Patent ID: 11906056
Assignee: RATIER-FIGEAC SAS
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 13:
14. A method of monitoring the pressurisation of a control valve for a hydraulic actuator, the control valve being movable between a neutral position, first actuation position and a second actuation position, the control valve comprising a spool movable along an axis (X), wherein the neutral position of the control valve comprises a mechanical neutral position and a hydraulic neutral position of the spool along the axis;
the method comprising:
controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid through the control valve using the spool so as to control the actuation of a component in a first direction when the spool is in the first actuation position and in a second direction when the spool is in the second actuation position, wherein the flow of hydraulic fluid through the control valve is based on the position of the spool along the axis (X), and wherein in an unpressurised state of the control valve the spool occupies the mechanical neutral position, in a pressurised state of the control valve the spool occupies the hydraulic neutral position and wherein a first two- position solenoid valve and a second two-position solenoid valve are configured to supply hydraulic fluid selectively to the control valve to move the pool from the hydraulic neutral position to one of the first actuation position or the second actuation position;
monitoring the position of the spool within the control valve and detecting whether the spool occupies the mechanical neutral position or the hydraulic neutral position.