Aircraft Actuator System Using Hydromechanical Spool Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft actuator systems face challenges in achieving predictable movement of control-surface components across varying operating conditions without incurring excessive weight and size penalties.
Innovation Solution
The actuator system employs a valve assembly with concentric spools, where the inner spool is directly driven by a motor converting current into mechanical movement, and the outer spool is hydromechanically moved, utilizing sensed position data to regulate current for precise control, thereby avoiding direct amplification and minimizing weight and size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional actuator systems use larger components or additional mechanisms to achieve predictable movement across varying operating conditions, then reliability and performance consistency improve, but weight and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback through position sensors that detect the actual position of control surfaces and feed this information back to the flight control computer. The computer compares sensed position data with commanded position data and adjusts motor current accordingly, enabling consistent and predictable actuator performance across varying operating conditions without requiring excessive weight or size in the actuator components themselves.
2Reliability
If conventional actuator systems use larger components or additional mechanisms to achieve predictable movement across varying operating conditions, then reliability and performance consistency improve, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback through position sensors that detect the actual position of control surfaces and feed this information back to the flight control computer. The computer compares sensed position data with commanded position data and adjusts motor current accordingly, enabling consistent and predictable actuator performance across varying operating conditions without requiring excessive weight or size in the actuator components themselves.
3Measurement precision
If direct drive assembly is controlled by sensed position data to regulate current, then control precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system receives feedback from position sensors and uses this information to regulate motor current through the flight control computer. The computer compares sensed position data with commanded position data and adjusts current accordingly, achieving precise control while keeping the actuator hardware itself relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The flight control computer serves as an intermediary between the position sensors and the motor drive assembly. It processes the feedback information and generates appropriate control signals, decoupling the sensing and actuation functions while enabling precise control through software-based regulation rather than complex hardware circuits.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables consistent and dependable performance of the actuator system across diverse operating conditions, ensuring accurate control-surface movement without the need for excessive weight or size, by using a direct drive assembly controlled by sensed position data for precise fluid flow management.
Implementation Method 1
an inner spool being directly driven by a motor that converts current input into mechanical movement
Implementation Method 2
The outer (larger) spool is not directly driven, but instead is hydromechanically caused to move upon movement of the inner spool
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator system (14) comprising a valve assembly (40) having an inner spool (50), an outer spool (60), and a sleeve (70). An assembly (80) directly drives the inner spool (50) to move it relative to the outer spool (60), and thereby hydromechanically causes the outer spool (60) to move relative to the sleeve (70). A control assembly (90) provides current input to the drive assembly (80), which converts current input into mechanical motion. The control assembly (90) senses the position of the inner spool (50) and regulates current in accordance with the sensed position.