REDUNDANCIES AND FLOWS IN VEHICLES
First Claim
1. A control system for a vehicle having plural control elements actuated at a single actuation point comprising:
- a redundant electric actuator assembly including a control rod moveable linearly in two opposite directions mounting n electric motors, each motor having a controller and a feedback sensor for controlling linear movement of said rod, each motor contributing approximately 1/n of total control power required for adjusting one or more of said plural control elements, such that failure of any of said motors controllers or feedback sensors leaves sufficient predetermined minimum control power available for operating said control system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for a vehicle having plural control elements actuated at a single actuation point including a redundant electric actuator assembly including a control rod moveable linearly in two opposite directions mounting n electric motors, each motor having a controller and a feedback sensor for controlling linear movement of said rod, each motor contributing approximately 1/n of total control power required for adjusting one or more of said plural control elements, such that failure of any of said motors controllers or feedback sensors leaves sufficient predetermined minimum control power available for operating said control system.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A control system for a vehicle having plural control elements actuated at a single actuation point comprising:
a redundant electric actuator assembly including a control rod moveable linearly in two opposite directions mounting n electric motors, each motor having a controller and a feedback sensor for controlling linear movement of said rod, each motor contributing approximately 1/n of total control power required for adjusting one or more of said plural control elements, such that failure of any of said motors controllers or feedback sensors leaves sufficient predetermined minimum control power available for operating said control system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A redundant actuator assembly for controlling a linear output in a vehicle control system comprising:
n actuators divided into two groups, each group including n/2 single-channel actuators, each adapted to control specified control elements of said vehicle control system, said plural, single-channel actuators of each group arranged in series;
one actuator of each group connected to a chassis of the vehicle, and another actuator of each group connected to a rocker arm pivotally secured to the linear output, wherein movement of the linear output is affected by movement of any one of said single-channel actuators.- View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A power distribution system for a VTOL vehicle having forward and aft lift fans comprising:
a pair of engines connected to respective associated transmissions arranged to distribute power to an aft lift fan gearbox, each transmission also connected to a respective intermediate gearbox which, in turn, is connected to a forward lift fan gearbox, thereby establishing a redundant load path to said forward lift fan. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A VTOL vehicle comprising:
a fuselage supporting forward and aft lift fans;
a section of said fuselage having a substantially airfoil-shaped body with upper and lower surfaces; and
at least one hollow passage having an inlet along a trailing end portion of said lower surface of the body and an outlet along a trailing end portion of said upper surface of the body, such that, in flight, a pressure differential between an upper surface zone and a lower surface zone will generate suction along said lower surface sufficient to attach a boundary layer flow stream to said lower surface.- View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of controlling separation of a flow stream at a boundary layer along a surface of a VTOL vehicle fuselage in forward flight, the fuselage supporting a forward lift fan and an aft lift fan, the method comprising:
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(a) shaping a portion of the fuselage to have a substantially airfoil-shape with upper and lower surfaces; and (b) creating a suction force along the lower surface of said center portion by utilizing a low-pressure source generated at another portion of the fuselage to thereby attach the flow stream at the boundary layer to the lower surface.
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18. A method of operating a VTOL vehicle in forward flight, the vehicle having a fuselage supporting a forward lift fan and an aft lift fan, a center portion of the fuselage having a substantially airfoil shape, the method comprising:
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(a) generating lift forces at the forward and aft lift fans and on said center portion of said fuselage; and (b) reducing the lift at the forward lift fan relative to the aft lift fan to thereby lessen suction of air into the forward lift fan and thereby increase overall vehicle lift circulation and thus also the VTOL vehicle'"'"'s lift-to-drag ratio, while contributing to the reduction of separation of flow at a lower surface of said center portion of the fuselage. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification