Patent ID: 7600715
Filing Date: 2009-10-13
Classification: B64C,F15B,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A flight control system for an aircraft, comprising: a plurality of flight control surfaces movably attached to said aircraft; a plurality of hydraulic actuators coupled to said aircraft, said hydraulic actuators configured to position said flight control surfaces; a first central pressure source providing hydraulic fluid under high pressure to a first group of said plurality of hydraulic actuators; a second central pressure source for providing hydraulic fluid under pressure to a second group of said plurality of hydraulic actuators; at least one local pump unit coupled to a first hydraulic actuator within the plurality of hydraulic actuators, each local pump unit including a one-way pressure pump for providing hydraulic fluid under high pressure to said hydraulic actuator, a connection to the first central pressure source for providing hydraulic fluid under high pressure to said first actuator, and a motor for driving said pump, each of said hydraulic actuators being coupled to one of said flight control surfaces; a pressure sensor outputting a signal indicative of the pressure of the first central pressure source; a controller receiving the signal from the pressure sensor and configured to active said one-way pressure pump upon the signal indicating a pressure reduction below a threshold value of the first central pressure source; and a flight control surface within said plurality of flight control surfaces having said first hydraulic actuator coupled thereto and also having a second hydraulic actuator within the plurality coupled thereto to cause movement of the flight control surface when either the first or second or both of the hydraulic actuators are activated, the first hydraulic actuator being coupled to both the first central pressure source and the at least one local pump unit and the second hydraulic actuator being coupled solely to the second central pressure source, and not coupled to the at least one local pump unit.