EP1418343A1 - Control means for an integrated electrohydraulic actuator - Google Patents

Abstract

The tap system is activated by a hydraulic drive controlled by a motor feed and a hydraulic pump pumping fluid in a hydraulic reservoir. The equipment is housed in a common fluid sealed envelope and has a local manual tap control (22).

Description

The present invention relates to a system for fittings comprising a tap, an electro-hydraulic actuator for actuation of the valve and an actuator control device, in especially in environments where a large number of taps are each connected on the one hand to a common source of electric current and on the other hand to a central information processing system, in particular in so-called harsh environments, for example in ships. The control device consists of an electric motor, a block hydraulic comprising a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic tank, and an electronic assembly for local control of the tap.

In the prior art, particularly in the shipbuilding sector, we already know faucets like this. The actuator control devices are there generally made up of two parts, namely a first part comprising a housing, in which the electric motor and the block are located hydraulic, comprising a pump and a reservoir, and a second part with a cabinet or small cabinet in which there is a post local control electronics, including a PLC.

This type of prior device suffers from several disadvantages. First, these devices do not offer much functionality for the end user. Second, these devices are very sensitive to breakdowns, especially when installed in so-called harsh environments, for example in the marine environment. It turns out that the more features offered by these devices, the more they are likely to fail during exposure to harsh environments. Finally, these devices, by their very design in two parts, are bulky, even though in some difficult environments such as example in boats, ships or other confined facilities, the place available is an important factor.

The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a new control device for an electro-hydraulic actuator a tap, which offers more functionality for controlling and valve control, including, for example, the possibility of manual control in the event of failure of the central control system, monitoring the motor temperature, its amperage and the time maneuvering, end-of-travel discrimination, level monitoring oil, an indication of movement, etc., without, however, propensity to fail the device when exposed to an environment difficult, especially in a ship, does not increase. On the contrary, following invention, the system is less sensitive to harsh environments and especially in marine environments, for example at a humidity level Student. Finally, the system is less bulky than the systems of the art anterior, which makes it particularly suitable for use in boats or ships.

According to the invention, a valve system is such that defined in claim 1.

By thus planning to integrate in a single envelope the electric motor, hydraulic block and electronic assembly order, it's no longer necessary to get many system functionality to provide numerous transmission wires for data between a control cabinet (in which the whole was placed electronic command and local control in the case of the prior art) and a box in which the engine is located. However, if we foresee in the many wire prior devices for transmitting data in order to increase the functionality offered to the end user of the tap it is necessary to provide many openings for the passage of these wires in the housing comprising the engine and the hydraulic block. The complexity and significant number of wires required to transmit commands related to these functionalities are such that the reliability of these functionalities is not not of an acceptable level. According to the invention, on the contrary, one can plan as much as you want without having to plan or a large number of son, nor numerous passage openings. A local order, i.e. independent of central power and control systems and control and assigned respectively to the actuator is thus possible. In particular an operator or a user can manually control the tap in the immediate vicinity of it while being assigned to it.

According to an improvement of the invention, the housing common has an access opening to part of the assembly electronic, in particular a part for a local order.

By thus providing an opening in the case for allow the user to come and order the electronic system directly valve, we make sure that it is not necessary, as soon as the central system breaks down and we wish to do however operate the faucet, having to remove the entire housing and expose it all under difficult conditions, in particular at a high humidity level, which is very harmful for electronic circuits, especially cards with printed circuit board.

According to an improvement of the invention, the housing common has a second access opening to the connectors for the connection of the motor and the electronic assembly to the electrical and data power. So, just as in the case of the access opening to the electronic control part, when connects the two electrical power networks and data from the central control system and the network central power supply, it is not necessary to remove the housing, and thus avoids subjecting the control device to the actuator under difficult conditions, in particular a high humidity level.

According to a further improvement of the invention, the common housing has an auxiliary compartment in which are located connection terminals for connectors, auxiliary compartment being sealed against fluids and dust, compared to the rest of the case.

So when you make the connections, you don't not allow the introduction inside the case and especially on circuits integrated electronics, dust and other humidity.

According to an improvement of the invention, the housing has a second auxiliary compartment in which is located said part of local control, notably manual, of electronics.

According to a particularly embodiment advantageous, the electronic assembly includes a microcontroller allowing integrate the control and command functions of the motor and pump. Means can also be provided for performing the interpretation. operator commands. One can also provide a system of restitution of end positions, and digital electrical signals or proportional. Means can also be provided for monitor motor temperature, motor amperage or time engine operation. Means can also be provided for end of race discrimination. Means can also be provided for high and low oil level monitoring. We can also provide means for indicating movement. We can also provide means diagnostic and predictive maintenance.

In general, we can provide as many functionalities that we want, knowing that we are no longer limited by the fact to have as many wires as there are functionalities between a cabinet and a housing.

The present invention also relates to a system for valves comprising an electro-hydraulic actuator and a device for control according to the invention. In particular, the tap can be a tap quarter turn or a linear tap.

In the drawing, given only as an example, Figure 1 is an overview of a valve system in a ship having a central data processing system, a central system power supply and a plurality of electro-hydraulic valves and actuators associates each linked to central systems.

In Figure 2, it is shown in a view in exploded perspective a common housing according to the invention.

In Figure 3, there is shown the control device of the electro-hydraulic actuator as incorporated in the housing of the figure 2;

Figure 4 is an overview of the actuator hydraulic, its control device and its associated tap.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the housing of Figure 2 comprising the following hydraulic actuator control device the invention.

In Figure 1, there is shown a valve system In a boat. Several R valves each have their own actuator 1 hydraulic. Each of these valve + actuator assemblies hydraulics are connected on the one hand by electrical cables 2 to a system central power supply 3, and secondly, by buses communication, i.e. data transmission lines, to a 4 central processor governing the central command and control of these taps R.

