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EP-4230877-B1 - SOLENOID VALVE DRIVEN ACTUATOR SYSTEMS

EP4230877B1EP 4230877 B1EP4230877 B1EP 4230877B1EP-4230877-B1

Inventors

  • O'RORKE, MORGAN
  • DOERNER, Steve
  • SUSCA, Ryan

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20230217

Claims (10)

  1. A solenoid valve driven actuator system, the system comprising: a first solenoid valve (102) having at least one pressure input (107) and a pressure outlet (106) downstream from the at least one pressure input; a second solenoid valve (108) having at least one pressure input (115) and a pressure outlet (112) downstream from the at least one pressure input; a transfer solenoid valve (114) operatively coupled to the first and second solenoid valves; and an actuator valve (116) operatively coupled to a pressure outlet (125) of the transfer solenoid; wherein the at least one pressure input of the first solenoid valve includes a first pressure input (107) and a second pressure input (109); the first solenoid valve (102) further comprises a high-pressure conduit (142) connected to its second pressure input (109) and a low-pressure conduit (141) connected to its first pressure input (107); wherein the at least one pressure input of the second solenoid valve includes a first pressure input (115) and a second pressure input (117); and the second solenoid valve (108) further comprises a high-pressure conduit (144) connected to its second pressure input (117) and a low-pressure conduit (143) connected to its first pressure input (115); characterized in that the low-pressure conduit (141) of the first solenoid (102) includes an orifice (122); wherein the high pressure from the high-pressure conduit (142) of the first solenoid (102) goes into a portion of the low-pressure conduit (141) of the first solenoid downstream from the orifice (122); and wherein the low-pressure conduit (143) of the second solenoid (108) includes an orifice (126); wherein the high pressure from the high-pressure conduit (144) of the second solenoid valve (108) goes into a portion of the low-pressure conduit (143) of the second solenoid valve (108) downstream from the orifice (126).
  2. The solenoid valve driven actuator system of any preceding claim, wherein the transfer solenoid valve is in fluid communication with the pressure outlet of the first solenoid valve and the pressure outlet of the second solenoid valve.
  3. The solenoid valve driven actuator system of any preceding claim, wherein a first pressure inlet (110) of the transfer solenoid valve is in fluid communication with the pressure outlet of the first solenoid valve.
  4. The solenoid valve driven actuator system of claim 3, wherein a second pressure inlet (111) of the transfer solenoid valve is in fluid communication with the pressure outlet of the second solenoid valve.
  5. The solenoid valve driven actuator system of any preceding claim, wherein the first and second solenoid valves are configured and adapted to be operated on a common channel (149).
  6. The solenoid valve driven actuator system of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first and second solenoid valves are configured and adapted to be operated on separate channels (155,157).
  7. The solenoid valve driven actuator system of any preceding claim, wherein the transfer solenoid valve is configured and adapted to operated on a transfer solenoid valve channel (147) separate from channels controlling the first and second solenoid valves.
  8. A method for controlling the solenoid valve driven actuator system of any preceding claim, the method comprising: providing a control signal to at least one of the first solenoid valve (102) or the second solenoid valve (108) to prompt an output from at least one of the first solenoid valve or the second solenoid valve; receiving the output in the transfer solenoid valve (114); providing a transfer control signal to the transfer solenoid valve to prompt the transfer solenoid valve to provide a control pressure from the output to the actuator valve (116) via at least one of the high-pressure side or the low pressure side; and providing the control pressure from the transfer solenoid valve to the actuator valve.
  9. The method as recited in claim 8, controlling the actuator valve with an output of the transfer solenoid valve by exposing an actuator control cavity of the actuator valve to a high pressure source.
  10. The method as recited in claim 8, controlling the actuator valve with an output of the transfer solenoid valve by exposing an actuator control cavity of the actuator valve to a low pressure source.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to actuator systems and more particularly to solenoid driven actuator systems. 2. Description of Related Art In many turbine engines, effector actuation systems (vanes angle, nozzle area, etc) are usually modulated, but sometimes a two-position system may be advantageous. In modern turbine engines, weight and space are more critical than previous engines because of the increased externals content added to improve engine efficiency. A traditional modulating actuator system usually has two Electro-Hydraulic Servo Valves (EHSVs) and a solenoid driven transfer valve, which tend to be heavy. Actuator systems are disclosed in US 2017/051768 A1, EP 3 447 315 A1 and WO 2020/016697 A1. The conventional techniques have been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is a need for improved actuator systems. This invention provides a solution for this need. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A solenoid valve driven actuator system is provided as defined by claim 1. The transfer solenoid valve can be in fluid communication with the pressure outlet of the first solenoid valve and the pressure outlet of the second solenoid valve. A first pressure inlet of the transfer solenoid valve can be in fluid communication with the pressure outlet of the first solenoid valve. A second pressure inlet of the transfer solenoid valve can be in fluid communication with the pressure outlet of the second solenoid valve. In some embodiments, depending on safety requirements of the component/program, first and second solenoid valves are configured and adapted to be operated on a single common channel. The first and second solenoid valves can be configured and adapted to be operated on separate channels. The transfer solenoid valve can be configured and adapted to operate on a transfer solenoid valve channel separate from channels controlling the first and second solenoid valves. In accordance with another aspect, a method for controlling the solenoid valve driven actuator system is provided as defined by claim 8. In some embodiments, the method can include controlling actuator valve with an output of the transfer solenoid valve by exposing an actuator control cavity of the actuator valve to the high pressure source. The method can include controlling the actuator valve with an output of the transfer solenoid valve by exposing an actuator control cavity of the actuator valve to the low-pressure source. These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS So that those skilled in the art to which the subject invention appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject invention without undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic depiction of a solenoid valve driven actuator system constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, showing the first solenoid valve in control;Fig. 2 is a schematic depiction of the system of Fig. 1, showing the second solenoid valve in control; andFig. 3 is a schematic depiction of a solenoid valve driven actuator system constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, showing the first and second solenoid valves driven off the same channel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject invention. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the solenoid valve driven actuator system in accordance with the invention is shown in Fig. 1 and is designated generally by reference character 100. Other embodiments of the solenoid valve driven actuator systems in accordance with the invention, or aspects thereof, are provided in Figs. 2-3 as will be described. The systems and methods described herein can be used to provide a two-position actuator that is lighter weight and smaller in size than traditional modulating actuator systems. As shown in Fig. 1, a solenoid valve driven actuator system 100 is a dual-redundant actuator system 100 that includes a first solenoid valve 102 (Sol 1) and a second solenoid valve 108 (Sol 2). The system 100 includes a transfer solenoid valve 114 operatively coupled to the first and second solenoid valves 102 and 108, respectively. System 100 is arranged such that either the first solenoid valve 102 or the second solenoid valve 108 can control the output to a transfer solenoid valve 114. The first solenoid valve 102 includes a first pressure input 107 and a secon