Hydraulic systems and methods to control a member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10526071-B2
Application number	US-201815952898-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2018
Priority date	Apr 13, 2018
Publication date	Jan 7, 2020
Grant date	Jan 7, 2020

Abstract

The hydraulic system can include a control member that is operatively coupled to a member. The control member can include a hydraulic control member and an integrated inerter. Hydraulic fluid at variable pressures is moved through the hydraulic system by pumps. The hydraulic system can be configured for hydraulic fluid returning from the control member to the first pump to be delivered to the second pump prior to reaching the first pump. A dual-spool valve is positioned between the pumps and the control member to control the flow of the hydraulic fluid. The dual-spool valve is movable to move the hydraulic fluid at variable pressures into and out of first and second chambers of the control member. The dual spool valve can also be configured to operate the control member when a spool is not operational.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system to control a member, the system comprising:
a control device comprising a hydraulic actuator and integrated inerter that is operatively coupled to the member;
a first pump that delivers hydraulic fluid at a first pressure to the control device;
a second pump that delivers hydraulic fluid to the control device at a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure;
a dual spool valve that is positioned between the control device and the first and second pumps, the dual spool valve directs the hydraulic fluid to the control device; and
a return line that extends between the control device and the first pump to deliver the hydraulic fluid from the control device to one of the first pump and the second pump.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the return line further comprises a spare line that extends between the return line and the second pump to deliver the hydraulic fluid that is returning towards the first pump to the second pump prior to reaching the first pump.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a valve positioned upstream from the second pump and movable between a first valve position in which the hydraulic fluid is delivered to the second pump from the first pump and not the spare line and a second valve position in which the hydraulic fluid is delivered to the second pump from the spare line.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inerter comprises:
a first terminal and a second terminal movable relative to one another along an axis to be coupled to a support structure and the member;
a housing;
a piston axially slidable within the housing;
a rod coupled to the piston and movable with the first terminal;
a threaded shaft coupled to and movable with the second terminal;
a flywheel having a flywheel annulus coupled to at least one of the rod and the threaded shaft, the flywheel configured to rotate in proportion to axial acceleration of the rod relative to the threaded shaft in correspondence with actuation of the member by the control device.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the piston divides an interior of the housing between a first chamber and a second chamber, and the dual spool valve directs the hydraulic fluid into and out of the first chamber and the second chamber.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dual spool valve comprises:
a first port to receive hydraulic fluid from one of the first and second pumps;
a second port to discharge hydraulic fluid to the return line;
first and second valve sections each comprising a manifold, a first line fluidly connected to the first port, a second line fluidly connected to the second port, and a third line fluidly connected to the control device and with the manifold of the first valve section being spaced away from the manifold of the second valve section; and
a first spool positioned in the first manifold and a second spool positioned in the second manifold, each of the first and second spools movable to prevent a flow of hydraulic fluid when aligned with one of the first and second lines;
each of the first and second spools independently positionable within the respective first and second manifolds between a first position aligned with just one of the first and second lines, and a second position aligned with just the other of the first and second lines, and with the first and second spools spaced away from the third lines in each of the first and second positions to allow hydraulic fluid to flow into and out of the control device.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein each of the first and second spools comprises a first block and a second block that are spaced apart along a shaft and with the first blocks aligned with one of the first and second lines in the first position and with the second blocks aligned with the other of the first and second lines in the second position and with both the first and second blocks positioned away from the third lines in each of the first and second positions.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein each of the first and second valve sections is a 3-way valve.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dual spool valve comprises:
a first port to receive hydraulic fluid from the second pump;
a second port to discharge hydraulic fluid to the return line;
a third port to receive hydraulic fluid from the first pump;
a first valve section comprising:
a first manifold with a supply port, a return port, and an actuator port;
a first closure line that extends between the third port and the control device; and
a first spool movable within the first manifold between a first position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the first valve section to and from the control device through just the supply port, a second position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the first valve section to and from the control device through just the return port, and a third position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the first valve section to and from the control device through just the first closure line;

a second valve section comprising:
a second manifold with a supply port, a return port, and an actuator port;
a second closure line that extends between the third port and the control device; and
a second spool movable within the second manifold between a first position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the second valve section to and from the control device through just the supply port, a second position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the second valve section to and from the control device through just the return port, and a third position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow through the second valve section to and from the control device through just the second closure line.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first spool comprises a shaft with first and second blocks spaced apart along the shaft, the shaft extending across the first closure line in each of the first and second positions.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the shaft comprises an orifice that aligns with the first closure line in the third position to allow hydraulic fluid to flow along the first closure line and through the orifice to and from the control device.

12. A system to move a member, the system comprising:
a first pump that delivers hydraulic fluid at a first pressure;
a second pump that delivers hydraulic fluid at a second pressure;
a control device comprising an integrated hydraulic actuator and an inerter, the actuator comprising a first chamber and a second chamber, the control device operatively coupled to the member;
a dual spool valve positioned between the first and second pumps and the control device to direct the hydraulic fluid to and from the first and second chambers;
supply lines that deliver the hydraulic fluid from the first and second pumps to the dual spool valve; and
return lines that deliver the hydraulic fluid from the dual spool valve to the first pump and the second pump.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the return lines further comprise a spare line that extends between the return line and the second pump to deliver the hydraulic fluid that is returning towards the first pump to the second pump prior to reaching the first pump.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a valve positioned upstream from the second pump and movable between a first valve position in which the hydraulic fluid is delivered to the second pump from the first pump and a second valve position in which the hydraulic fluid is delivered to the second pump from the spare line.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the inerter comprises:
a first terminal and a sec

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Fox Michael Thomas
• Howell Eric Anton
• Roach Jeffrey M

Classifications

• F15B2211/8757

  using redundant components or assemblies · CPC title

• F15B2211/8636

  Circuit failure, e.g. valve or hose failure · CPC title

• F15B2211/8633

  Pressure source supply failure · CPC title

• F15B2211/8613

  the abnormal condition being oscillations · CPC title

• F15B2211/6309

  the pressure being a pressure source supply pressure · CPC title