Fluidic actuation circuit system and method

Abstract

A fluidic actuation system for controlling rotation of one or more panels, having a first valve circuit configured to be fluidically coupled to a first vessel and a fluid source, having a first and second valve; and a second valve circuit configured to be fluidically coupled to a second vessel and the fluid source, having a third and fourth valve. The first valve is configured to control a supply of fluid from the fluid source to the first vessel; the second valve is configured to release fluid from the first vessel; the third valve is configured to control a supply of the fluid from the fluid source to the second vessel; and the fourth valve is configured to release the fluid from the second vessel. Introduction or release of fluid from one or both the first and second vessels is configured to cause rotation of the one or more panels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluidic actuation system for controlling a rotation of one or more solar panels about an axis of rotation, fluidic actuation system comprising:
 a first inflatable vessel associated with a solar panel, such that inflation of the first inflatable vessel causes the solar panel to rotate about the axis of rotation in a first direction, and deflation of the first inflatable vessel causes the solar panel to rotate about the axis of rotation in a second direction;   a second inflatable vessel coupled to the solar panel, such that inflation of the second inflatable vessel causes the solar panel to rotate about the axis of rotation in the second direction, and deflation of the second inflatable vessel causes the solar panel to rotate about the axis of rotation in the first direction;   a source of pressurized fluid storing a pressurized fluid;   a first valve circuit, comprising:
 a first solenoid valve; and 
 a second solenoid valve; 
   a second valve circuit, comprising:
 a third solenoid valve; and 
 a fourth solenoid valve; and 
   a controller;   wherein the first valve circuit is operatively connected between the source of pressurized fluid and the first inflatable vessel, and the second valve circuit is operatively connected between the source of pressurized fluid and the second inflatable vessel, and   wherein the controller operates the first solenoid valve to supply pressurized fluid from the source of pressurized fluid to the first inflatable vessel, the controller operates the second solenoid valve to release pressurized fluid from the first inflatable vessel, the controller operates the third solenoid valve to supply pressurized fluid from the source of pressurized fluid to the second inflatable vessel, and the controller operates the fourth solenoid valve to release the pressurized fluid from the second inflatable vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The fluidic actuation system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller introduces or removes fluid from the first and second inflatable vessels to generate rotation of the one or more solar panels about the axis of rotation in response to a determined position of the sun. 
     
     
         3 . The fluidic actuation system of  claim 1 , wherein the first valve circuit is completely independent of the second valve circuit. 
     
     
         4 . The fluidic actuation system of  claim 1 , wherein the first valve circuit and second valve circuit are connected by one or more fluid pathways each controlled by a fifth and sixth solenoid valve. 
     
     
         5 . The fluidic actuation system of  claim 4 , further comprising opening the fifth and sixth solenoid valves connecting the first valve circuit and second valve circuit to cause an equalization of pressure between the first and second valve circuits and between the first and second inflatable vessels. 
     
     
         6 . The fluidic actuation system of  claim 5 , wherein equalizing the pressure between the first and second valve circuits causes the solar panel to return to a resting position, as the pressure in the opposing first and second inflatable vessels equalizes. 
     
     
         7 . A fluidic actuation system for controlling a rotation of one or more panels, the fluidic actuation system comprising:
 one or more fluidic actuators configured to be associated with the one or more panels, the one or more fluidic actuators comprising:
 a first vessel, and 
 a second vessel, 
   a first valve circuit configured to be fluidically coupled to the first vessel and a fluid source, the first valve circuit comprising:
 a first valve; and 
 a second valve; 
   a second valve circuit configured to be fluidically coupled to the second vessel and the fluid source, the first valve circuit comprising:
 a third valve; and 
 a fourth valve; and 
   wherein a controller can operate the first valve to control a supply of fluid from the fluid source to the first vessel based at least in part on a position of the sun, and wherein the controller can operate the second valve to release fluid from the first vessel,   wherein the controller can operate the third valve to control a supply of the fluid from the fluid source to the second vessel based at least in part on a position of the sun, and wherein the controller can operate the fourth valve to release fluid from the second vessel,   wherein introduction or release of fluid from one or both of the first and second vessels is configured to cause rotation of the one or more fluidic actuators.   
     
     
         8 . The fluidic actuation system of  claim 7 , further comprising a third valve circuit configured to be fluidically coupled to a third vessel and the fluid source, the third valve circuit comprising:
 a fifth valve; and   a sixth valve; and   wherein the fifth valve is configured to control a supply of the fluid from the fluid source to the second vessel, and wherein the sixth valve is configured to release the fluid from the third vessel.   
     
     
         9 . The fluidic actuation system of  claim 7 , wherein the first valve circuit is completely independent of the second valve circuit. 
     
     
         10 . The fluidic actuation system of  claim 7 , wherein the first valve circuit and second valve circuit are connected by one or more fluid pathways controlled by a fifth valve. 
     
     
         11 . The fluidic actuation system of  claim 10 , wherein opening the fifth valve connecting the first valve circuit and second valve circuit is configured to cause an equalization of pressure between the first and second valve circuits and between the first and second vessels. 
     
     
         12 . The fluidic actuation system of  claim 11 , wherein equalizing the pressure between the first and second valve circuits is configured to cause the one or more panels to return to a resting position, as the pressure in the opposing first and second vessels equalizes. 
     
     
         13 . A fluidic actuation system for controlling rotation of one or more panels, the fluidic actuation system comprising:
 a first valve circuit configured to be fluidically coupled to a first vessel and a fluid source, the first valve circuit including:
 a first valve; and 
 a second valve; and 
   a second valve circuit configured to be fluidically coupled to a second vessel and the fluid source, the second valve circuit comprising:
 a third valve; and 
 a fourth valve; 
   wherein the first valve is configured to control a supply of fluid from the fluid source to the first vessel, and wherein the second valve is configured to release fluid from the first vessel,   wherein the third valve is configured to control a supply of the fluid from the fluid source to the second vessel, and wherein the fourth valve is configured to release the fluid from the second vessel, and   wherein introduction or release of fluid from one or both the first and second vessels is configured to cause rotation of the one or more panels.   
     
     
         14 . The fluidic actuation system of  claim 13 , further comprising a third valve circuit configured to be fluidically coupled to a third vessel and the fluid source, the third valve circuit comprising:
 a fifth valve; and   a sixth valve; and   wherein the fifth valve is configured to control a supply of the fluid from the fluid source to the second vessel, and wherein the sixth valve is configured to release the fluid from the third vessel.   
     
     
         15 . The fluidic actuation system of  claim 13 , wherein the first valve circuit is completely independent of the second valve circuit. 
     
     
         16 . The fluidic actuation system of  claim 13 , wherein the first valve circuit and second valve circuit are connected by one or more fluid pathways controlled by a fifth valve. 
     
     
         17 . The fluidic actuation system of  claim 16 , wherein opening the fifth valve connecting the first valve circuit and second valve circuit is configured to cause an equalization of pressure between the first and second valve circuits and between the first and second vessels. 
     
     
         18 . The fluidic actuation system of  claim 17 , wherein equalizing the pressure between the first and second valve circuits is configured to cause the one or more panels to return to a resting position, as the pressure in the opposing first and second vessels equalizes. 
     
     
         19 . The fluidic actuation system of  claim 13 , further comprising a stow-on-power-loss system including a normally-open valve with a spring-return, where the normally-open valve is held closed when the fluidic actuation system is powered, and the spring-return automatically opens the normally-open valve when the fluidic actuation system loses power, the stow-on-power-loss system configured to automatically actuate the first and second vessels to a stow position when the fluidic actuation system loses power. 
     
     
         20 . The fluidic actuation system of  claim 13 , further comprising a replenish-leaks-on-power-loss system including a normally-open valve with a spring-return, where the normally-open valve is held closed when the fluidic actuation system is powered, and the springAB-return automatically opens the normally-open valve when the fluidic actuation system loses power, the replenish-leaks-on-power-loss system configured to automatically introduce fluid to the system from a pressurized fluid source when the fluidic actuation system loses power. 
     
     
         21 . The fluidic actuation system of  claim 13 , wherein the introduction or release of fluid from one or both the first and second vessels to cause rotation of the one or more panels is in response to a determined position of the sun.