Electronic
Engine Control

Woodward works with the engine OEM to understand and resolve their complex engine control system dynamics issues. Designs may result in engine control line replaceable units (LRUs) or may be incorporated into another LRU for local control.

To mitigate effects of component obsolescence and to leverage cost advantages, COTS (Commercial Off the Shelf) components are used where possible in the design of the electronics.

O/S Software is developed per DO-178B and certified to level A and is subdivided into operating system (OS) and application software (AS).

Woodward’s new product introduction (NPI) process is built on a solid foundation of design for six sigma (DFSS) tools, incorporating design for reliability (DFR), design for producibility (DFP), and design to cost (DTC) scorecards from requirements definition through certification.

Permanent Magnet Alternator

Permanent Magnet Alternator (PMA) supplies power to an Electronic Engine Control (EEC), which is part of the turbine engine control system. The PMA is typically driven by the accessory gearbox drive shaft. The mechanical rotation of the drive shaft is converted into electrical energy by the PMA. Woodward has used their expertise in Fuel Metering Unit packaging, design and manufacture to integrate the alternator within the fuel control up to speeds of 12,000 RPM. Advantages include a smaller “system” footprint and one fewer LRU (Line Replaceable Unit).

Sensor Suite

Woodward’s broad sensor offering enhances our ability to meet customer cost and performance requirements. By monitoring key engine parameters, Woodward controls are able to eliminate variation previously addressed using costly manufacturing techniques. Woodward has also demonstrated our ability to derive engine parameters such as fuel flow without flow meters or remaining fuel level without tank floats.

Woodward has also developed low-cost sensing solutions, such as Hall Effect technologies, that can be applied to ancillary control functions. We have developed local control modules that close the ‘inner loop” at the line replaceable unit (LRU) and accept only basic ‘outer loop’ demands from the main Electronic Engine Control.

Actuator

Air Valve

Woodward is a world leader in the design and manufacture of air valves and air metering technologies across the turbine engine environment. Our designs leverage decades of experience with reliable operation in harsh environments, including those in extreme high temperature (1400°F) and severe exhaust contamination. Furthermore, decades of industry leading innovations in turbine engine actuation, position sensing, and servo systems provide for highly reliable and cost-effective solutions.

Design features include:

• A CFD-led systems approach to yield significant cost and weight savings without violating the most stringent envelope constraints
• Innovative flow body designs capable of meeting Class IV “bubble tight” sealing per ANSI/FCI 70-2 over life in extreme environments (equates to 0.01% of rated flow)
• Leverage of industry leading actuator and servo innovations that reduce LRU and System costs while simultaneously improving reliability

Servo Controls

Woodward’s broad range of single- and two-stage servovalve platform technologies lead the industry in performance capability at a low cost. We combine the pedigree of millions of successful flight hours in field proven elements with enhanced, robust design features to provide the highest performance to cost ratio versus the competition. Our EHSVs are available in jet pipe, diverter jet, nozzle flapper, clevis, and direct drive configurations for the aerospace, industrial, and medical industries.

Design features include:

• Proven design elements to meet extreme environments such as 100G continuous operation at 300 degrees F.
• Reliable, accurate, and cost effective flow and pressure control.
• History of successful, transparent competitive displacements offer OEMs and Operators cost savings throughout the remaining product lifecycle.
• Reuse of scalable design tools to reduce risk, cut costs, and boost reliability.

Fuel Nozzles

Woodward builds integrated fuel injection components for a wide range of commercial and military aerospace applications. At the core of this product expertise is a full range of nozzle types:

• pressure atomizing,
• airblast,
• air assist and,
• hybrid airblast nozzles.

Features include:

• Innovative designs to enable lean burn across the aircraft operating envelope.
• World class test facilities for test across a range of temperatures and pressures – light-off, flame holding, flame stability, after burning, nozzle, and sector rig.
• Engineering capabilities and analytical tools ensure coke-free, long life in harsh environments.

Thrust Reverser Actuation
System (TRAS)

Woodward is a recognized global industry leader in thrust reverser actuation systems. We design, develop, and manufacture a complete range of hydraulic actuation solutions, including benchmark applications like the Boeing 737 family.

Direction Control Module

Woodward TRAS features our own Directional Control Valve (or unit). These safety critical components control the swift and safe actuation of the thrust reversers from the closed to open positions.

Horizontal Stabilizer

Woodward HSTA (Horizontal Stabilizer Trim Actuation) systems combine a trim actuator with a remotely mounted ECU (Electronics Control Unit) to provide high system availability and ensure all safety goals are met.

