Methods and apparatus to control movement of a component

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to control movement of a component are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a housing defining a bore and a piston disposed inside the bore. The piston is to be coupled to a movable component disposed outside of the bore. The example apparatus further includes a fluid flowline in fluid communication with a first chamber of the bore and a second chamber of the bore. The first chamber is on a first side of the piston, and the second chamber on a second side of the piston. The example apparatus also includes a valve to control fluid flow through the fluid flowline. The valve is to be in a first state to enable the piston to dampen movement of the component, and the valve is to be in a second state to enable the piston to hold the component substantially stationary.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a housing defining a bore;   a piston disposed inside the bore and to be coupled to a movable component disposed outside of the bore;   a fluid flowline in fluid communication with a first chamber of the bore and a second chamber of the bore, the first chamber on a first side of the piston, the second chamber on a second side of the piston; and   a valve to control fluid flow through the fluid flowline, the valve to be in a first state to enable fluid to dampen movement of the component via the piston, the valve to be in a second state to enable the piston to hold the component substantially stationary.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus provides a closed fluid path comprising the fluid flowline, the first chamber and the second chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is a solenoid. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an accumulator in fluid communication with the fluid flowline. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the accumulator includes a visual indicator to indicate a fluid level of the accumulator. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a first stop and a second stop disposed along a path of the piston. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a first pressure sensor to determine a pressure of fluid in a first portion of the fluid flowline and a second pressure sensor to determine a pressure of the fluid in a second portion of the fluid flowline. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a trunion. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a housing defining a bore;   a piston disposed in the bore, a first side of the piston defining a first end of a fluid flow path, a second side of the piston defining a second end of the fluid flow path, the piston to be coupled to a movable component disposed outside of the bore; and   a valve disposed along the fluid flow path, the valve to be in a first state to enable the piston to be driven along the bore by the component, the valve to be in a second state to prevent the piston from being driven along the bore by the component.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the bore includes a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a wing of an aircraft, the housing coupled to the wing. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising an accumulator in fluid communication with the fluid flow path. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the accumulator includes a visual indicator to indicate a fluid level of the accumulator. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a first stop and a second stop disposed along a path of the piston. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a first pressure sensor to determine a pressure of fluid in a first portion of the fluid flow path and a second pressure sensor to determine a pressure of the fluid in a second portion of the fluid flow path. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a hydraulic piston assembly including a housing defining a bore and a dual-acting piston disposed in the bore, the piston to be coupled to a movable component disposed outside of the bore such that movement of the component is to drive the piston along the bore; and   a valve to control fluid employed via the hydraulic piston assembly, the valve to be in a first state to enable to the piston to displace the fluid, the valve to be in a second state to lock the piston in place.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the bore and the piston define a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising an accumulator in fluid communication with the hydraulic piston assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a first stop and a second stop disposed along a path of the piston. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a first pressure sensor to determine a pressure of the fluid in a first portion of the hydraulic piston assembly and a second pressure sensor to determine a pressure of the fluid in a second portion of the hydraulic piston assembly.