Actuator assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An actuator assembly comprising:
- a screw shaft having a shaft axis;
a drive arrangement pivotally supported for rotation around the shaft axis for driving the screw shaft;
a rod mounted to the drive arrangement at a location radial outward from the shaft axis for providing a primary function of reacting against torque applied about the shaft axis on the drive arrangement, the rod having a rod axis and being arranged to provide a load path that experiences load in a direction along the rod axis in reaction to torque on the drive arrangement, wherein the rod comprises a load sensor for detecting at least a direction of the load along the rod load path;
a no-back device, wherein the no-back device is connected with a rotational coupling to a frame and the drive arrangement is supported on bearings permitting the drive arrangement to rotate about the screw shaft axis and about the no-back device; and
a processor configured to receive a movement signal indicating a direction of drive of the screw shaft from a movement sensor and to receive a direction of load signal from the load sensor, wherein the processor is configured to determine, from the direction of load signal and the movement signal, whether or not the drive arrangement is operating in a resistive load quadrant or a load driven quadrant.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An actuator assembly may comprise a screw shaft having a shaft axis; a drive arrangement pivotally supported about the screw shaft axis for driving the screw shaft, e.g., about the shaft axis or along the shaft axis, and a rod mounted to the drive arrangement at a location off the shaft axis for providing a primary function of reacting torque about the shaft axis on the drive arrangement. The rod may comprise a rod axis and provide a load path along the rod axis for reacting torque. The rod may also comprise a device for which provides a secondary function for the actuator assembly based on the load experienced along the load path provided by the rod.
16 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An actuator assembly comprising:
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a screw shaft having a shaft axis; a drive arrangement pivotally supported for rotation around the shaft axis for driving the screw shaft; a rod mounted to the drive arrangement at a location radial outward from the shaft axis for providing a primary function of reacting against torque applied about the shaft axis on the drive arrangement, the rod having a rod axis and being arranged to provide a load path that experiences load in a direction along the rod axis in reaction to torque on the drive arrangement, wherein the rod comprises a load sensor for detecting at least a direction of the load along the rod load path; a no-back device, wherein the no-back device is connected with a rotational coupling to a frame and the drive arrangement is supported on bearings permitting the drive arrangement to rotate about the screw shaft axis and about the no-back device; and a processor configured to receive a movement signal indicating a direction of drive of the screw shaft from a movement sensor and to receive a direction of load signal from the load sensor, wherein the processor is configured to determine, from the direction of load signal and the movement signal, whether or not the drive arrangement is operating in a resistive load quadrant or a load driven quadrant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification