Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation

Jeffrey A Eldridge

Steven A Avritch

David F Dickie

Christopher Brian Noll

Peter Martin Gilbert

An example actuator control system includes a variable differential transformer (VDT) configured to measure displacement of a motor, and a motor controller configured to control the motor based on displacement data from the VDT. A circuit card assembly (CCA) interconnects the VDT to the motor controller. The CCA includes memory storing configuration data of the VDT, and the CCA is configured to provide the configuration data to the motor controller to calibrate the motor controller for use of the VDT. A method of configuring a motor controller is also disclosed.

Actuator control system utilizing circuit card assembly

An example actuator assembly includes an actuator configured to move a rod. A variable differential transformer (VDT) is situated adjacent to the actuator. The VDT includes a core coupled to the rod such that movement of the rod causes a corresponding movement of the core. A plurality of windings surround the core for measuring displacement of the core. A shield surrounds the plurality of windings and shields the plurality of windings from a magnetic field of the actuator. The shield having a maximum permeability of 50,000-500,000. A LVDT configuration method is also disclosed.

VDT with high permeability shield

A fly-by-wire system includes an electromechanical actuator which includes a plurality of electromechanical motors. Each of the plurality of electromechanical motors is configured and operable to exchange operating status information with the other redundant electromechanical motors within the actuator. Also, each one of the plurality of electromechanical actuators is configured and operable to automatically configure itself for optimal mode of operation based on the received operating status information of at least one of the other electromechanical motors. The fly-by-wire system further includes a flight control computer operatively connected to the plurality of electromechanical motors within the actuator.

Autonomous reconfiguration of a multi-redundant actuator control system

A pulse width modulation signaling system includes a first control channel that is configured to receive a hardware Boolean command input from a first hardware status monitor, receive a software multi-bit command input from a first software system, and generate a first pulse width modulated signal that is representative of the Boolean command input and the software multi-bit command input. The hardware Boolean command input is a binary value of either a first state or a second state, the software multi-bit command input includes a binary value of either a first state or a second state, and the first pulse width modulated signal defines a duty cycle.

PWM signaling and encoding multiple statuses

An example actuator control system includes an actuator, a plurality of motors configured to cooperatively operate the actuator, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine an output signal for controlling active ones of the motors during a current update cycle based on a first gain value, an integral contribution from the current update cycle, and an integral contribution from a preceding update cycle. The controller is configured to, based on a quantity of the motors that is active differing between the current and preceding update cycles, scale the integral contribution from the preceding update cycle for the output signal determination based on the first gain value and a second gain value from the preceding update cycle. A method of controlling a plurality of actuator motors is also disclosed.

Actuator control system with transient reduction after redundancy level changes

A method and control system that implements a particular aircraft harnessing for an aircraft is provided. The control system includes an effector Line-Replaceable Unit (LRU) including a first connection port, a second connection port, and a first interconnect wire internally connecting the first connection port and the second connection port, a first control LRU connected using a first harnessing to the effector LRU, and a second control LRU connected using a second harnessing to the effector LRU, wherein the first control LRU and the second control LRU are configured to communicate using the first interconnect wire in the effector LRU.

Growing community of inventors

Ellington, CT, United States of America

Jeffrey A Eldridge