Propulsion nozzle and actuator system employed therein

Claim 2

An actuator system comprising a relatively fixed member, first and second movable members, first and second actuators, each having a cylinder element and a piston element means connecting the elements of said first actuator, respectively, to said fixed member and said first movable member, means connecting the elements of said second actuator, respectively, to said first and second movable members, and passageway means, connectable with a source of pressurized motive fluid at said fixed member, and extending from said fixed member, through the first actuator element connected thereto, through the other first actuator element and through the second actuator element connected to the first movable member for sequential flow of motive fluid in powering said actuators.

Claim 3

An actuator system as in claim 1 wherein the first and second actuators extend in opposite directions from said first movable member.

Claim 4

An actuator system as in claim 1 wherein said passageway means further include means connectable with a drain passageway, at said fixed member, and extending from said fixed member through the first actuator element and through the second actuator element connected to the first movable member for sequential drain flow of motive fluid in powering said actuators.

Claim 5

An actuator system as in claim 1 wherein a first valve is mounted on the fixed member and connected on one side with pressurization and drain conduits the passageway means include separate passageways extending from the other side of said valve, through the first actuator element connected to the fixed member, respectively, to opposite ends of the first actuator cylinder element, said first valve being positioned to connect the drain and pressurization conduits respectively with either of said separate passageways, a second valve is mounted on said first movable member, the passageway means include passageways respectively extending from opposite ends of said first actuator cylinder element, through the actuator element connected to said first movable member, to said valve, and passageway means extending from opposite ends of the second actuator cylinder element, through the second actuator element connected to said first movable member, to said valve, said valve having means for selectively connecting different ends of said first and second actuator cylinder elements therethrough.

Claim 6

An actuator system as in claim 1 wherein, the cylinder elements of the first and second actuators comprise cylinders having at one end a head end and the piston elements comprise pistons slidable in the respective cylinders and having rods extending therefrom through the opposite, rod ends of the cylinders, a first valve is mounted on the fixed member with pressurization and drain conduits connected to one side thereof, the first actuator piston rod is connected to the fixed member p1 te firt acuatorpistn ro is on9member and has first and second passageways extending longitudinally thereof from ports outside its cylinder to ports respectively opening on opposite sides of its piston adjacent thereto, conduits respectively connect the outside ports of said first and second passageways to said first valve, a second valve is mounted on said first movable member, conduits respectively connect the rod and head ends of said first actuator cylinders to one side of said second valve, the second actuator cylinder is connected, at its head end to said first movable member, conduits respectively connect the rod and head ends of said second actuator cylinders to the other side of said second valve, said first valve being selectively positioned to connect the first and second piston rod passageways with this pressurization and drain conduits to Power the first actuator in opposite directions, said second valve being selectively positioned to respectively connect the ends of the first actuator with either of the ends of the second actuator to power the second actuator in opposite directions independently of the first actuator and thereby impart relative movement between the first and second movable members.

Claim 7

An actuator system as in claim 5 wherein the actuators are disposed on opposite sides of the first movable member and their axes are generally parallel.

Claim 8

An actuator system as in claim 5 further comprising a plurality of parallel first actuators, each constructed and connected to the fixed and first movable members as defined with respect to the first, first actuator, a plurality of parallel, second actuators, each constructed and connected as defined with respect to the first, second actuator, first and second plenum conduits respectively connected to said first valve, conduits respectively connecting the outside ports of said first and second piston rod passageways with the respective plenum conduits, conduits respectively interconnecting the rod ends and head ends of the first actuator cylinders, common conduits respectively connecting the interconnecting conduits to said second valve, conduits respectively interconnecting the rod and head ends of said second actuator cylinders, and common conduits respectively connecting the second actuator interconnecting conduits to said second valve.

Claim 9

An actuator system as in claim 7 wherein the first and second actuators are disposed on opposite sides of said first movable member and the axes of the first and second actuators are generally parallel.