CONTROL APPARATUS

• US 3,580,139 A
• Filed: 04/03/1969
• Issued: 05/25/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert F. Rasmussen
• Original Assignee: Robert F. Rasmussen
• Inventors: Rasmussen, Robert F.
• Application Number:
  US04/813,018
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• US Class Current: 91/510
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/42 having duplication or stand-by provisions
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 18/00 Parallel arrangements of independent servomotor systems

Abstract

Conventionally, in aircraft having fluid operated servomotors for positioning the control surfaces, aircraft engine driven pumps supply the operating fluid pressures for the servomotors while the aircraft is in flight.

Claims

1. A redundant fluid servomotor having plural or redundant operable sections;

first means controlling one section from a first fluid pressure source;

second means for controlling another section from a second fluid pressure source; and

third means controlling one of said sections from a third pressure source upon loss of pressure from the first and second fluid sources but rendered ineffective for control by normal pressure from either the first or second fluid source.

2. In a movable vehicle having power means, such as jet engines, primarily for propelling said vehicle and secondarily for supplying fluid pressure and means including a fluid type servomotor or actuator for positioning members on said vehicle for steering thereof, said power means supplying pressure fluid to said servomotor while said vehicle is being propelled, in combination therewith auxiliary means on said vehicle having no propelling Function but supplying pressurized fluid to said servomotor upon loss of fluid pressure from the power means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said auxiliary means supplies pressurized fluid to said servomotor during nonoperation of said power means for checkout of the operation of the servomotor prior to propulsion of the vehicle.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 including displaceable valve means and wherein the auxiliary means supplies pressure to said servomotor through said valve means, as displaced upon interruption or absence of pressure derived from said operable power means.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said servomotor has redundant sections wherein said operable power means serves as a fluid pressure source to one section and serves as a second fluid pressure source to a second redundant section and said auxiliary means supplies fluid pressure to one of said redundant sections upon interruption or absence of operation of the operable means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, including a manually operable servocontrol valve and positioning means therefor controlling said redundant servomotor sections from said operable power means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, including a standby shuttle valve for connecting the auxiliary means to one section of said redundant servomotor in response to the difference of the pressure from the auxiliary means and that from the operable power means.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, including means operated by the redundant servomotor for repositioning said manual servo valve.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the servomotor is of the piston type, and means for providing a bypass between opposite sides of said piston of one section while another section is controlled by the pressure from the auxiliary means.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the pressure from the auxiliary means is modified by the operation of an electrohydraulic valve responsive to control signals.

11. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the auxiliary means includes means maintaining substantially constant fluid pressure during check out or preflight tests of said servomotor.