System for controlling an electrical device of a nacelle

• US 8,692,489 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2012
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Nacelles
• Original Assignee: Aircelle (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Maalioune, Hakim
• Primary Examiner(s): Paul, Antony M
• Application Number:
  US13/649,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20130033204A1
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 318/580, 318/583, 318/599, 318/34, 318/152, 318/156, 318/400.06, 318/376, 318/375, 318/362, 318/372, 318/430, 318/437, 363/50, 307/43, 307/125, 244/99.2, 244/75.1, 244/76.A, 244/12.4, 244/110.A, 244/110.B, 244/110.H, 244/12.5, 244/23.A, 244/221, 180/9.1, 303/126, 303/142, 303/152
• US Class Current: 318/376
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 1/763 with actuating systems or actuating devices; Arrangement of actuators for thrust reversers
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/60 making use of surplus or waste energy
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/90 Braking
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/903 using electrical or magnetic forces
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A control system for controlling an electrical device of a nacelle, the device having at least one element that is movable to a closed position and an open position. The control system includes at least one electromechanical member for actuating the movable element, a unit for electrically driving the electromechanical actuation member, and a controlling and monitoring unit for controlling the electrical drive unit so as to move the movable element to the closed and/or open position. The control system further includes a system for recovering braking power from the electrical drive unit during the movement of the movable element to the closed and/or open position.

Claims

1. A control system for controlling an electrical thrust reverser device of a nacelle of an aircraft, said thrust reverser device comprising at least one element that is movable to a closed position in direct jet operation of the thrust reverser device and an open position in reversed jet operation of the thrust reverser device, the control system including at least one electromechanical member for actuating said movable element, a unit for electrically driving said electromechanical actuation member, and a controlling and monitoring unit for controlling the electrical drive unit so as to move the movable element to the closed position in direct jet operation of the thrust reverser device and/or the open position in reversed jet operation of the thrust reverser device, characterized in that the control system includes a braking energy recovery system for recovering braking power from said electrical drive unit during the movement of the movable element to the closed position in direct jet operation of the thrust reverser device and/or the open position in reversed jet operation of the thrust reverser device.

2. The control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the braking energy recovery system includes at least one electrical circuit including an electrical storage device connected to the electrical drive unit.

3. The control system according to claim 2, characterized in that the braking energy recovery system includes two electrical circuits each including at least one electrical storage device connected to the electrical drive unit.

4. The control system according to claim 2, characterized in that each circuit also includes a switch with two states, one of the two states being adapted to connect the electrical drive unit to the energy storage device.

5. The control system according to claim 2, characterized in that the electrical energy storage device is one of a capacitor, a supercapacitor, and an ultracapacitor.

6. The control system according to claim 3, characterized in that the controlling and monitoring unit is capable of controlling a braking energy recovery circuit as long as the maximum load of the energy storage devices is not reached, and controlling a braking energy dissipation circuit when the maximum load of the energy storage devices is reached.

7. The control system according to claim 3, characterized in that the controlling and monitoring unit is capable of controlling a drive circuit in which the stored braking energy is discharged before an electrical withdrawal on an external electrical power supply system.

8. The control system according to claim 3, characterized in that the controlling and monitoring unit is capable of controlling a residual braking energy dissipation circuit.

9. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical device is a thrust reverser device.

10. A nacelle including at least one electrical thrust reverser device and control system according to claim 1.

11. A control method implemented by a control system according to claim 1, including a step in which the electrical braking energy is recovered from the electrical drive unit during the movement of the movable element to the closed position in direct jet operation of the thrust reverser device and/or the open position in reversed jet operation of the thrust reverser device.