FLUID-POWERED ACTUATOR HAVING AN INTERNAL POSITION SENSOR AND A SENSOR MODULE THEREFOR

• US 20100050863A1
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cowan Dynamics Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cowan Dynamics Inc.
• Inventors: Gagne, Daniel, Wenker, Rene
• Granted Patent: US 8,448,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 92/5.R
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/283 using a cable wrapped on a drum and attached to the piston
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/2861 using magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/2876 using optical means, e.g. laser
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/2884 using sound, e.g. ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/2892 characterised by the attachment means

Abstract

A fluid-powered actuator comprises a cylindrical body having a base proximate one extremity and a head proximate another extremity, a piston-rod assembly and a sensor module made of a removable cover and a position sensor. The piston-rod assembly is slidably mounted inside the cylindrical body. The base is provided with an opening adapted to accommodate the sensor therethrough. In operation, the cover seals the opening. The position sensor is mounted to an internal face of the cover so that the position sensor is operatively located inside the cylindrical body when the cover is in place. The position sensor is operative to measure a position of the piston-rod assembly. A sensor module adapted to sealably close the opening in the base comprises the position sensor mounted to an internal face of a cover structure. In operation, the position sensor is operatively located inside the actuator when the cover structure closes the opening.

Claims

1. A fluid-powered actuator comprising:

a cylindrical body having a base proximate one extremity and a head proximate another extremity, said base having an opening;

a piston-rod assembly slidably mounted inside said cylindrical body;

a removable cover operative to sealably close said opening; and

a position sensor, said position sensor being mounted to an internal face of said cover so that said position sensor is operatively located inside said cylindrical body when said cover is in place, said position sensor being operative to measure a position of said piston-rod assembly.

2. The actuator of claim 1 wherein said cover is adapted to fit at least partially within said opening.

3. The actuator of claim 1 wherein said position sensor is a draw wire transducer using a wire, said wire being attached to said piston-rod assembly.

4. The actuator of claim 3 wherein the wire is connected to the piston-rod assembly through a threaded attachment.

5. The actuator of claim 1 further comprising an analog converter connected to said position sensor for converting a signal from said position sensor to an analog electric signal.

6. The actuator of claim 5 wherein said converter is mounted on said internal face of said cover.

7. The actuator of claim 6 further comprising an analog connector, said analog connector being located on an external face of said cover, said analog connector being connected to said position sensor.

8. The actuator of claim 7 further comprising digital discrete switches and a digital connector, said digital discrete switches being operatively located inside said cylindrical body to measure the position of said piston-rod assembly said digital connector being located on an external face of said cover, said digital connector being connected to the digital discrete switches of said position sensor.

9. A sensor module adapted to sealably close an opening in a base of a fluid-powered actuator, said sensor module comprising:

a cover structure operative to sealably close the opening; and

a position sensor, said position sensor being mounted to an internal face of said cover structure so that said position sensor is operatively located inside the actuator when said cover structure closes the opening.

10. The sensor module of claim 9 further comprising an analog converter connected to said position sensor for converting a signal from said position sensor to an analog electric signal, said converter being mounted on said internal face of said cover structure.

11. The sensor module of claim 10 further comprising an analog connector and a digital connector, said analog and said digital connectors being located on an external face of said cover structure, said analog connector being connected to said position sensor and said digital connector being connected to said converter.

12. The sensor module of claim 11 wherein said position sensor is a draw wire transducer.