Woodward’s ECU has two fully independent channels of control and contains a number of features:

• Fault monitoring
• Structurally redundant load paths
• Electrically redundant power drives

Primary Flight Controls

Woodward’s primary flight control actuators power flight-critical control surfaces, including those on the F-35C and advanced F/A-18E/F/G aircraft. These actuator designs include:

• Triple-redundant electronic control
• Woodward primary flight control servovalves
• 4,000 and 5,000 psi hydraulics
• Light-weight materials
• On-board position loop closure, built in test (BIT), failure monitoring, and IEEE 1394B serial bus (F-35C only)

Woodward primary flight control actuators have demonstrated high performance and high reliability in demanding operational environments.

Secondary Flight Controls

Woodward is an industry leader in the design, development, and manufacture of electric and hydraulic secondary flight control actuators for:

• Flaps Slats Spoilers Trim surfaces

From hydraulic designs used on early commercial transport aircraft, to FBW (fly-by-wire) spoilers on military aircraft, to electric actuators flying on business and regional jets, Woodward has continuously advanced the state of the art in secondary flight control actuators.

Tilt Rotor Actuation

Woodward applies technology developed for Fixed and Rotary Wing aircraft flight control and hydraulic components to supply specialized control systems on the two tilt rotor platforms flying today, the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey and the AgustaWestland AW609.

V-22 actuation components include:

• Primary and Back-up Hydraulic Power Drive Units used to control the position of the pylon conversion actuators (PCAs)
• Rotor Positioning Unit (RPU) used for correct indexing of rotor blades prior to blade fold
• Fuel Probe Control Valve used to deploy and retract the in-flight refueling probe
• All the V-22 components operate at 5,000 psi hydraulic system pressure.

On the AW609, Woodward provides the complete pylon conversion system (PCS) including a pair of PCAs and position-synchronizing torque tubes that run across the upper wing. The PCAs are telescoping ballscrew actuators driven through a gearbox by an Electrohydraulic Servovalve-controlled hydraulic motor.

Hydraulic Modules

As a producer of both hydraulic and actuation components, Woodward is able to provide our customers mission-critical components, as well as complete hydraulic subsystems design, development, integration, and manufacturing capability.

Our hydraulic component product scope includes:

• Manifolds Control valves and servovalves
• Reservoir filter modules Accumulators Dampers
• System control modules

As a world leading supplier of hydraulic flight control actuators, Woodward has continuously advanced the state of the art in hydraulic component designs through application of technologies developed for demanding flight control systems.

Woodward components are flying today on frontline military and commercial aircraft worldwide including the F-35 JSF, F-18E/F, and V-22.

Main & Tail Rotor Actuation

Woodward has been a leader in the design, development, and manufacture of rotorcraft MRA (main rotor) and TRA (tail rotor) primary flight control actuators for over 50 years. Woodward has continuously advanced state of the art in MRA and TRA design, from early designs used on the Bell UH-1 Huey, to the multi-redundant FBW (fly-by-wire) actuators currently in development testing. Simple unity feedback boost actuators have transitioned into complex mechanical feedback, dual parallel, and dual tandem designs, with integral SCAS in some cases.

Woodward MRAs and TRAs contain:

• Jam-proof servo-control valves and redundancy in other key functions
• Recognized worldwide for high reliability and low cost of ownership. DDV (direct drive valve) -controlled
• Redundant FBW servoactuators for both commercial and military main and tail rotor applications are currently in development.

Utility Control Actuation

Woodward’s UAV applications include utility door actuators, flap actuators, trim actuators, and aileron actuators.

Our UAV applications may consist of:

• brush or brushless motor technology position sensing
• integral electronics variable damping manual drives

Woodward develops and qualifies all of these designs on-site. Woodward can produce utility actuators with many different form factors, including long-stroke linear actuators, rotary actuators with various outputs (such as a cable-wrapped pulley, or a sprocket), and hinge-line actuators. We have a distinguished history of working with customers to provide a solution that integrates seamlessly with the aircraft system.

Flap, Spoiler, Landing Gear, Nose Wheel

Flap and Spoiler Controls

Woodward’s flap and spoiler control designs can incorporate a wide variety of sensors, from RVDTs to potentiometers.

Designs include:

• Finger-lift gating mechanisms Detents
• Artificial friction packs Switches Edge-lit panels

Landing Gear Control Levers, Trim Control Panels, and Nose Wheel Steering Units

Woodward provides landing gear levers, trim control panels, and nose wheel steering tillers. Our auxiliary control offerings make Woodward a “one-stop-shopping” supplier for all flight deck controls.

Throttle Quadrants

Woodward designs and manufactures a full complement of throttle quadrants for both Fixed-Wing and Rotorcraft applications.

