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BR-102023003796-B1 - ACTUATOR, AIRCRAFT, AND ACTUATOR CONTROL METHOD

BR102023003796B1BR 102023003796 B1BR102023003796 B1BR 102023003796B1BR-102023003796-B1

Abstract

ACTUATOR, AIRCRAFT, AND ACTUATOR CONTROL METHOD. An actuator (10) is provided comprising a motor rod (12) with a shaft (X), an output (18) arranged to rotate within an angular range less than 360 degrees, wherein the rotation of the motor rod about the shaft drives the rotating output, a first ratchet (26) comprising a first ratchet wheel (261) and a first ratchet tongue (262), the first ratchet being arranged so that, while the first ratchet tongue engages the first ratchet wheel, the first ratchet wheel is freely rotatable in a first direction and prevented from rotating in a second direction, opposite to the first direction; and a second ratchet (28) comprising a second ratchet wheel (281) and a second ratchet tongue (283), the second ratchet being arranged so that, while the second ratchet tongue engages the second ratchet wheel, the second ratchet wheel is freely rotatable in the second direction and prevented from rotating in the first direction. The first and second ratchet wheels are mounted on a rod (30). A first cam surface (264) is connected to rotate with the output (18), wherein the first cam surface is arranged to disengage the first (...).

Inventors

  • Karl Potier
  • Raphael Medina

Assignees

  • GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS SAS

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20230228
Priority Date
20220406

Claims (11)

  1. 1. Actuator (10), comprising: a motor rod (12) having a shaft (X), an output (18), wherein the rotation of the motor rod (12) around the shaft (X) drives the output (18) into rotation, a first ratchet (26) comprising a first ratchet wheel (261) and a first ratchet tongue (262), the first ratchet (26) being arranged so that, while the first ratchet tongue (262) engages with the first ratchet wheel (261), the first ratchet wheel (261) is freely rotatable in a first direction and prevented from rotating in a second direction, opposite to the first direction; a second ratchet (28) comprising a second ratchet wheel (281) and a second ratchet tongue (283), the second ratchet (28) being arranged so that, while the second ratchet tongue (283) engages with the second ratchet wheel (281), the second ratchet wheel (281) is freely rotatable in the second direction and prevented from rotating in the first direction; characterized in that: the output (18) is arranged to rotate within an angular range of less than 360 degrees; the first (261) and second (281) ratchet wheels are mounted on an additional rod (30); the actuator (10) further comprises: a first cam surface (264) connected to rotate with the output (18), wherein the first cam surface (264) is arranged to disengage the first ratchet tongue (262) from the first ratchet wheel (261) when the output (18) is within a first predetermined angular range, and to allow the first ratchet tongue (262) to engage with the first ratchet wheel (261) when the output (18) is outside the first predetermined angular range; a second cam surface (284) connected to rotate with the output (18), wherein the second cam surface (284) is arranged to disengage the second ratchet tongue (283) from the second ratchet wheel (281) when the output (18) is within a second predetermined angular range, and to allow the second tongue (283) to engage with the second ratchet wheel (281) when the output (18) is outside the second predetermined angular range; and an electrically actuated clutch (22) arranged to selectively connect the additional rod (30) to the motor rod (12).
  2. 2. Actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that the motor rod (12) is connected to the output (18) by means of a gearbox (14).
  3. 3. Actuator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a controller (25) operable to order the output (18) to rotation, and operable to control the electrically actuated clutch, wherein the controller (25) is configured to: detect a rotational speed of the output (18), and to engage the clutch to connect the additional rod (30) to the motor rod (12) if the detected rotational speed of the output (18) is greater than an ordered rotational speed of the output (18) by more than a predetermined amount.
  4. 4. Actuator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an electromagnet, wherein the controller (25) is configured to control the electrical power to the electromagnet in order to control the electrically actuated clutch.
  5. 5. Actuator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the additional rod (30) and the motor rod (12) are coaxial with each other.
  6. 6. Actuator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an end stop (20), wherein the end stop (20) defines a first end and a second end of the angular strip of the output (18).
  7. 7. Actuator according to claim 6, characterized in that the first predetermined strip extends from a position where the output (18) is in contact with the end stop (22) at the first end of the angular strip of the output (18), and extends to a first intermediate position (40a) of the output (18) between the first and second ends of the angular strip.
  8. 8. Actuator according to claim 7, characterized in that the second predetermined strip extends from a position where the output (18) is in contact with the end stop (22) at the second end of the angular strip of the output (18), and extends to a second intermediate position (50a) of the output (18) between the first and second ends of the angular strip.
  9. 9. Actuator according to claim 8, characterized in that the cam surfaces (264, 284) are arranged so that, when the output (18) is in an angular position between the first and second intermediate positions, the first ratchet tongue (262) will engage with the first ratchet wheel (262) and the second ratchet tongue (283) will engage with the second ratchet wheel (281).
  10. 10. Aircraft (100), characterized in that it comprises: a fuselage (102); a depressor (100) movably mounted on the fuselage (102); and the actuator (10) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9 mounted on the fuselage (102), wherein the output (18) is connected to the depressor (100) to control a position of the depressor (100) relative to the fuselage (102).
  11. 11. Actuator control method (10) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9, the method characterized in that it comprises detecting an output speed (18); determining whether the output speed (18) is greater than an ordered speed by more than a predetermined amount; and, if so, actuating the electrically actuated clutch to connect the rod to the motor rod (12).

