Solenoid driven actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12228151-B2
Application number	US-202117450800-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 13, 2021
Priority date	Oct 13, 2021
Publication date	Feb 18, 2025
Grant date	Feb 18, 2025

Abstract

A method of controlling an actuator includes switching a primary solenoid valve to a first mode to fluidically connect a supply pressure source to a control chamber of a pilot valve. A fluid from the supply pressure source is directed through the primary solenoid valve to fill the control chamber of the pilot valve and put the pilot valve in a first position. The first position fluidically connects a second chamber of the actuator to a return pressure source. The actuator includes a cylinder between the first chamber and the second chamber and a rod attached to the cylinder. The fluid from the supply pressure source is directed into the first chamber of the actuator to move the cylinder and the rod in a first direction while the pilot valve is in the first position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
an actuator comprising:
an actuator housing;
a first chamber within the actuator housing fluidically;
a second chamber within the actuator housing;
a cylinder within the housing and between the first chamber and the second chamber; and
a rod attached to the cylinder;

a supply pressure source;
a return pressure source;
a pilot valve comprising:
a pilot valve housing;
a supply port fluidically connected to the supply pressure source;
a return port fluidically connected to the return pressure source;
a first actuator port fluidically connected to the first chamber of the actuator;
a second actuator port fluidically connected to the second chamber of the actuator;
a valve block within the pilot valve housing, wherein the valve block comprises:
a first window fluidically connecting the supply port and the first actuator port when the pilot valve is in a first position;
a second window fluidically connecting the return port and the second actuator port when the pilot valve is in the first position;
a third window fluidically connecting the supply port and the second actuator port when the pilot valve is in a second position; and
a fourth window fluidically connecting the return port and the second actuator port when the pilot valve is in the second position;

a control chamber within the pilot valve housing;
a spring chamber within the pilot valve housing, wherein the valve block is between the control chamber and the spring chamber, and wherein the spring chamber is fluidically connected directly to the return pressure source; and
a spring within the spring chamber;

a selector valve comprising:
a selector valve housing:
a first port;
a second port; and
a third port fluidically connected to the control chamber of the pilot valve;
a primary chamber within the selector valve housing;
a secondary chamber within the selector valve housing;
a selector valve block within the selector valve housing and between the primary chamber and the secondary chamber; and
a second spring within the primary chamber;

a primary solenoid valve comprising:
a first port fluidically connected to the supply pressure source;
a second port fluidically connected to both the first port of the selector valve and to the primary chamber of the selector valve; and
a third port fluidically connected to the return pressure source; and

a secondary solenoid valve, wherein the secondary solenoid valve comprises:
a first port fluidically connected to the supply pressure source;
a second port fluidically connected to both the second port of the selector valve and to the secondary chamber of the selector valve; and
a third port fluidically connected to return pressure source.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the primary solenoid valve further comprises:
a first mode, wherein the primary solenoid valve fluidically connects the first port of the primary solenoid valve and the second port of the primary solenoid valve in the first mode; and
a second mode, wherein the primary solenoid valve fluidically connects the second port of the primary solenoid valve and the third port of the primary solenoid valve in the second mode; and
wherein the second mode of the primary solenoid valve is a fail-safe position of the primary solenoid valve.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the spring within the spring chamber biases the valve block of the pilot valve in the second position.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first mode the primary solenoid valve fluidically connects the supply pressure source and the control chamber of the pilot valve to move the valve block of the pilot valve into the first position, and wherein when in the second mode the primary solenoid valve fluidically connects the return pressure source and the control chamber of the pilot valve to move the valve block of the pilot valve into the second position.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the secondary solenoid valve further comprises:
a first mode, wherein the secondary solenoid valve fluidically connects the first port of the secondary solenoid valve and the second port of the secondary solenoid valve when in the first mode of the secondary solenoid valve; and
a second mode, wherein the secondary solenoid valve fluidically connects the second port of the secondary solenoid valve and the third port of the secondary solenoid valve when in the second mode of the secondary solenoid valve.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the selector valve block comprises:
a first passage;
a second passage;
a primary position within the selector valve housing; and
a secondary position within the selector valve housing,
wherein, in the primary position of the selector valve block, the first passage fluidically connects the second port of the primary solenoid valve to the third port of the selector valve and to the control chamber of the pilot valve and the secondary solenoid valve is fluidically shut-off to the control chamber of the pilot valve, and
wherein, in the secondary position of the selector valve block, the second passage fluidically connects the second port of the secondary solenoid valve to the third port of the selector valve and to the control chamber of the pilot valve and the primary solenoid valve is fluidically shut-off to the control chamber of the pilot valve.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the second port of the primary solenoid valve is fluidically connected to the primary chamber of the selector valve via a primary control line, wherein, in the first mode of the primary solenoid valve, the primary solenoid valve fluidically connects the primary chamber of the selector valve to the supply pressure source to maintain the valve block of the selector valve in the primary position and fluidically connect the control chamber of the pilot valve to the supply pressure source to put the pilot valve into the first position, and wherein, in the second mode of the primary solenoid valve, the primary solenoid valve fluidically connects the control chamber of the pilot valve, the primary control line, and the primary chamber to the return pressure source, the second spring biases and maintains the selector valve block in the primary position, and the pilot valve moves to the second position of the pilot valve.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the second port of the secondary solenoid valve is fluidically connected to the secondary chamber of the selector valve via a secondary control line, wherein, in the first mode of the secondary solenoid valve, the secondary solenoid valve fluidically connects the secondary chamber of the selector valve to the supply pressure source to put the selector valve block in the secondary position and fluidically connect the supply pressure source to the control chamber of the pilot valve and move the pilot valve into the first position, and wherein, in the second mode of the secondary solenoid valve, the secondary solenoid valve fluidically connects the secondary chamber of the selector valve to the return pressure source to depressurize the secondary chamber and move the selector valve block back to the first position of the selector valve to move the pilot valve into the second position of the pilot valve.

9. A method of controlling an actuator, wherein the method comprises:
switching a primary solenoid valve to a first mode to fluidically connect a supply pressure source to a primary chamber of a selector valve and a first port of the selector valve, and wherein a selector valve spring is in the primary chamber of the selector valve and biases the selector valve to a primary position that fluidically connects the first port of the selector valve to a third port of the

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Susca Ryan
• O'Rorke Morgan
• Haugsjaahabink Todd

Classifications

• F16K11/07

  with cylindrical slides · CPC title

• F15B13/044

  operated by electrically-controlled means, e.g. solenoids, torque-motors · CPC title

• F15B13/0431

  the electrical control resulting in an on-off function · CPC title

• F15B13/043

  with electrically-controlled pilot valves · CPC title

• F02C9/00

  Controlling gas-turbine plants; Controlling fuel supply in air- breathing jet-propulsion plants (controlling air intakes F02C7/057; controlling turbines F01D; controlling compressors F04D27/00; controlling in general G05) · CPC title