Redundant two stage electro-hydraulic servo actuator control
First Claim
1. A flight control system comprising:
- an actuator including a first stage controlled by a plurality of first stage control valves and a second stage controlled by a plurality of second stage control valves;
a first flight controller and a second flight controller generating position commands indicative of a desired position of the actuator required to move a flight control surface to a desired position;
a first data link between the first flight controller and the second flight controller communicating information between the first flight controller and the second flight controller;
a first actuator remote processing unit and a second actuator remote processing unit receiving position commands from a corresponding one of the first flight controller and the second flight controller, the first actuator remote processing unit generating commands for actuating one of the plurality of first stage control valves and one of the plurality of second stage control valves controlling the first stage and the second actuator remote processing unit generating commands for actuating another of the plurality of first stage control valves and another of the plurality of second stage control valves based on the received position commands;
a first sensor and a second sensor communicating information indicative of actuator operation to a corresponding one of the first actuator remote processing unit and the second actuator remote processing unit; and
a second data link between the first actuator remote processing unit and the second actuator remote processing unit communicating data received from the first sensor to the first actuator remote processing unit and data received from the second sensor to the second actuator remote processing unit independent of the first and second flight controllers, wherein the first actuator remote processing unit generates commands for one of the first plurality of first stage control valves and one of the plurality of second stage control valves and the second actuator remote processing unit generates commands for a second one the plurality of first stage control valves and a second one of the plurality of second stage control valves based further on the data received from the other of the actuator remote processing units shared over the second data link.
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Abstract
A flight control system includes a dual stage actuator for moving a control surface. Each stage includes several control valves that are controlled independently to provide a desired redundancy. A flight controller generates a position command that is indicative of the position desired for the control surface. A first communication link is provided between several flight controllers to share information. Each of the flight controllers forwards the position command to actuator remote processing unit. The actuator remote processing unit receives position commands and generates a command signal that controls movement of the actuator using the control valves. Each of the actuator remote processing units is linked through a second communication link. Feedback and balancing of the different control valves is provided by the visibility accorded each actuator remote processing unit by the second communication link.
44 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A flight control system comprising:
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an actuator including a first stage controlled by a plurality of first stage control valves and a second stage controlled by a plurality of second stage control valves; a first flight controller and a second flight controller generating position commands indicative of a desired position of the actuator required to move a flight control surface to a desired position; a first data link between the first flight controller and the second flight controller communicating information between the first flight controller and the second flight controller; a first actuator remote processing unit and a second actuator remote processing unit receiving position commands from a corresponding one of the first flight controller and the second flight controller, the first actuator remote processing unit generating commands for actuating one of the plurality of first stage control valves and one of the plurality of second stage control valves controlling the first stage and the second actuator remote processing unit generating commands for actuating another of the plurality of first stage control valves and another of the plurality of second stage control valves based on the received position commands; a first sensor and a second sensor communicating information indicative of actuator operation to a corresponding one of the first actuator remote processing unit and the second actuator remote processing unit; and a second data link between the first actuator remote processing unit and the second actuator remote processing unit communicating data received from the first sensor to the first actuator remote processing unit and data received from the second sensor to the second actuator remote processing unit independent of the first and second flight controllers, wherein the first actuator remote processing unit generates commands for one of the first plurality of first stage control valves and one of the plurality of second stage control valves and the second actuator remote processing unit generates commands for a second one the plurality of first stage control valves and a second one of the plurality of second stage control valves based further on the data received from the other of the actuator remote processing units shared over the second data link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of controlling a control surface of an aircraft comprising:
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generating separate position commands indicative of a desired position of a common control surface with at least two independently operable flight controllers; communicating information by way of a first data link between the at least two independently operable flight controllers; receiving the position command from each of the flight controller with a corresponding actuator remote processing unit and generating a command signal for an actuator; receiving feedback information indicative of actuator operation with the actuator remote processing unit; communicating feedback information indicative of actuator operation through a second data link between each of the actuator remote processing units; and modifying the command signals for the actuator generated by the actuator remote processing unit responsive to information obtained through the second data link, wherein the actuator comprises a first stage and a second stage and each of the actuator remote processing units comprises a pair of actuator remote processing units each generating command signals for a control valve associated with one of the first stage and the second stage. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification