Regenerative integrated actuation system and associated method

• US 20090157234A1
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Breit, Joseph S., Lorhammer, Kurt M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,335,600 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/50 using electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2221/00 Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft

Abstract

A regenerative integrated actuation system and method are provided to efficiently supply power to a plurality of actuators and to make efficient use of power regenerated by the actuators. The system may include a plurality of actuators in communication with a power distribution system. Each actuator may include an energy storage element. The system may also include a controller for determining if a respective actuator is in a consumption mode or a regenerative mode. If in the consumption mode, the controller may determine whether the respective actuator should draw power from an energy storage element or from the power distribution system. Conversely, if in the regenerative mode, the controller may determine whether any excess power from the respective actuator should be provided to one of the actuators, such as to another actuator which is in the consumption mode or to the energy storage element associated with the respective actuator.

Claims

1. A regenerative integrated actuation system comprising:

a plurality of actuators in communication with a power distribution system, each actuator including an energy storage element associated therewith; and

a controller for determining if a respective actuator is in a consumption mode or a regenerative mode, wherein, if the controller determines the respective actuator to be in a consumption mode, the controller is configured to determine whether the respective actuator should draw power from one of the plurality of actuators or from the power distribution system, and wherein, if the controller determines the respective actuator to be in a regenerative mode, the controller is configured to determine whether any excess power from the respective actuator should be provided to one of the plurality of actuators.

2. A regenerative integrated actuation system according to claim 1 wherein, if the controller determines the respective actuator to be in a regenerative mode, the controller is configured to determine whether any excess power from the respective actuator should be provided to another actuator which is in the consumption mode or should be stored by the energy storage element associated with the respective actuator.

3. A regenerative integrated actuation system according to claim 2 further comprising a power trap disposed between the plurality of actuators and the power distribution system, wherein, if the controller determines the respective actuator to be in a regenerative mode, the controller is further configured to determine whether any excess power from the respective actuator should be provided to the power trap.

4. A regenerative integrated actuation system according to claim 3, wherein, if the controller determines the respective actuator to be in a regenerative mode, the controller is further configured to determine that any excess power from the respective actuator should be provided to the power trap only if no other actuator is in the consumption mode and the energy storage element associated with the respective actuator is unable to store additional power.

5. A regenerative integrated actuation system according to claim 2, wherein if the controller determines the respective actuator to be in a regenerative mode, the controller is further configured to determine that any excess power from the respective actuator should be stored by the energy storage element associated with the respective actuator only if no other actuator is in the consumption mode.

6. A regenerative integrated actuation system according to claim 1 wherein, if the controller determines the respective actuator to be in a consumption mode, the controller is further configured to determine whether the respective actuator should draw power from the energy storage element associated therewith, from another actuator that is in a regenerative mode or from the power distribution system.

7. A regenerative integrated actuation system according to claim 6, wherein, if the controller determines the respective actuator to be in a consumption mode, the controller is further configured to determine that the respective actuator should draw power from another actuator only if the energy storage element associated with the respective actuator is without power.

8. A regenerative integrated actuation system according to claim 7, wherein, if the controller determines the respective actuator to be in a consumption mode, the controller is further configured to determine that the respective actuator should draw power from the power distribution system only if the energy storage element associated with the respective actuator is without power and if no other actuator is in a regenerative mode.

9. An air vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body including a plurality of flight control surfaces;

a power distribution system extending through at least a portion of the vehicle body;

a plurality of actuators in communication with a power distribution system, each actuator including an energy storage element associated therewith; and

a controller for determining if a respective actuator is in a consumption mode or a regenerative mode, wherein, if the controller determines the respective actuator to be in a consumption mode, the controller is configured to determine whether the respective actuator should draw power from one of the plurality of actuators or from the power distribution system, and wherein, if the controller determines the respective actuator to be in a regenerative mode, the controller is configured to determine whether any excess power from the respective actuator should be provided to one of the plurality of actuators.

10. An air vehicle according to claim 9 wherein, if the controller determines the respective actuator to be in a regenerative mode, the controller is configured to determine whether any excess power from the respective actuator should be provided to another actuator which is in the consumption mode or should be stored by the energy storage element associated with the respective actuator.

11. An air vehicle according to claim 10 further comprising a power trap disposed between the plurality of actuators and the power distribution system, wherein, if the controller determines the respective actuator to be in a regenerative mode, the controller is further configured to determine whether any excess power from the respective actuator should be provided to the power trap.

12. An air vehicle according to claim 9 wherein, if the controller determines the respective actuator to be in a consumption mode, the controller is further configured to determine whether the respective actuator should draw power from the energy storage element associated therewith, from another actuator that is in a regenerative mode or from the power distribution system.

13. A method comprising:

determining if a respective one of a plurality of actuators is in a consumption mode or a regenerative mode;

if the respective actuator is determined to be in a consumption mode, determining a power source from which the respective actuator should draw power from among the plurality of actuators or a power distribution system with which the plurality of actuators are in communication and thereafter providing power to the respective actuator from the power source; and

if the respective actuator is determined to be in a regenerative mode, determining whether any excess power from the respective actuator should be provided to one of the plurality of actuators.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein, if the respective actuator is determined to be in a regenerative mode, determining the power source comprises determining whether any excess power from the respective actuator should be provided to another actuator which is in the consumption mode or should be stored by the energy storage element associated with the respective actuator.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein, if the respective actuator is determined to be in a regenerative mode, the method further comprises determining whether any excess power from the respective actuator should be provided to a power trap disposed between the plurality of actuators and the power distribution system.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein, if the respective actuator is determined to be in a regenerative mode, the method further comprises determining that any excess power from the respective actuator should be provided to the power trap only if no other actuator is in the consumption mode and the energy storage element associated with the respective actuator is unable to store additional power.

17. A method according to claim 14 wherein if the respective actuator is determined to be in a regenerative mode, the method further comprises determining that any excess power from the respective actuator should be stored by the energy storage element associated with the respective actuator only if no other actuator is in the consumption mode.

18. A method according to claim 13 wherein, if the respective actuator is determined to be in a consumption mode, the method further comprises determining whether the respective actuator should draw power from the energy storage element associated therewith, from another actuator that is in a regenerative mode or from the power distribution system.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein, if the respective actuator is determined to be in a consumption mode, the method further comprises determining that the respective actuator should draw power from another actuator only if the energy storage element associated with the respective actuator is without power.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein, if the respective actuator is determined to be in a consumption mode, the method further comprises determining that the respective actuator should draw power from the power distribution system only if the energy storage element associated with the respective actuator is without power and if no other actuator is in a regenerative mode.