Pneumo Corporation

Pneumo Abex Corporation

Eugene J Martin

James N Tootle

Robert D Vanderlaan

Howard J Lambers

Thomas Rollins

Walter Fallows

A fluid actuator includes a lock mechanism for releasably locking the actuator against movement, and a lock release lever engageable by a lock piston upon application of system pressure thereto to release the lock mechanism. The lock mechanism includes an axially movable lock member for respectively engaging and disengaging the lock mechanism depending on its position. Attached to the movable lock member is a proximity sensor target which moves with the axially movable lock member toward and away from a proximity switch to provide an electrical signal indicating the locked or unlocked condition of the lock mechanism in accordance with the proximity of the target to the switch. A cover may also be provided for respectively concealing or exposing the target depending on the position of the axially movable member to provide a visual indication of the unlocked or locked condition of the lock mechanism.

Fluid actuator with lock position indicating means

A fluid actuator characterized by a feedback mechanism for indicating actuator position. The feedback mechanism is driven by the actuator screw shaft, whereby the movements of the feedback mechanism are proportional to the rate and position of the actuator movements. The feedback mechanism and actuator movements may be synchronized so that the extreme end positions of the feedback mechanism will correspond to the fully retracted and extended positions of the actuator. A stroke limiting mechanism may also be provided for preventing the actuator from overstroking the feedback mechanism in the event that they are not properly synchronized.

Fluid actuator with feedback mechanism

Multiple drive paths are provided between the valve plunger and force motor of a direct drive valve and force motor assembly whereby should one of the drive paths fail, the force motor can still be used to drive the valve plunger through another drive path. One of the drive paths consists of a drive shaft having one end drivingly connected to an eccentric on the motor output shaft and the other end connected to the end of the valve plunger remote from the motor output shaft. The drive shaft is desirably provided with an enlarged head portion having a flat annular surface on the axial inner end thereof in close proximity to a corresponding flat end face on the end of the valve plunger closest to the motor output shaft, whereby should the valve plunger break, the drive shaft will hold the valve plunger together and allow for degraded valve performance.

Redundant drive mechanisms for a direct drive valve and force motor

Directional control valve includes a manually operated pilot valve stage and a hydraulically operated power valve stage to isolate the pilot valve stage from the effects of the high axial flows passing through the power valve stage. The pilot valve is spring loaded in the stow direction as long as the directional control valve is disconnected from system pressure. Such spring also acts as a stowed condition linkage pre-tensioner to avoid fretting of various parts during vibration conditions and the like. When system pressure is applied to the directional control valve, such preload is automatically removed from the pilot valve for ease of movement between the stow and deploy positions by a relatively low manual input rotary force.

Pilot operated directional control valve

Fluid actuator includes a lock mechanism for releasably locking the actuator against movement, and a lock release assembly including a lock piston engageable with a toggle linkage upon application of fluid pressure to the lock piston to release the lock mechanism. The toggle linkage is fixedly mounted on a rotatable cross shaft which may also be manually rotated by manual rotation of an external lock release lever attached to one end of the cross shaft for effecting manual release of the lock mechanism. The engaged or disengaged condition of the lock mechanism may be sensed electrically as by providing a target on the external lock release lever for movement therewith toward and away from a proximity switch.

Fluid actuator with manual lock release and lock position sensor

A fluid actuator including a lock mechanism for locking the actuator against movement in one position and a fluid operated sequence-power valve which when actuated by fluid pressure releases the lock mechanism and then ports such fluid pressure directly to the actuator to cause movement thereof in the desired direction following release of the lock mechanism.

Fluid actuator with sequence-power valve

A fluid pressure actuator includes a lock mechanism for locking the actuator against movement in one end position, and an external lock release lever engageable with an external extension of the lock mechanism for releasing same. The lock release lever is engageable by a lock piston upon application of system pressure thereto to release the lock mechanism. During movement of the lock piston in the unlocking direction, and after disengagement of the lock mechanism, system pressure is ported through the lock piston both to the extend side of the actuator and the opposite end of the lock piston. By using substantially the same size seals on the opposite pressurized side of the lock piston and external extension of the lock mechanism, any effect of fluid pressure acting on such external extension of the lock mechanism is substantially negated. Accordingly, the effective area of the lock piston acted upon by system pressure to release the lock mechanism will remain substantially constant both before and after system pressure is admitted to the extend side of the actuator, whereby the lock is effectively locked open and there is always substantially full flow to the extend side of the actuator despite fluctuations in the extend pressure.

Growing community of inventors

Portage, MI, United States of America

Eugene J Martin