Electric energy storage integrated within or proximate to electrically driven flight control actuators

• US 8,203,294 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Huang, Hao, Karipides, David Dimitri, Radun, Arthur Vorwerk
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Agared, Gabriel
• Application Number:
  US12/277,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20100127647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 318/400.26, 318/400.11, 318/376, 318/609, 318/638
• US Class Current: 318/400.11
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/1582 Buck-boost converters H02M3/1584 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 27/08 with pulse width modulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

An apparatus for use with a flight control actuator and method for assembling the same is provided. The apparatus includes a motor drive system and a control unit. The motor drive system includes a capacitor-based energy storage configured to store and provide energy within or proximate to the actuator. The control unit is coupled to the motor drive system and is configured to facilitate managing power within or proximate to the actuator.

Claims

1. A method for assembling an apparatus for use with a flight control actuator, said method comprising:

providing a motor drive system that comprises a capacitor-based energy storage, the energy storage configured to store and provide energy within or proximate to the actuator; and

coupling a control unit to the motor drive system, the control unit configured to facilitate managing power within or proximate to the actuator, wherein the control unit includes a first proportional integration controller configured to regulate a current channeled to and from the energy storage and a second proportional integration controller configured to maintain a substantially steady voltage of the energy storage.

2. A method for assembling an apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said providing a motor drive system further comprises:

providing a motor drive system that further comprises a buck-boost converter that includes a first insulated-gate bipolar transistor, a second insulated-gate bipolar transistor, and an inductor, the buck-boost converter configured to charge and discharge the energy storage.

3. A method for assembling an apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said providing a motor drive system further comprises:

providing a motor drive system that further comprises the first insulated-gate bipolar transistor that is serially coupled to a parallel circuit that includes the second insulated-gate bipolar transistor coupled in parallel to the inductor that is serially coupled to the energy storage.

4. A method for assembling an apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said providing a motor drive system further comprises:

providing a motor drive system that further comprises a direct current link capacitor, an inverter, and a stator winding; and

coupling the direct current link capacitor and the inverter to the stator winding, each of the direct current link capacitor and the inverter coupled in parallel with the buck-boost convertor.

5. A method for assembling an apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said coupling a control unit further comprises:

coupling a control unit that comprises a high pass filter configured to ensure that the buck-boost converter facilitates processing dynamic load transients.

6. A method for assembling an apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said providing a motor drive system further comprises providing a motor drive system that further comprises a soft-start circuitry that is coupled to the energy storage, wherein the soft-start circuitry includes a contactor that is configured to close when the energy storage is fully charged.

7. A motor drive system for use with a flight control actuator comprising:

a buck-boost converter that comprises a first insulated-gate bipolar transistor, a second insulated-gate bipolar transistor, an inductor, and a capacitor-based energy storage configured to store and provide energy within or proximate to said actuator, said buck-boost converter configured to charge and discharge said energy storage; and

a control unit coupled to the motor drive system, the control unit configured to facilitate managing power within or proximate to the actuator, wherein the control unit includes a first proportional integration controller configured to regulate a current channeled to and from the energy storage and a second proportional integration controller configured to maintain a substantially steady voltage of the energy storage.

8. A motor drive system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said first insulated-gate bipolar transistor is serially coupled to a parallel circuit that comprises said second insulated-gate bipolar transistor coupled in parallel to said inductor that is serially coupled to said energy storage.

9. A motor drive system in accordance with claim 7 further comprising a direct current link capacitor coupled in parallel with said buck-boost convertor.

10. A motor drive system in accordance with claim 7 further comprising an inverter and a stator winding coupled in parallel with said buck-boost convertor.

11. A motor drive system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said buck-boost converter is coupled to a control unit that comprises a high pass filter that is configured to ensure that said buck-boost converter facilitates processing dynamic load transients.

12. A motor drive system in accordance with claim 7 further comprising a soft-start circuitry that is coupled to said energy storage, wherein said soft-start circuitry includes a contactor that is configured to close when the energy storage is fully charged.

13. An apparatus for use with a flight control actuator, said apparatus comprising:

a motor drive system that comprises a capacitor-based energy storage, said energy storage configured to store and provide energy within or proximate to said actuator; and

a control unit coupled to said motor drive system, said control unit configured to facilitate managing power within or proximate to said actuator, said control unit comprising a first proportional integration controller configured to regulate a current channeled to and from the energy storage and a second proportional integration controller configured to maintain a substantially steady voltage of the energy storage.

14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein said motor drive system further comprises a buck-boost converter that includes a first insulated-gate bipolar transistor, a second insulated-gate bipolar transistor, and an inductor, said buck-boost converter configured to charge and discharge said energy storage.

15. An apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said first insulated-gate bipolar transistor is serially coupled to a parallel circuit that comprises said second insulated-gate bipolar transistor coupled in parallel to said inductor that is serially coupled to said energy storage.

16. An apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said motor drive system further comprises a direct current link capacitor and an inverter coupled to a stator winding, each of said direct current link capacitor and said inverter coupled in parallel with said buck-boost convertor.

17. A motor drive system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said motor drive system further comprises a buck-boost converter, wherein said control unit comprises a high pass filter that is configured to ensure that said buck-boost converter facilitates processing dynamic load transients.

18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein said motor drive system further comprises a soft-start circuitry that is coupled to said energy storage, wherein said soft-start circuitry includes a contactor that is configured to close when the energy storage is fully charged.