NON-ELECTRONIC SERVO ACTUATOR

• US 3,735,228 A
• Filed: 01/03/1972
• Issued: 05/22/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William G. Redmond
• Original Assignee: William G. Redmond
• Inventors: Redmond, William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lynch, T. E.
• Application Number:
  US05/215,064
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 318/564,692,690,657
• US Class Current: 318/564
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0077 using redundant signals or controls

Abstract

In a multiplex channel actuator for developing a linear output motion four servomotors are coupled together in a velocity summing arrangement to produce the required output. Each of the servomotors of the actuator has a control phase winding and a fixed phase winding with the latter connected to a source of energizing AC voltage. The control phase winding of each channel servomotor is interconnected as part of a balanceable circuit including an input movable core transformer and a feedback movable core transformer. A mechanical input motion positions the movable core of the input transformer to generate a control voltage related to the input motion. This voltage, in each of the actuator channels, causes the respective servomotor to be energized thereby developing a mechanical output motion. The mechanical output motion positions the movable core of the feedback transformer, for each actuator channel, to develop a feedback voltage for balancing out the input transducer voltage. Each channel servomotor continues to run until the voltage at the input transducer is balanced by a voltage from the feedback transducer.

Claims

1. A multiplex channel actuator for developing a linear motion output in accordance with a mechanical input motion, comprising:

input means responsive to the mechanical input motion for generating a plurality of control voltages at individual output terminals, a plurality of servomotors for the actuator channels with each motor direct connected to an output terminal of said input means and responsive to a separate generated control voltage, means for coupling the output of each of said servomotors to produce a single rotary output equal to the sum of said plurality of servomotors, means for converting the rotary output of the coupling means into a linear output that varies in accordance with the generated voltages, and a feedback transducer responsive to the linear output for generating a plurality of feedback voltages individually applied directly to one of said plurality of servomotors in a balancing network with a control voltage.

2. A multiplex channel actuator for developing a linear motion output as set forth in claim 1 including supply means for generating the energizing voltage to said input means, said servomotors and said feedback transducer.

3. A multiplex channel actuator for developing a linear motion output as set forth in claim 1 wherein said servomotors are two-phase, electric motors having a fixed phase winding and a control phase winding, the latter connected to the input means and responsive to the control voltage and also connected to said feedback transducer.

4. A multiplex channel actuator for developing a linear motion output as set forth in claim 1 wherein said input means includes a movable core transformer having a plurality of windings individually direct connected to the respective channel servomotor for producing a separate control voltage for each channel servomotor.

5. A multiplex channel actuator for developing a linear motion output as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feedback transducer includes a movable core transformer having a plurality of windings individually direct connected to the respective channel servomotor for producing a feedback voltage for each channel servomotor.

6. A multiplex channel actuator for developing a linear motion output in accordance with a mechanical input motion, comprising:

an input transducer in each actuator channel generating a control voltage at an output terminal thereof to be responsive to the mechanical input motion and generating a control voltage, a servomotor in each actuator channel connected to the output terminal of the respective input transducer and responsive to the control voltage thereof, means for velocity coupling the output of each of said servomotors to produce a single rotary output equal to the velocity sum of said plurality of servomotors, means for converting the rotary output of the velocity coupling means into a linear output that varies in accordance with the generated control voltages, and a feedback transducer in each actuator channel responsive to the linear output and generating a channel feedback voltage applied directly to the channel servomotor for balancing the control voltage.

7. A multiplex channel actuator for developing a linear motion output as set forth in claim 6 wherein said input trAnsducer is a movable core transformer having a winding direct connected to the respective channel servomotor for providing the control voltage in accordance with the position of the movable core.

8. A multiplex channel actuator for developing a linear motion output as set forth in claim 7 wherein said feedback transducer includes a movable core transformer having a winding direct connected to the respective channel servomotor for providing a feedback voltage in accordance with the position of the movable core.

9. A multiplex channel actuator for developing a linear motion output as set forth in claim 8 wherein said servomotors are two-phase, electric motors having a fixed phase winding and a control phase winding, the latter connected to the winding of said movable core transformer of the input transducer and also connected to the winding of said movable core transformer of the feedback transducer.

10. A multiplex channel actuator for developing a linear motion output as set forth in claim 9 including supply means for generating the energizing voltage to said input transducers, said servomotors and said feedback transducers.

11. A multiplex channel actuator for developing an output that varies in accordance with a mechanical input motion, comprising:

input means responsive to the mechanical input motion for generating a plurality of control voltages at individual output terminals, a plurality of servomotors for the actuator channels with each motor direct connected to the output terminal of said input means and responsive to a separate generated control voltage, means for coupling the output of each of said servomotors to produce a single rotary output equal to the sum of said plurality of servomotors, and a feedback transducer responsive to the single rotary output for generating a plurality of feedback voltages individually applied directly to one of said plurality of servomotors in a balancing network with a control voltage.

12. A multiplex channel actuator for developing an output as set forth in claim 11 wherein said input means includes a movable core transformer having a plurality of windings direct connected to the individual channel servomotors with the movable core responsive to the mechanical input motion and generating a plurality of control voltages.

13. A multiplex channel actuator for developing an output as set forth in claim 12 wherein said feedback transducer includes a movable core transformer having a plurality of windings direct connected to the individual channel servomotors with the movable core responsive to the single rotary output and generating the plurality of feedback voltages.

14. A multiplex channel actuator for developing an output as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first and second movable core transformers are connected in an autotransformer configuration.

15. A multiplex channel actuator for developing an output that varies in accordance with a mechanical input motion, comprising:

a two-phase power supply, an input transducer connected across the first phase of said power supply in each actuator channel and generating a control voltage at an output terminal thereof in response to the movement of the mechanical input, a two-phase servomotor in each actuator channel having a fixed phase winding connected to the second phase of said power supply and a control phase winding having one terminal connected to the output terminal of the respective input transducer and responsive to the control voltage thereof, means for velocity coupling the output of each of said servomotors to produce a single rotary output equal to the velocity sum of said plurality of servomotors, and a feedback transducer in each actuator channel connected across the first phase of said power supply and responsive to the single rotary output and generating a channel feedback voltage at an output terminal connected to the second terminal of the control phase winding of the channel servomotor for balancing The control voltage.

16. An actuator as set forth in claim 15 wherein said servomotor includes a fixed phase winding energized from a supply source and a control phase winding connected in the balancing network with the input movable core transformer and the feedback movable core transformer.

17. An actuator for developing an output voltage as set forth in claim 16 wherein said first and second movable core transformers are connected in an autotransformer configuration.