Honeywell International Inc.

Mark H Baker

George T Woessner

Steve G Abel

Stephen G Abel

Donald Jeffrey Christensen

Kevin K Chakkera

Ronald A Peck

Dennis M Alexander

A self-snubbing hydraulic actuation system includes a hydraulic motor, a component actuator, a control valve, a valve actuator, and a variable resistance device. The hydraulic motor is configured, upon receipt of hydraulic fluid, to rotate and supply a drive torque. The component actuator is configured, upon receipt of drive torque from the motor, to translate to a position. The control valve is movable to a plurality of valve positions to thereby control hydraulic fluid flow rate to the hydraulic motor. The valve actuator is coupled to the control valve and is adapted to receive electrical current and to move the control valve to a valve position based on the magnitude of the received electrical current. The variable resistance device is configured, based on component actuator position, to selectively vary the magnitude of the electrical current received by the valve actuator.

Self-snubbing hydraulic actuation system

Systems and methods of controlling solid propellant gas pressure and vehicle thrust are provided. Propellant gas pressure and a vehicle inertial characteristic are sensed. Propellant gas pressure commands and vehicle thrust commands are generated. A propellant gas pressure error is determined based on the propellant gas pressure commands and the sensed propellant gas pressure, and vehicle thrust error is determined based on the vehicle thrust commands and the sensed vehicle inertial characteristic. Reaction control valves are moved between closed and full-open positions based on the determined propellant gas pressure error and on the determined vehicle thrust error. The system and method allow the reaction control valves to operate at variable frequencies or at fixed frequencies. The system and method also allows propellant pressure to be commanded to follow a predetermined pressure profile or commanded to vary 'on-the-fly.'

Solid propellant gas control system and method

Systems and methods of controlling solid propellant burn rate, propellant gas pressure, propellant gas pressure pulse shape, and propellant gas flow rate, rely on pulse width modulation of a control valve duty cycle. A control valve that is movable between a closed position and a full-open position is disposed downstream of, and in fluid communication with, a solid propellant gas generator. The solid propellant in the solid propellant gas generator is ignited, to thereby generate propellant gas. The control valve is moved between the closed position and the full-open position at an operating frequency and with a valve duty cycle. The valve duty cycle is the ratio of a time the control valve is in the full-open position to a time it takes the valve to complete one movement cycle at the operating frequency. The valve duty cycle is controlled to attain a desired solid propellant burn rate, propellant gas pressure, propellant gas pressure pulse shape, and/or propellant gas flow rate.

Solid propellant burn rate, propellant gas flow rate, and propellant gas pressure pulse generation control system and method

A vehicle, such as a missile, with a pilot valve system controls the vehicle's thrust valves despite a hostile propellant gas environment. The pilot valve system can have one or more pilot valves. Using refractory elements, the pilot valve ball reciprocates between a supply seat and a vent seat which is subject to the filtered inflow of propellant thrust gases. When open, the pilot valve allows the stray thrust gas to communicate to a control chamber which closes a poppet against a valve seat in the nozzle. When an associated solenoid closes the pilot valve by pushing the pilot valve ball against the supply seat, the control chamber is vented to ambient. The poppet may then travel into the cylinder bore and the nozzle is opened to exhaust propellant gases and exert lateral thrust on the vehicle. Certain nozzle thrust geometries provide useful vehicle guidance.

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Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America

Mark H Baker