Modular fluid actuator system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11111932-B2
Application number	US-201615762931-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 23, 2016
Priority date	Sep 24, 2015
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

A modular fluid actuator system is provided for generating a relative motion between a first fluid transfer chamber of a first module unit and a piston rod arrangement in an axial direction.The modular fluid actuator system comprises a fluid supply, a valve device coupled to the fluid supply and to the first fluid transfer chamber, a control unit coupled to the valve device for controlling the relative motion between the first fluid transfer chamber and the piston rod arrangement, the first fluid transfer chamber is coupled to a first sleeve portion exhibiting a first expandable hollow space arranged for fluid communication with the valve device via the first fluid transfer chamber.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A modular fluid actuator system provided for generating a relative motion between a first fluid transfer chamber of a first module unit and a piston rod arrangement in an axial direction, the modular fluid actuator system comprises:
a fluid supply;
a valve device coupled to the fluid supply and to the first fluid transfer chamber; a control unit coupled to the valve device for controlling the relative motion between the first fluid transfer chamber and the piston rod arrangement;
the first fluid transfer chamber is coupled to a first sleeve portion of the first module unit exhibiting a first expandable hollow space which is coupled to and arranged for fluid communication with the valve device via the first fluid transfer chamber;
the first expandable hollow space is arranged to provide a clamping action of the first sleeve portion to the piston rod arrangement when the first expandable hollow space is pressurized by means of said fluid communications;
an expandable wall portion of the first sleeve portion is arranged adjacent around and coaxial with the piston rod arrangement;
a second module unit comprising a second sleeve portion dividing an interior of a first cylinder housing of the second module unit into a first and second cylinder chamber, wherein a second expandable hollow space of the second sleeve portion is arranged for fluid communication with the fluid supply via a second fluid transfer chamber coupled to the second expandable hollow space and positioned exterior of said first cylinder housing;
an expandable wall portion of the second sleeve portion is arranged adjacent around and coaxial with the piston rod arrangement;
the first fluid transfer chamber comprises a first external fluid inlet port and the second fluid transfer chamber comprises a second external fluid inlet port;
the first external fluid inlet port is coupled to the fluid supply via the valve device which in turn is coupled to the control unit for controlling and providing a static clamping functionality in a first mode for operation of the system; and
the first module unit is configured to act as a brake module unit of the modular fluid actuator system,
wherein the second external fluid inlet port is coupled to the fluid supply via a first separate valve element which in turn is coupled to the control unit for controlling and providing a stepwise dynamic clamping functionality in a second mode for operation of the system.

2. The modular fluid actuator system according to claim 1 , wherein the first fluid transfer chamber is formed by a first fluid connection body or formed by a first cylinder housing.

3. The modular fluid actuator system according to claim 2 , wherein the first sleeve portion comprises a first piston portion having a first piston face, the first piston portion is movable arranged in said axial direction within the first cylinder housing.

4. The modular fluid actuator system according to claim 3 , wherein the first sleeve portion and the first piston portion integrally constitute a first piston body.

5. The modular fluid actuator system according to claim 3 , wherein the first piston portion divides the interior of the first cylinder housing into the first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber, the first expandable hollow space is arranged for fluid communication with the fluid supply via the second cylinder chamber.

6. The modular fluid actuator system according to claim 1 , wherein an outer envelope surface of the first sleeve portion comprises a coupling member arranged for mounting of a first fluid connection body or a first piston portion to the first sleeve portion.

7. The modular fluid actuator system according to claim 6 , wherein the coupling member comprises an orifice of a channel system arranged for fluid communication with the expandable hollow space, the orifice being arranged for coupling to an opening of the first fluid connection body or to an orifice of a channel system of said first piston portion.

8. The modular fluid actuator system according to claim 1 , wherein said modular fluid actuator system being made up of individual module units coupled to each other in line axially.

9. The modular fluid actuator system according to claim 1 , wherein the modular fluid actuator system further comprises a third module unit comprising a third sleeve portion dividing the interior of a third cylinder housing into a fifth cylinder chamber and a sixth cylinder chamber, a third expandable hollow space of the third second sleeve portion is arranged for fluid communication with the fluid supply via at least one of the fifth and sixth cylinder chamber.

10. The modular fluid actuator system according to claim 1 , wherein the modular fluid actuator system further comprises a fourth module unit comprising a fourth sleeve portion dividing the interior of a fourth cylinder housing into a seventh cylinder chamber and an eight eighth cylinder chamber, a fourth expandable hollow space of the fourth sleeve portion is arranged for fluid communication with the fluid supply via at least one of the seventh and eight eighth cylinder chamber.

11. The modular fluid actuator system according to claim 1 , wherein at least the first cylinder housing comprises a fitting member and a mounting member being formed so as to be disposed positioning the first cylinder housing in a predetermined position relative the piston rod arrangement.

12. The modular fluid actuator system according to claim 1 , wherein at least two module units comprise a fitting member and a mounting member being formed so as to be disposed joining the module units and interconnecting the fitting members of the respective module unit.

13. The modular fluid actuator system according to claim 12 , wherein an axial force acting between at least the two module units is taken through the fitting member and the mounting member.

14. The modular fluid actuator system according to claim 12 , wherein the mounting member is arranged at a distance from at least the first sleeve portion in transverse direction and extends in the axial direction.

15. The modular fluid actuator system according to claim 12 , wherein the mounting member comprises a tie rod assembly interconnecting the module units.

16. The modular fluid actuator system according to claim 12 , wherein the mounting member comprises an interface hollow pipe.

17. The modular fluid actuator system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is provided for controlling the relative motion by pressurizing the first expandable hollow space with a second pressure for disengagement of the first module unit from a piston rod arrangement.

18. The modular fluid actuator system according to claim 1 , wherein the second sleeve portion comprises a first piston portion comprising a respective first and second piston face, wherein the first piston portion and a middle section of the second sleeve portion are fixedly mounted to each other and are movable arranged in said axial direction within the first cylinder housing.

19. The modular fluid actuator system according to claim 1 , wherein the first cylinder chamber and the second cylinder chamber are coupled to the fluid supply via a first valve member which in turn is coupled to the control unit for controlling and providing a stepwise dynamic clamping functionality in a second mode for operation of the system and providing a reciprocating motion of the first piston portion in the axial direction.

20. The modular fluid actuator system according to clai

Assignees

• Saab Ab

Inventors

• Landberg Magnus

Classifications

• F15B2015/268

  Fluid supply for locking or release independent of actuator pressurisation · CPC title

• F15B15/262

  using friction, e.g. brake pads · CPC title

• F15B11/036

  by means of servomotors having a plurality of working chambers · CPC title

• F15B15/148

  Lost-motion means between the piston and the output · CPC title

• F15B2211/715

  having braking means · CPC title