Bert Wayne Robb

US Patent:

20110208362, Aug 25, 2011

Filed:

Feb 22, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/710039

Inventors:

Kevin E. Alstrin - Waconia MN, US
Peter Lauer - Eden Prairie MN, US
Bert Robb - Clear Lake MN, US

International Classification:

G05D 7/06

US Classification:

700282

Abstract:

A device for controlling the motion of a fluid actuator which includes an electrically operated control valve that controls the flow of a pressurized fluid to and from the fluid actuator in response to signals generated by an actuator controller which uses an on-board, user programmable microprocessor where the user can download various control algorithms into the microprocessor for controlling the motion of the actuator based on such parameters as fluid pressure and flow rates and actuator displacement. Various external sensors can be connected to the controller for monitoring and control purposes using various signal interfaces such as an analog to digital converter or an SSI interface. A local communication bus is used to communicate with one or more slave actuators each having their own electrically operated control valve that controls the flow of a pressurized fluid to and from the slave actuator in response to control signals generated by the controller and sent to the slave control valve over the local bus. Sensors are used to measure various operating parameters of the slave actuator and generate signals that are sent to the controller over the local bus. A supervisory computer is used to send a high level command signal to the controller where the controller generates a closed loop control signal to one or more fluid actuators.

US Patent:

20140156089, Jun 5, 2014

Filed:

Nov 25, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/089301

Inventors:

- Cleveland OH, US
Peter Lauer - Eden Prairie MN, US
Bert W. Robb - Clear Lake MN, US

International Classification:

G05D 7/06

US Classification:

700282

Abstract:

A hydraulic actuator control system for controlling the motion of a master actuator and at least one slave actuator may include an external supervisory computer for sending command signals. A hydraulic control system may be connected to the master actuator and the supervisory computer. The hydraulic control system may include a microprocessor and a master hydraulic control valve for controlling the flow of a pressurized fluid to the master actuator based on the command signals. The hydraulic actuator control system may include at least one slave actuator having at least one slave sensor connected to the microprocessor and having at least one slave control valve for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid to the slave actuator. The slave control valve and the slave sensor may be controlled by the microprocessor.