Vickers, Inc.

The Bendix Corporation

James A Kessler

Richard Scott Leemhuis

Rajamouli Gunda

Thomas W Hartford

Robert C Hodges

Roy T Burgess

Michael R McCarty

Robert W Stephens

Frank Herta

Melvin A Rode

Robert S Henrich

Gene Y Wen

Albert Blatter

Ronald E Chipp

Gerald A Gyomory

Jeffrey P Cherry

John A Miller

A control module adapted for use as either a master controller or device controller in a distributed electrohydraulic system includes a microprocessor-based control circuit with digital memory having stored therein a plurality of programs for controlling operation of the controller in a variety of applications. A plurality of analog inputs provide a mechanism for connecting sensor signals or the like to input ports of the control microprocessor. A plurality of electrohydraulic valve driver circuits have inputs for receiving valve control signals from the control microprocessor, and outputs for selective connection to electrohydraulic valves coupled to the devices to be controlled. Serial communication circuitry is coupled to the control microprocessor and adapted for connection to a high-speed electrohydraulic bus. A plurality of control routines are prestored in a memory library, as is an executive routine that is employed for operating the microprocessor whether the controller is configured as a master or a device controller. To configure a controller for operation as a master controller or device controller, and to configure the controller for operation in association with a specific type of electrohydraulic device or devices, a selectively programmable and reprogrammable subroutine list coordinates the executive routine with the various control subroutines in the control library for interrelating the analog input signals, the serial communication signals and/or the valve control output signals so as to dedicate operation of the controller as a master controller or as a device controller for a specific type of electrohydraulic device.

Electrohydraulic distributed control system with identical master and

A rotary hydraulic machine which includes a housing having a shaft mounted for rotation within the housing about a shaft axis. A cylinder block is coupled to the shaft for co-rotation with the shaft within the housing and includes a plurality of cylinders disposed in a circumferential array parallel to and surrounding the shaft axis. A piston is disposed to reciprocate within each of the cylinders and is coupled to a yoke for determining displacement of the pistons within the cylinders. A valve plate is mounted on a valve block and includes kidney-shaped slots for registering with the cylinders as the cylinder block rotates, and thereby connecting the cylinders to pump input and output ports. A microprocessor-based controller is externally mounted on the pump valve block and includes internal memory having various remotely-selectable control programs prestored therein. Sensors responsive to pump operating conditions are connected to the pump control electronics, and include a first sensor responsive to yoke position, a pressure sensor responsive to pump output pressure and a speed sensor responsive to angular velocity of shaft rotation. All of the electronic components are mounted on the valve block.

Power transmission

A rotary hydraulic machine which includes a housing having a shaft mounted for rotation within the housing about a shaft axis. A cylidner block is coupled to the shaft for co-rotation with the shaft within the housing and includes a plurality of cylinders disposed in a circumferential array parallel to and surrounding the shaft axis. A piston is disposed to reciprocate within each of the cylinders and is coupled to a yoke for determining displacement of the pistons within the cylinders. A valve plate is mounted on a valve block and includes kidney-shaped slots for registering with the cylinders as the cylinder block rotates, and thereby connecting the cylinders to pump input and output ports. A microprocessor-based controller is externally mounted on the pump valve block and includes internal memory having various remotely-selectable control programs prestored therein. Sensors responsive to pump operating conditions are connected to the pump control electronics, and include a first sensor responsive to yoke position, a pressure sensor responsive to pump output pressure and a speed sensor responsive to angular velocity of shaft rotation. All of the electronic components are mounted on the valve block.

An electrohydraulic control system that includes a plurality of electrohydraulic devices coupled to a remote master controller by a high-speed serial communication bus. The bus has a serial differential transmission line, and a control line for indicating impending transmission of data from one controller and conditioning the other controllers to receive information. Sections of the communication bus are electrically isolated from each other, while maintaining data and control line signal integrity therebetween, by electro-optical interface modules that include transmitters and receivers interconnected by lengths of fiber optic line, and interface drivers having signal ports respectively interconnecting the fiber optic transmitters and receivers to associated sections of the communication bus. An oscillator in the interface module at the isolated end of the bus cooperates with a filter in the module at the bus end of the optic fibers to condition the interface driver at the bus end to receive or transmit data from or to the bus as a function of the transmit/receive control output from the isolated controller. Interconnection is thus accomplished employing only a pair of fiber optic transmitters and receivers, and a pair of fiber optic lines, greatly reducing the cost that would otherwise be incurred if the transmit/receive control line were handled by separate fiber optics.

An electrohydraulic system includes a plurality of electrohydraulic devices individually controlled by on-board microprocessor-based control electronics. Each individual device controller is connected to and addressable by a master controller for coordinating operation of the various devices. An electrohydraulic servo valve assembly includes a hydraulic manifold having a valve spool variably positionable therein under control of a torque motor. A microprocessor-based controller is connected to the torque motor and is mounted on the manifold by a cover which encloses and protects both the controller and the torque motor. A watchdog timer in the microprocessor-based controller monitors pulsewidth modulated signals to the torque motor for terminating operation in the event of signal loss. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the servo valve assembly is coupled to a linear actuator which has its position monitored by an electroacoustic transducer. Improved electronics couple the transducer to the control microprocessor.

A method and apparatus for controlling the various functions of an internal combustion engine using a program-controlled microprocessor having a memory preprogrammed with various control laws and associated control schedules receives information concerning one or more engine-operating parameters such as manifold pressure, throttle position, engine coolant temperature, air temperature, and engine speed or period and the like. These parameters are sensed or measured and then the value thereof is supplied to input circuits for signal conditioning and conversion to digital words usable by the microprocessor. The microprocessor system computes digital control words indicative of particular computer-commanded engine control operations and output circuitry responds to predetermined computer-generated commands and to the computed digital command words for converting them into corresponding pulse-width control signals for controlling such engine operations as fuel-injection, ignition timing, proportional and/or on-off EGR control, and the like. The engine control system further includes an oxygen sensor feedback system for providing reliable data to said microprocessor for command control purposes. In particular the oxygen sensor signal is sampled a predetermined number of times per each engine revolution and the totality of each sampling is determined per revolution. This generates a digital word representing the condition of the air/fuel ratio of the engine over each revolution.

Oxygen sensor feedback loop digital electronic signal integrator for

A method and apparatus for controlling the various functions of an internal combustion engine using a program-controlled microprocessor system having a memory preprogrammed with various control laws and associated control schedules receives information concerning one or more engine-operating parameters such as manifold pressure, throttle position, engine coolant temperature, air temperature, engine speed or period, and the like. These parameters are sensed and then supplied to input circuits for signal conditioning and conversion into digital words usable by the microprocessor system. The microprocessor system computes a digital command word indicative of a computer-commanded engine control operation and output circuitry responds to predetermined computer-generated commands and to the computed digital command word for converting them to corresponding pulse-width control signals for controlling such engine operations as fuel-injection, ignition timing, proportional and/or on-off EGR control, and the like.

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Troy, MI, United States of America

James A Kessler