Dual Motor Dual Concentric Servo Valve Force Fight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft actuator control systems with direct mechanical linkages require significant pilot force, leading to potential loss of control, and tandem dual concentric servo valves (DCSV) suffer from 'force fights' due to uneven loading of multiple pistons, which are difficult to manage without additional hardware like solenoid valves and pressure sensors.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a tandem DCSV coupled with at least one torque motor to drive the spools, enabling closed-loop control to reduce or eliminate force fights and provide scalable redundancy, allowing for efficient and reliable control without traditional redundant components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If direct mechanical linkages are used between input devices and output devices, then the system structure is simple, but significant forces are required on the input device which may cause pilot loss of control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct mechanical linkages with an electro-hydraulic actuator system. The motor-driven spool valve controls hydraulic fluid flow to actuate the output device, substituting mechanical force transmission with an electrical-mechanical-hydraulic system that requires minimal pilot input force while maintaining structural efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydraulic actuator system where a motor-driven spool valve regulates hydraulic fluid flow to control the output device. This hydraulic mechanism provides force multiplication, allowing small pilot inputs to generate large output forces without requiring direct mechanical linkages.
2Force
If tandem dual concentric servo valves are used to reduce pilot force requirements, then force control is improved, but force fights occur due to uneven loading of multiple pistons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sensors that detect the position and state of the spool valve and hydraulic system, feeding this information back to a control system. This closed-loop feedback mechanism continuously monitors and adjusts the motor-driven spool valve to maintain balanced loading on multiple pistons, preventing force fights and ensuring stable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a static mechanical linkage system to a dynamic electro-hydraulic system with active control. The motor-driven spool valve can dynamically adjust hydraulic flow distribution in real-time, allowing the system to adapt to varying load conditions and maintain force balance on multiple pistons during operation.
3Reliability
If additional hardware like solenoid valves and pressure sensors are added to manage force fights, then force fight stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-functional motor-driven spool valve assembly that integrates flow control, position sensing, and active balancing capabilities in a single integrated component. This universal component performs multiple functions that would traditionally require separate solenoid valves, pressure sensors, and control mechanisms, thereby maintaining force fight stability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a self-regulating control system where the motor-driven spool valve automatically adjusts hydraulic flow distribution based on real-time system conditions detected by integrated sensors. The system monitors and corrects imbalances between multiple pistons autonomously without requiring additional external control hardware or complex mechanical balancing mechanisms.
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 precise control of actuator systems in fly-by-wire flight control systems, reducing force fights and enhancing reliability by using motor-driven spools with LVDT and RVDT sensors for displacement monitoring, allowing for modular redundancy and improved pilot control without additional hardware.
Implementation Method 1
at least one motor coupled to the tandem DCSV to drive the spools of the DCSV
Implementation Method 2
a fluid path is created between a fluid pressure source and the faces of a piston of the actuator, thereby producing a differential pressure across the piston faces
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator control system has a dual concentric servo valve having a spool and at least one motor adapted to selectively displace the spool.