System and method for energy capture and distribution

• US 8,614,555 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2012
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Sheahan, James J. Jr., Omohundro, Thomas W., Peck, James L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paul, Antony M
• Application Number:
  US13/428,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20120181856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 318/34, 318/580, 318/583, 318/599, 318/152, 318/156, 318/400.06, 318/376, 318/625, 318/37, 318/87, 318/114, 318/139, 318/400.01, 318/400.26, 318/703, 318/757, 318/799, 318/800, 318/801, 318/810, 318/811, 318/258, 318/362, 318/370, 318/371, 318/374, 318/375, 318/445, 318/498, 318/512, 318/520, 318/552, 318/554, 318/722, 318/759, 318/432, 363/50, 363/21.12, 363/34, 363/37, 363/40, 363/51, 363/55, 363/65, 363/74, 363/75, 363/82, 363/90, 363/95, 363/101, 363/102, 363/108, 363/109, 363/124, 307/43, 307/125, 244/99.2, 180/9.1, 180/65.4, 180/65.1, 180/65.21, 180/65.225, 323/259, 323/260, 323/344, 123/564, 320/140
• US Class Current: 318/376
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1438 in combination with power supplies for loads other than batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence

Abstract

An actuator control system includes a controller and a buck-boost circuit. The controller is configured to direct power from a power source to an actuator. The actuator is coupled to a control device to apply a force related to operation of a vehicle. The buck-boost circuit is configured to direct excess power generated by the actuator to an energy storage device when an actuator power level satisfies an anticipated power level.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an actuator control system comprising;

a controller configured to direct power from a power source to a particular actuator, wherein the particular actuator is coupled to a control device to apply a force related to operation of a vehicle, wherein the controller includes a network of transistor nodes; and

a buck-boost circuit configured to direct excess power generated by the particular actuator to an energy storage device when an actuator power level of the particular actuator is greater than an anticipated power level, wherein the buck-boost circuit includes an inductor coupled in series with a diode and includes a switching device that is coupled to a relative ground, wherein energy is accumulated at the energy storage device when the switching device is in a first mode, and energy is drawn from the energy storage device when the switching device is in a second mode, and wherein the buck-boost circuit is coupled to an output of the network of transistor nodes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the diode is coupled to a positive terminal of the energy storage device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each transistor node of the network of transistor nodes includes an integrated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) and a reverse current diode.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes one of an aircraft, a ground vehicle, and a water craft.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first filter coupled to the controller and configured to receive the power from the power source via a bus;

a blocking diode positioned between the controller and the first filter;

a converter having an input coupled to the energy storage device; and

a second filter coupled to an output of the converter.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the switching device includes a transistor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein an output of the buck-boost circuit is based on a duty cycle of the transistor switching between the first mode and the second mode.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a blocking diode positioned between the controller and a bus, wherein the blocking diode is configured to prohibit the excess power generated by the particular actuator from being supplied to the bus via the controller.

9. A method comprising:

directing, at a controller of an actuator control system of a particular actuator, power from a power source to the particular actuator, wherein the particular actuator is coupled to a control device to apply a force related to operation of a vehicle, wherein the controller includes a network of transistor nodes; and

directing, at the actuator control system, excess power generated by the particular actuator to an energy storage device via a buck-boost circuit when an actuator power level of the particular actuator is greater than an anticipated power level, wherein the buck-boost circuit includes an inductor coupled in series with a diode and includes a switching device that is coupled to a relative ground, wherein energy is accumulated at the energy storage device when the switching device is in a first mode, and energy is drawn from the energy storage device when the switching device is in a second mode, and wherein the buck-boost circuit is coupled to an output of the network of transistor nodes.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising drawing supplemental power from the energy storage device to a bus via the buck-boost circuit.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving the power from the power source via a bus; and

monitoring the actuator power level.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the particular actuator uses the power to manipulate the control device to direct the operation of the vehicle and wherein the particular actuator includes at least one of a motor, a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, and a shape memory alloy linkage.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the power source includes at least one of a generator, a battery, and a fuel cell.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the energy storage device includes at least one of a chemical storage device, an electrochemical storage device, a lithium ion battery, an electric double-layer capacitor, and a flywheel.

15. A system comprising:

an actuator control system comprising;

means for directing power from a power source to a particular actuator, wherein the particular actuator is coupled to a control device to apply a force related to operation of a vehicle, wherein the means for directing includes means for generating a communication pulse that is applied to the particular actuator; and

a buck-boost circuit configured to direct excess power generated by the particular actuator to an energy storage device when an actuator power level of the particular actuator is greater than an anticipated power level, wherein the excess power is directed to the energy storage device during an interval between two consecutive communication pulses generated by the means for generating, and wherein the buck-boost circuit is coupled to an output of the means for directing.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the means for directing includes one of a microprocessor and a network of transistor nodes.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the control device includes at least one of a motor, a fan, an aileron, a flap, a rudder, a slat, a stabilator, a flaperon, a steering linkage, a shock absorber, and a sail.