Description

[001] This disclosure refers to a ratchet actuator for braking. [002] Aircraft actuators are widely used to operate depressors, flaps, flight surfaces, and auxiliary airfoils of an aircraft. The actuator drives the depressor to a desired position to affect the airflow around the aircraft in a desired manner, for example, to brake the aircraft or change lift. Such depressors may be subject to large aerodynamic loads from the air flowing around the depressor, and these large forces can feed back into the actuator and cause it to move in an undesirable manner. It is desirable to provide an emergency brake to stop the actuator in such circumstances. [003] According to a first aspect, an actuator is provided comprising a motor rod with a shaft, an output arranged to rotate within an angular range of less than 360 degrees, wherein the rotation of the motor rod about the shaft drives the output into rotation, a first ratchet comprising a first ratchet wheel and a first ratchet tongue, the first ratchet being arranged so that, while the first ratchet tongue engages the first ratchet wheel, the first ratchet wheel is freely rotatable in a first direction and prevented from rotating in a second direction, opposite to the first direction; a second ratchet comprising a second ratchet wheel and a second ratchet tongue, the second ratchet being arranged so that, while the second ratchet tongue engages the second ratchet wheel, the second ratchet wheel is freely rotatable in the second direction and prevented from rotating in the first direction. The first and second ratchet wheels are mounted on a shaft. A first cam surface is connected to rotate with the output, wherein the first cam surface is arranged to disengage the first ratchet pawl from the first ratchet wheel when the output is within a first predetermined angular range and to allow the first ratchet pawl to engage with the first ratchet wheel when the output is outside the first predetermined angular range; a second cam surface is connected to rotate with the output, wherein the second cam surface is arranged to disengage the second ratchet pawl from the second ratchet wheel when the output is within a second predetermined angular range and to allow the second pawl to engage with the second ratchet wheel when the output is outside the second predetermined angular range; and an electrically actuated clutch arranged to selectively connect the shaft to the motor shaft. [004] The motor shaft can be connected to the output by means of a gearbox, for example, a planetary or epicyclic gearbox. [005] The actuator may comprise a controller operable for ordering the output to rotation and operable for controlling the electrically actuated clutch, wherein the controller is configured to: detect a rotational speed of the output and engage the clutch to connect the rod to the motor rod if the detected rotational speed of the output is greater than an ordered rotational speed of the output by more than a predetermined amount. [006] The actuator may comprise an electromagnet (e.g., a solenoid), wherein the controller is configured to control the electrical power to the electromagnet in order to control the electrically actuated clutch. [007] The shaft and the motor shaft can be coaxial with each other. [008] The actuator may comprise an end stop, wherein the end stop defines a first end and a second end of the angular range of the output. [009] The first predetermined strip may extend from a position where the outlet is in contact with the end stop at the first end of the angled strip of the outlet and extend to a first intermediate position of the outlet between the two ends of the angled strip. [0010] In other words, the first predetermined range can extend from the first end of the permitted range of motion for the exit by the end stop, to a position between the first and second ends of the permitted range of motion of the exit. Since the exit is beyond the first intermediate position, away from the end stop, the first cam surface no longer prevents the first ratchet tongue from engaging the first ratchet wheel. [0011] Similarly, the second predetermined strip can extend from a position where the outlet is in contact with the end stop at the second end of the angled strip of the outlet and extend to a second intermediate position of the outlet between the two ends of the angled strip. [0012] In other words, the second predetermined range can extend from a second end of the permitted range of motion for the exit by the end stop, to a position between the two ends of the permitted range of motion of the exit. Since the exit is beyond the second intermediate position, away from the end stop, the second cam surface no longer prevents the second ratchet tongue from engaging the second ratchet wheel. [0013] The cam surfaces can be arranged so that, when the output is in an angular position between the first and second intermediate positions, the first ratchet tongue will engage