented about a centerline includes a translating ring, at least one hydraulic actuator, and at least one electric actuator. The translating ring is oriented about the centerline and configured to move axially along the centerline. The at least one hydraulic actuator is configured to provide a first mechanical force to move the translating ring along the centerline. The at least one electric actuator is configured to provide a second mechanical force to move the translating ring in the axial direction. The at least one electric actuator is controlled to provide the second mechanical force upon determination of an operating condition.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An actuation system for a gas turbine engine oriented about a centerline, the actuation system comprising:
a translating ring oriented about the centerline and configured to move axially along the centerline;
at least one hydraulic actuator configured to provide a first mechanical force at a first location about the translating ring to axially move the translating ring along the centerline; and
at least one electric actuator physically separate from the at least one hydraulic actuator and configured to provide a second mechanical force at a second location about the translating ring to axially move the translating ring, wherein the at least one electric actuator is controlled to provide the second mechanical force upon determination of an operating condition and wherein the first location and the second location are spaced apart by a distance along a circumference of the translating ring, and at a common axial location along the centerline.

2. The actuation system of claim 1 , wherein the translating ring is configured to adjust a nozzle of the gas turbine engine.

3. The actuation system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electric actuator is an electromechanical actuator comprising a motor and a ball screw.

4. The actuation system of claim 3 , wherein the motor is powered by a permanent magnet alternator of the gas turbine engine, and wherein the motor translates the ball screw to apply the second mechanical force to the translating ring.

5. The actuation system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electric actuator has a stroke length of one-half a length of a stroke of the at least one hydraulic actuator.

6. The actuation system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electric actuator is a piezoelectric actuator.

7. The actuation system of claim 6 , wherein the piezoelectric actuator comprises: a piezo stack configured to receive a voltage from a controller; at least one spring configured to expand as the piezo stack expands or compresses in response to the voltage from the controller; and a piston configured to exert the second mechanical force on the translating ring as the at least one spring expands.

8. The actuation system of claim 1 , wherein the operating condition is g-loading of the gas turbine engine.

9. A method of actuating a translating ring of a gas turbine engine, wherein the translating ring is oriented about a centerline, the method comprising:
applying a first mechanical force at a first location about the translating ring, using at least one hydraulic actuator, to translate the ring in an axial direction;
sampling, using a controller, at least one sensed engine condition;
determining, using the controller, an operating condition of the gas turbine engine based upon the at least one sensed engine condition; and
applying a second mechanical force at a second location about the translating ring, using at least one electric actuator physically separate and circumferentially offset from the at least one hydraulic actuator about the centerline, to translate the ring in the axial direction based upon the operating condition of the gas turbine engine and wherein the first location and the second location are spaced apart by a distance along a circumference of the translating ring and at a common axial location along the centerline.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein applying the second mechanical force, using the at least one electric actuator, comprises applying the second mechanical force, using at least one electromechanical actuator, to translate the ring in the axial direction.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the applying the second mechanical force, using the at least one electromechanical actuator comprises:
powering, using a permanent magnet alternator, a motor of the electromechanical actuator;
translating, using the motor, a ball screw of the electromechanical actuator; and
applying the second mechanical force, using the ball screw.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein applying the second mechanical force, using the at least one electric actuator, comprises applying the second mechanical force, using at least one piezoelectric actuator, to translate the ring in the axial direction.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein applying the second mechanical force, using the at least one piezoelectric actuator comprises:
powering, using a permanent magnet alternator, the piezoelectric actuator;
controlling, using the controller, a voltage applied to a piezo stack of the piezoelectric actuator;
translating a piston of the piezoelectric actuator based upon compression or expansion of the piezo stack; and
applying the second mechanical force to the translating ring using the piston.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein sampling, using the controller, the at least one sensed engine condition comprises monitoring current to a current drive configured to control operation of the at least one hydraulic actuator.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein determining, using the controller, an operating condition comprises determining, using the controller, g-loading of the gas turbine engine.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Rhoden William E

Classifications

• F05D2260/406

  through hydraulic systems · CPC title

• F05D2250/34

  translated · CPC title

• F02K1/18 Primary

  automatic · CPC title

• F02K1/09

  by axially moving an external member, e.g. a shroud (F02K1/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F05D2260/407

  through piezoelectric conversion · CPC title