Woodward offers LRU throttle quadrants equipped with the following features:

• Brushless RVDTs, or Resolvers
• Brushless DC Motors/Tach/Hall-Effect Autothrottle Drive
• ARINC 429 Digital Interface
• Integral Throttle Lever Control Servo Electronics
• A/T Disconnect and TO/GA Switches
• Grip Assemblies with Leather Inserts or Custom Switch Arrangements
• Thrust Reverse Lever or Baulk with Solenoid Lockout
• Artificial Active and Passive Friction/Feel
• FOD Protection
• Fuel Switches
• Detent Positions
• Lighted Panels

Autopilot

Woodward designs and manufactures simplex and duplex redundant DC servo configurations, as well as fully integrated smart packages with integral brushless DC fail-passive control electronics.

Embraer 170-190 Pitch and Roll

Woodward’s most capable autopilot servo consists of a family of fail-passive actuators able to drive any flight deck control input during autopilot operation. Pitch and Roll autopilot functions are performed.

• Smart brushless DC actuators
• Commanded by a CAN BUS Digital Interface
• Internally packaged Dual-Microprocessor Electronics Module motorcontrol
• Fail-passive characteristics necessary for CAT3B operation.
• Received TSO approval

Cyclic & Collective Sticks

LRU Control Sticks and Collective Feel Systems for Commercial and Defense Rotorcraft applications.

Nozzle flappers

Woodward Nozzle Flapper Servovalves support mission-critical aerospace applications:

• Military flight controls Turbine engine controls
• Hydraulic utilities Braking applications

Our single-stage, two-stage, and three-stage Nozzle Flapper Servovalves precisely control fluid to drive motors and actuators, and to control flow or pressure applications.

Operating ranges of our products:

• Pressures up to 5000 psid.
• Ambient temperatures -65°F to +375°F.
• Vibration levels higher than 60G, up to 100G continuous.

Jet Pipe

Woodward Jet Pipe Servovalves lead the way in a variety of critical aerospace applications:

• Flight controls Turbine engine controls
• Hydraulic utilities Braking applications

Industry standard or custom Jet Pipe products use a variety of fluids to drive motors and actuators, and to control flow or pressure applications.

Operating ranges of our products:

• Pressures up to 5000 psid
• Ambient temperatures -65°F to +375°F
• Vibration levels higher than 60G

Rotary Position Sensors

Woodward’s Rotary Variable Differential Transformer (RVDT) position sensors provide unsurpassed reliability and durability for rotary motion sensing applications. RVDTs are commonly used for flight-critical command and feedback applications such as:

• Cockpit Controls
• Control Surface Feedback
• Flap, Slat, Spoiler, and Horizontal Stabilizer Position
• Nosewheel Feedback
• Thrust Reverser and Power Lever Angle (PLA)
• Reservoir and Cable Transducers

Woodward RVDTs offer multi-channel redundancy in tandem (end-to-end) or narrow-package (cluster) configurations. Integral gearing can provide an extended operating range to 900 revolutions. Thermally matched material selection ensures long life and performance stability over a wide range of environmental conditions.

Linear Position Sensors

Woodward’s Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT) position sensors construction is inherently friction free and environmentally resistant, and can be used in dry or pressurized fluid environments. LVDTs are commonly used in flight-critical command and feedback applications such as:

• Linear Actuator Position
• Control Surface Position
• Servovalve Feedback
• Fuel Controls
• Thrust Reversers
• Cockpit Controls

State of the art winding equipment and materials enable aggressive stroke-to-length ratios and stable performance and longevity over broad thermal and fluid pressure conditions. Woodward offers multi-channel redundancy in parallel-cluster or tandem (end-to-end) configurations. Stroke lengths are available up to 24 inches, or micro-strokes as short as .010 inch.

Stepper Motors

Woodward designs and manufactures a broad line of stepper motors for aerospace and defense motion-control applications. Our stepper motors benefit from Woodward’s nearly 50 years of producing servo motors. Early stepper motor designs were primarily “large angle,” but we have expanded our portfolio with several sizes of fine-angle (1.8°) hybrid-type designs which were first popularized in industrial automation.

Dampers

Woodward eddy-current dampers (ECDs) are used for rate control, deployment, and tactile feedback in a variety of actuation and cockpit servo applications.

Adjustable

Dampers can be user-adjustable, particularly in the development stage of the program, or even auto-adjustable, using a mechanical feedback mechanism (based on the angular excursion of the payload).

Size & Capacity

Woodward offers ECDs in popular inch-series diameter codes, Size 10 & 11 (1.0” to 1.1”), along with special versions up to several inches diameter. The available damping torque capacity from the non-geared units is from less than 50 inch-ounces to more than 250 inch-pounds, depending on the unit size. Damping rate can also be greatly amplified by coupling the device to one of Woodward’s standard gearheads, where the damping rate is increased by the ratio squared.