Inventors:
Charles C. Chenoweth - Bellevue WA
Jan-son Shen - Bellevue WA
Assignee:
The Boeing Company - Seattle WA
International Classification:
F16D 3102
Abstract:
A system for cooling individual integrated actuator packages (IAPs) positioned throughout the aircraft in a power-by-wire actuation system is disclosed. A low-pressure hydraulic fluid circulates throughout the aircraft to control the temperature of the individual IAPs and to maintain and replenish the hydraulic fluid within the individual IAPs. A thermo-control loop containing low-pressure hydraulic fluid includes a pump, low-pressure hydraulic lines, a heat exchanger, a reservoir and a filter. The entire system provides heat transfer for a high- or low-temperature environment, as may be present on an aircraft. The individual IAPs may be coupled together in series or, alternatively, in parallel, depending upon the design constraints of the system. Compared with distributed hydraulic systems, energy consumption, weight, and cost are significantly reduced by using a low hydraulic pressure for the circulating fluid. Survivability is significantly increased over that provided by a distributed hydraulic system.