Mixed position and pressure control for hydraulic brake control applications

1. A hydraulic brake control system for controlling braking action applied to a wheel, comprising:

a brake control unit configured to receive a command signal, the brake control unit comprising a controller and tangible, non-transitory memory;

a hydraulic actuator configured for communication with the brake control unit through a control valve and a hydraulic power source, the hydraulic actuator further configured to communicate with a position sensor and a pressure sensor; and

a wheel assembly configured for downstream operation with the hydraulic actuator, the wheel assembly configured for applying a braking torque to a component of the wheel assembly as a result of hydraulic power provided from the hydraulic power source through the control valve to the hydraulic actuator,

wherein the brake control unit is configured, as operating through the controller and the tangible, non-transitory memory, to operate the hydraulic brake control system in a position mode and in a pressure mode,

wherein the brake control unit is further configured to calculate a contact point for the brake control unit to operate in the position mode or the pressure mode,

wherein the brake control unit is further configured to calculate the contact point in relation to the hydraulic actuator,

wherein the brake control unit is further configured to calculate the contact point in relation to the hydraulic actuator operating in conjunction with the pressure sensor,

wherein the brake control unit is further configured to calculate the contact point in response to a pressure within the hydraulic actuator, as measured by the pressure sensor, exceeding a pre-determined set point maintained by the brake control unit, and

wherein the brake control unit is further configured to operate in the position mode if a piston position of the hydraulic actuator, as measured by the position sensor, is less than or equal to the contact point calculated by the brake control unit.

2. The hydraulic brake control system of claim 1 , wherein the brake control unit is further configured to operate in the pressure mode if the piston position of the hydraulic actuator, as measured by the position sensor, is greater than the contact point calculated by the brake control unit.

3. The hydraulic brake control system of claim 1 , wherein the wheel is a wheel of an aircraft.

4. A system for minimizing brake fill in a hydraulic brake control system, comprising:

a brake control unit comprising a controller and tangible, non-transitory memory;

a hydraulic actuator configured for communication with the brake control unit through a control valve and a hydraulic power source;

a position sensor configured for communication with the hydraulic actuator; and

a pressure sensor configured for communication with the hydraulic actuator,

wherein the brake control unit is configured, as operating through the controller and the tangible, non-transitory memory, to operate the hydraulic brake control system in a position mode and in a pressure mode, and

wherein the brake control unit is further configured to transition from the position mode to the pressure mode in response to a piston position of the hydraulic actuator, as measured by the position sensor, being greater than a contact point calculated by the brake control unit.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the brake control unit is further configured to calculate the contact point for the brake control unit to operate in the position mode or the pressure mode.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the brake control unit is further configured to calculate the contact point when a pressure within the hydraulic actuator, as measured by the pressure sensor, exceeds a pre-determined set point maintained by the brake control unit.

7. A method of minimizing brake fill in a hydraulic brake control system, comprising:

applying a braking force to a component of a wheel assembly as a result of hydraulic power provided from a hydraulic power source through a control valve to a hydraulic actuator;

operating the hydraulic brake control system in a position mode and in a pressure mode to apply the braking force;

calculating a contact point for a brake control unit to operate in the position mode or the pressure mode;

calculating the contact point in relation to the hydraulic actuator operating in conjunction with a pressure sensor;

calculating the contact point when a pressure within the hydraulic actuator, as measured by the pressure sensor, exceeds a pre-determined set point; and

operating the hydraulic brake control system in the position mode if a piston position of the hydraulic actuator, as measured by a position sensor, is less than or equal to the contact point.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

transitioning from the position mode to the pressure mode when a position of the hydraulic actuator, as measured by the position sensor, is greater than the contact point.

9. A hydraulic brake control system for controlling braking action applied to a wheel, comprising:

a brake control unit configured to receive a command signal, the brake control unit comprising a controller and tangible, non-transitory memory;

a hydraulic actuator configured for communication with the brake control unit through a control valve and a hydraulic power source, the hydraulic actuator further configured to communicate with a position sensor and a pressure sensor; and

a wheel assembly configured for downstream operation with the hydraulic actuator, the wheel assembly configured for applying a braking torque to a component of the wheel assembly as a result of hydraulic power provided from the hydraulic power source through the control valve to the hydraulic actuator,

wherein the brake control unit is configured, as operating through the controller and the tangible, non-transitory memory, to operate the hydraulic brake control system in a position mode and in a pressure mode,

wherein the brake control unit is further configured to calculate a contact point for the brake control unit to operate in the position mode or the pressure mode,

wherein the brake control unit is further configured to calculate the contact point in relation to the hydraulic actuator,

wherein the brake control unit is further configured to calculate the contact point in relation to the hydraulic actuator operating in conjunction with the pressure sensor,

wherein the brake control unit is further configured to calculate the contact point in response to a pressure within the hydraulic actuator, as measured by the pressure sensor, exceeding a pre-determined set point maintained by the brake control unit, and

wherein the brake control unit is further configured to transition from the position mode to the pressure mode when a piston position of the hydraulic actuator, as measured by the position sensor, is greater than the contact point calculated by the brake control unit.

10. A method of minimizing brake fill in a hydraulic brake control system, comprising:

applying a braking force to a component of a wheel assembly as a result of hydraulic power provided from a hydraulic power source through a control valve to a hydraulic actuator;

operating the hydraulic brake control system in a position mode and in a pressure mode to apply the braking force;

calculating a contact point for a brake control unit to operate in the position mode or the pressure mode;

calculating the contact point in relation to the hydraulic actuator operating in conjunction with a pressure sensor;

calculating the contact point when a pressure within the hydraulic actuator, as measured by the pressure sensor, exceeds a pre-determined set point; and

operating the hydraulic brake control system in the pressure mode if a piston position of the hydraulic actuator, as measured by a position sensor, is greater than the contact point.