Fault-tolerant apparatus for controlling blade pitch
First Claim
1. Apparatus for controlling mechanical actuator means having first and second movable input means, comprising:
- a first electrical machine having a first rotor secured to said first movable input means and a first stator held stationary with respect to said first rotor, said first stator having a first plurality of isolated phase windings;
a second electrical machine having a second rotor secured to said second movable input means and a second stator held stationary with respect to said second rotor, said second stator having a second plurality of isolated phase windings; and
at least two controller means cooperating to provide excitation currents to selected windings of said first and second electrical machines to cause a relative displacement between said first and second movable input means, each controller means being coupled to a corresponding phase winding in said first plurality and to a corresponding phase winding in said second plurality, wherein any one of said at least two controller means can excite said electrical machines to cause said relative displacement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Fault-tolerant apparatus for controlling first and second input members of a mechanical actuator includes first and second electrical machines and at least two controllers. The first and second electrical machines, which apply braking forces to the first and second input members, respectively, are provided with stators having pluralities of isolated phase windings. Each controller is coupled to a phase winding of the first electrical machine, and also to a phase winding of the second electrical machine. Any one controller can excite the first electrical machine to apply the braking force to the first input member or the second electrical machine to apply the braking force to the second input member.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. Apparatus for controlling mechanical actuator means having first and second movable input means, comprising:
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a first electrical machine having a first rotor secured to said first movable input means and a first stator held stationary with respect to said first rotor, said first stator having a first plurality of isolated phase windings; a second electrical machine having a second rotor secured to said second movable input means and a second stator held stationary with respect to said second rotor, said second stator having a second plurality of isolated phase windings; and at least two controller means cooperating to provide excitation currents to selected windings of said first and second electrical machines to cause a relative displacement between said first and second movable input means, each controller means being coupled to a corresponding phase winding in said first plurality and to a corresponding phase winding in said second plurality, wherein any one of said at least two controller means can excite said electrical machines to cause said relative displacement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for positioning at least one output member using the drive shaft of an engine, comprising:
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mechanical actuator means for mechanically coupling said drive shaft to said at least one output member, said mechanical actuator means having first and second movable input means, said mechanical actuator means changing the position of said at least one output member in response to a relative displacement between said first and second movable input means; a first electrical machine having a first rotor secured to said first movable input means and a first stator held stationary with respect to said first rotor, said first stator having a first plurality of isolated phase windings; a second electrical machine having a second rotor secured to said second movable input means and a second stator held stationary with respect to said second rotor, said second stator having a second plurality of isolated phase windings; and at least two controller means cooperating to provide excitation currents to selected windings of said first and second electrical machines when said relative displacement between said first and second movable input means is desired, each controller means being coupled to a corresponding phase winding in said first plurality and to a corresponding phase winding in said second plurality, wherein any one of said at least two controller means can excite said electrical machines to cause said relative displacement. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. Apparatus for controlling blade pitch of a variable-pitch turbofan engine having a turbine shaft and a plurality of output shafts, and mechanical actuator means for mechanically coupling said turbine shaft to said plurality of output shafts, said mechanical actuator means having first and second input shafts, said input shafts being rotated at the same speed by said mechanical actuator means when said turbine shaft is rotating, said mechanical actuator means rotating said output shafts in one direction when said turbine shaft is rotating and when said first input shaft is slowed relative to said second input shaft, said mechanical actuator means rotating said output shafts in an opposite direction when said turbine shaft is rotating and when said second input shaft is slowed relative to said first input shaft, each output shaft being coupled to at least one fan blade, said blade pitch being adjusted by rotating said output shafts about their longitudinal axes, said apparatus comprising:
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a first induction machine having a first rotor secured for rotation to said first input shaft and a first stator held stationary with respect to said first rotor, said first stator having a first plurality of isolated windings; a second induction machine having a second rotor secured for rotation to said second input shaft and a second stator held stationary with respect to said second rotor, said second stator having a second plurality of isolated windings; and at least two controller means cooperating to provide excitation currents to selected windings of said first and second induction machines when said blade pitch is to be adjusted, each controller means being coupled to a corresponding phase winding in said first plurality and to a corresponding phase winding in said second plurality, wherein any one of said at least two controller means can excite said induction machines to adjust said blade pitch. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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Specification