Flexible response secured mechanical balancing for multiple control actuators with a common output
First Claim
1. A mechanical balancing device for a fluid-pressure actuating system;
- the actuating system including first fluid-pressure connecting means to a first fluid-pressure network and second first fluid-pressure connecting means to a second fluid-pressure network, the first fluid-pressure network being independent from the second fluid-pressure network and both networks being connected to the mechanical balancing device;
the actuating system having at least a first actuator and a second actuator, the first fluid-pressure connecting means are for linking and feeding the first actuator with fluid-pressure from the first fluid-pressure network, while the second fluid-pressure connecting means are for linking and feeding the second actuator with fluid-pressure from the second fluid-pressure network;
the first actuator and the second actuator being mechanically linked to cooperate for displacing at least a first common output member and a second common output member between two extreme control positions;
the first and second actuators includes respectively a first and second movable piston each severing an extraction fluid-pressure chamber and a refraction fluid-pressure chamber,wherein for the fluid-pressure balancing device to provide flexible/continuous force fight compensation for respective first and second actuators, the fluid-pressure balancing device includes, for each of first/second-extension/retraction chambers of the first and second actuators, one dedicated fluid-pressure commanded balance valve;
a first balance valve being commanded to balance fluid-pressure from the first fluid-pressure network to a given extension fluid-pressure chamber of the first actuator, is rigidly coupled by a corresponding coupling rod to a cooperating second balancing valve balancing fluid-pressure from the second fluid-pressure network to a given extension fluid-pressure chamber of the second actuator;
while a third balancing valve commanded to balance fluid-pressure from the first fluid-pressure network to a given retraction fluid-pressure chamber of the first actuator, is rigidly coupled by another corresponding coupling rod to a cooperating fourth balancing valve balancing fluid-pressure from the first fluid-pressure network to a given retraction fluid-pressure chamber of the second actuator;
each fluid-pressure commanded balance valve being arranged to allow relief of differential pressure, directly into a dedicated return pressure relief line of an associated first fluid-pressure network or an associated second fluid-pressure network;
a locking assembly cooperating with the mechanical balancing device and includes, for each of a pair of first/second balance valves and third/fourth first balance valves, a fluid-pressure controlled locking device, each locking device having first and second retainer pins adapted to engage with the corresponding coupling rods thus inhibiting the corresponding pair of first/second balance valves and third/fourth first balance valves, in case of loss of fluid-pressure in one of the first fluid-pressure network or the associated second fluid-pressure network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible response secured mechanical balancing device (D) for multiple hydraulic control actuators (1-2) with a common output member (5a-b). The balancing device (D) provides flexible/continuous fluid-pressure force fight compensation. Balance valves (17-20) are commanded to balance fluid-pressure from a first fluid-pressure network (52a) of a second actuator (2). Each fluid-pressure commanded balance valve (17-20) is arranged to allow relief of differential pressure, directly into a dedicated first (52a) or second fluid-pressure network (52b). A fluid-pressure controlled locking device (21-22) is allowing inhibiting the corresponding pairs of balance valves (17-20) e.g. in case of loss of fluid-pressure. The invention typically applies to vehicles (A) including: aircrafts, rotorcrafts, drones.
16 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A mechanical balancing device for a fluid-pressure actuating system;
- the actuating system including first fluid-pressure connecting means to a first fluid-pressure network and second first fluid-pressure connecting means to a second fluid-pressure network, the first fluid-pressure network being independent from the second fluid-pressure network and both networks being connected to the mechanical balancing device;
the actuating system having at least a first actuator and a second actuator, the first fluid-pressure connecting means are for linking and feeding the first actuator with fluid-pressure from the first fluid-pressure network, while the second fluid-pressure connecting means are for linking and feeding the second actuator with fluid-pressure from the second fluid-pressure network;
the first actuator and the second actuator being mechanically linked to cooperate for displacing at least a first common output member and a second common output member between two extreme control positions;
the first and second actuators includes respectively a first and second movable piston each severing an extraction fluid-pressure chamber and a refraction fluid-pressure chamber,wherein for the fluid-pressure balancing device to provide flexible/continuous force fight compensation for respective first and second actuators, the fluid-pressure balancing device includes, for each of first/second-extension/retraction chambers of the first and second actuators, one dedicated fluid-pressure commanded balance valve;
a first balance valve being commanded to balance fluid-pressure from the first fluid-pressure network to a given extension fluid-pressure chamber of the first actuator, is rigidly coupled by a corresponding coupling rod to a cooperating second balancing valve balancing fluid-pressure from the second fluid-pressure network to a given extension fluid-pressure chamber of the second actuator;
while a third balancing valve commanded to balance fluid-pressure from the first fluid-pressure network to a given retraction fluid-pressure chamber of the first actuator, is rigidly coupled by another corresponding coupling rod to a cooperating fourth balancing valve balancing fluid-pressure from the first fluid-pressure network to a given retraction fluid-pressure chamber of the second actuator;
each fluid-pressure commanded balance valve being arranged to allow relief of differential pressure, directly into a dedicated return pressure relief line of an associated first fluid-pressure network or an associated second fluid-pressure network;
a locking assembly cooperating with the mechanical balancing device and includes, for each of a pair of first/second balance valves and third/fourth first balance valves, a fluid-pressure controlled locking device, each locking device having first and second retainer pins adapted to engage with the corresponding coupling rods thus inhibiting the corresponding pair of first/second balance valves and third/fourth first balance valves, in case of loss of fluid-pressure in one of the first fluid-pressure network or the associated second fluid-pressure network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- the actuating system including first fluid-pressure connecting means to a first fluid-pressure network and second first fluid-pressure connecting means to a second fluid-pressure network, the first fluid-pressure network being independent from the second fluid-pressure network and both networks being connected to the mechanical balancing device;
Specification