SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENERGY CAPTURE AND DISTRIBUTION

• US 20100109581A1
• Filed: 11/04/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Sheahan, James J. JR., Omohundro, Thomas W., Peck, James L. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,164,283 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/376
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1438 in combination with power supplies for loads other than batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for capturing and using power generated by the application of an external force or by an inertial force on a vehicle control device that back-drive or forward-drive an actuator coupled to the control device. An actuator is coupled to a control device configured to apply a force related to operation of a vehicle. A bus is configured to conduct power to the actuator. An actuator control system is configured to receive power from a power source via an electrical bus and direct the power to the actuator. The actuator control system is also configured to monitor an actuator power level to determine when the actuator power level does not meet an anticipated power level. When the actuator power level exceeds the anticipated power level, the excess power generated is directed to an energy storage device. When the actuator power level is less than the anticipated power level, supplemental power is distributed from the energy storage device to the bus.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

at least one actuator coupled to a control device configured to apply a force related to operation of a vehicle;

a bus configured to provide power to the at least one actuator;

an actuator control system configured to;

receive power from a power source via the bus and direct the power to the at least one actuator;

monitor an actuator power level; and

when the actuator power level does not meet an anticipated power level;

directing excess power generated by the at least one actuator to an energy storage device when the actuator power level exceeds the anticipated power level;

or

drawing supplemental power from the energy storage device and directing the supplemental power to the bus when the actuator power level is less than the anticipated power level.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a substantially smooth bus voltage waveform is maintained to increase electrical power quality by directing the excess power generated by the at least one actuator to the energy storage device and by drawing the supplemental power from the energy storage device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator power level exceeds the anticipated power level when a nongenerated force is applied to the control device coupled to the actuator, wherein the nongenerated force includes one of:

an external force applied to the control device; and

an inertial force of the control device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator includes an electric motor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control device includes a motor.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the motor includes one of:

a propulsion motor;

a fan motor;

a door motor; and

a braking motor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control device includes an aircraft control surface.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the aircraft control surface includes one of:

a rudder;

an aileron;

a flap;

a stabilator;

a flaperon; and

a slat.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the actuator control system is further configured to receive the power from the power source via the bus and direct the power to the at least one actuator as a plurality of commutation pulses.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the actuator control system adjusts a pulse width of the plurality of commutation pulses to control a torque of the electric motor.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the actuator control system includes an integrated gate bi-polar transistor (IGBT) array.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the actuator control system includes a microprocessor-controlled power converter.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuator control system further comprises a buck-boost circuit configured to control directing the excess power generated by the at least one actuator to the energy storage device and drawing the supplemental power from the energy storage device and directing the supplemental power to the bus.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device includes one or more electrochemical storage devices.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device includes one or more chemical storage devices.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device includes one or more mechanical storage devices

17. A system, comprising:

at least one actuator coupled to a control device of an aircraft and configured to;

apply a mechanical force to the control device in response to receiving input power; and

generate produced power in response to application of a nongenerated force upon the control device; and

an actuator control system configured to;

distribute the input power from a power source to the at least one actuator; and

receive the produced power from the at least one actuator and direct the produced power to an energy storage device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the actuator control system is further configured to:

monitor an actuator power level; and

maintain acceptable actuator power quality when the actuator power level does not meet an anticipated power level by;

drawing supplemental power from the energy storage device when the actuator power level is less than an anticipated power level;

or

directing the produced power to the energy storage device when the actuator power level exceeds the anticipated power level.

19. A method, comprising:

coupling a power source via a bus to an actuator, the actuator configured to manipulate a control device of a vehicle;

coupling an energy storage device to receive excess power from the bus, wherein the excess power is generated by application of a nongenerated mechanical force upon the control device coupled to the actuator;

monitoring an actuator power level; and

when the actuator power level exceeds an anticipated power level, directing the excess power to the energy storage device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising, when the actuator power level is less than the anticipated power level, distributing supplemental power from the energy storage device to the bus.