In Figure 3, there is shown in more detail a hydraulic actuator control device according to the invention. The device 5 for controlling the hydraulic actuator consists of a housing 6 in which is enclosed a motor 7, a hydraulic block 8 and an assembly 9 electronic (in the form of printed circuit boards for example) allowing local command and control of the control device 5 of the hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic block 8 includes a pump 10 to gear, an oil tank 11 and hydraulic circuits 12 comprising hydraulic valves 12 for the connection with the hydraulic actuator 2 in view of its control by hydraulics. The common box 6 is made up a side wall 18 which goes all around a bottom 14 and a top 15 which is fixed to the rest of the case by screws 18 screwed into an upper flange 17 projecting inwardly from the side wall 18. He is trained in this above 15 of the housing 6 an opening 20 which, by removing a plug 21 sealed, allows access to a control part 22 local manual of the actuator control device 5 and therefore allows local tap control. These orders are made under the 23 push buttons that can be pushed to control directly the electronic actuator control assembly.

A waterproof and flexible membrane 24 can be provided interposed between the pushbuttons 28 and the outside, so that the operator can press the buttons by pressing the membrane which transmits to the buttons 23 the thrust of the operator, the membrane being arranged in a sealed manner, so that when the operator performs the control by pushing the buttons, it does not expose the inside of the case common to the difficult external environment, in particular to an environment at high humidity.

In addition, there is an auxiliary compartment 29 in the common box in which part 22 of manual control is received local control device.

Similarly, in the lateral part, there is formed a opening 30 which is discovered by unscrewing a plug 31 which can be screwed tightly over the opening. This opening gives access to blocks 32 terminals for the connection of the electrical network and the data respectively to the engine and to the electronic assembly 9, which found in the case. These terminal blocks 33 are themselves enclosed in an auxiliary compartment 34, so that when carrying out the connection of the two power and data networks, the rest of the housing is not subject to a difficult environment, especially at a low high humidity.

The hydraulic pump is a gear pump. We could obviously provide other types of pumps according to the invention.

The set 9 of local control electronics is consisting of printed circuit boards 40 on which circuits are provided electronics allowing the control of the electric actuator in function of a certain amount of data obtained from several different sensors arranged either in the tap, in the actuator, or in the device actuator control.

Thus it is no longer necessary, to provide a additional functionality at the tap, to provide for the passage of a wire additional through the housing where the motor and the block are located hydraulic. As the electronic assembly is also found in the same housing, the connection between the engine and the hydraulic block and this assembly is done without having to remove the box to make the connection and without having to provide sealing systems for each wire. One and only connection for the data crosses the case, namely between the central unit 4 and all 9 electronics. In addition, when you want to order locally the tap, we do not need to remove the box to access the part of local control, in particular manual, of assembly 9 control electronics.

• Microcontrôleur pour intégrer les fonctions de contrôle et commande locaux du moteur et de la pompe.
• Interprétation des commandes de l'utilisateur.
• Restitution des positions de fin de course.
• Surveillance de la température du moteur, de l'amperage ou de son temps de manoeuvre.
• Discrimination de fin de course.
• Surveillance du niveau d'huile, haut et bas.
• Indication du mouvement.
• Diagnostic et maintenance prédictives.

The different functionalities that can be foreseen are the following (without this list being exhaustive or limiting):

• Microcontroller to integrate the local control and command functions of the motor and the pump.
• Interpretation of user commands.
• Restitution of the end positions.
• Monitoring of the engine temperature, amperage or its operating time.
• Discrimination at the end of the race.
• Oil level monitoring, high and low.
• Indication of movement.
• Predictive diagnostics and maintenance.

These different features are well known. They are easily implemented by electronic circuits and sensors well known and not described in more detail here, the circuits electronic being arranged in the electronic assembly 9.

Data signals are either analog signals, or digital signals. In the case of analog signals, you can provide an analog / digital converter upstream of the box which transform the signals into digital signals before sending them to printed circuit boards or cards of the electronic assembly 9.

Claims (8)

Valve system, comprising at least two valves, each valve being actuated by a hydraulic actuator associated therewith, each hydraulic actuator being controlled by a control device, each control device comprising a motor supplying a hydraulic pump which draws in hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic tank, and an electronic assembly, the at least two motors being supplied with current by a central electrical supply and also being controlled centrally by a central data processing unit to which they are connected by a data bus, characterized in what : for each control device, the electric motor, the hydraulic pump, the tank and the electronic assembly are enclosed in a common envelope, in particular a housing, preferably in a fluid-tight manner; and the electronic assembly is an electronic assembly (22) for local, in particular manual, control of the tap. Faucet system according to claim 1, characterized in that the common housing (16) has an opening (20) for access to a part (22) of the electronic assembly (9), in particular a part for local control. Faucet system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the common housing (16) has a second opening (30) for access to the connectors for connecting the motor (7) and the electronic assembly (9) electrical and data networks (2, 3, 4). Faucet system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the common housing (6) comprises an auxiliary compartment (34) in which the terminals (33) for connection are located, the auxiliary compartment (34) being made tight vis-à-vis fluids and dust, compared to the rest of the housing. Faucet system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the housing (6) comprises a second auxiliary compartment (29) in which is located said part (22) of local control, in particular manual, of electronics , and it is possible to provide a waterproof membrane (24) interposed between this compartment (29) auxiliary and the outside of the housing. Valve system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the signals exchanged between the central unit (4) and each system are digital signals. Valve system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the signals exchanged with the central unit (4) are analog signals and an analog digital converter is provided upstream of the housing, between the latter and the central unit (4). Ship, especially boat or aircraft with a system valves according to one of claims 1 to 7.

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