Hydraulically assisted rat actuator latch mechanism

• US 10,640,229 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Konicek, Timothy Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumar, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US15/198,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20180002031A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2041/002 Mounting arrangements for auxiliary power units (APU's)
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 41/007 Ram air turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/01 Locking-valves or other detent i.e. load-holding devices
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/26 Locking mechanisms

Abstract

A ram air turbine actuator having: a housing; at least one solenoid; a latch mechanism operably connected to the at least one solenoid and located within the housing, the latch mechanism in operation moves from a first position to second position when the at least one solenoid is activated; and a hydraulic pressure system operably connected to the latch mechanism, the hydraulic pressure system in operation moves the latch mechanism from the second position to the first position using hydraulic pressure from a hydraulic fluid, when the at least one solenoid is deactivated. The hydraulic pressure system is located within the housing. The hydraulic pressure is relieved when the latch mechanism is in the first position.

Claims

1. A ram air turbine actuator comprising:

a housing;

at least one solenoid;

a latch mechanism operably connected to the at least one solenoid and located within the housing, the latch mechanism in operation moves from a first position to second position when the at least one solenoid is activated, wherein the latch mechanism further comprises;

a lockbolt having a first biasing mechanism, the first biasing mechanism in operation moves the lockbolt in a first direction, when the at least one solenoid is activated;

a toggle roller operably connected to the lockbolt, the toggle roller prevents motion by lockbolt in the first direction when the at least one solenoid is deactivated;

a toggle latch operably connected to the toggle roller and the at least one solenoid, the toggle latch in operation moves the toggle roller in a second direction when the at least one solenoid is activated;

a reset plunger operably connected to the toggle latch; and

a second biasing mechanism operably connected to the reset plunger, the second biasing mechanism prevents motion of the reset plunger and the toggle latch in the second direction when the at least one solenoid is deactivated; and

a hydraulic pressure system operably connected to the latch mechanism, the second biasing mechanism and the hydraulic pressure system in operation move the latch mechanism from the second position to the first position using force from the second biasing mechanism and hydraulic pressure from a hydraulic fluid, when the at least one solenoid is deactivated, wherein the hydraulic pressure system is located within the housing,

wherein the hydraulic pressure is relieved when the latch mechanism is in the first position and the second biasing mechanism retains the latch mechanism in the first position by preventing motion of the reset plunger and the toggle latch in the second direction when the at least one solenoid is deactivated.

2. The ram air turbine actuator of claim 1, wherein:

the hydraulic pressure system is operably connected to the latch mechanism through the reset plunger, the hydraulic fluid in operation moves the reset plunger in a direction opposite the second direction until the latch mechanism is in the first position.

3. The ram air turbine actuator of claim 2, wherein the hydraulic pressure system further comprises:

a reset plunger hydraulic chamber containing the reset plunger; and

an actuator stow hydraulic chamber fluidly connected to the reset plunger through fluid channels.

4. The ram air turbine actuator of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic pressure system further comprises:

a reset plunger hydraulic chamber containing the reset plunger; and

an actuator stow hydraulic chamber fluidly connected to the reset plunger through fluid channels.

5. The ram air turbine actuator of claim 1, wherein:

the second biasing mechanism is a spring.

6. A method of retracting a ram air turbine actuator, comprising:

moving a latch mechanism from a second position to a first position using hydraulic pressure from a hydraulic fluid and force from a second biasing mechanism;

preventing, using a toggle roller, motion of a lockbolt of the latch mechanism in a first direction when at least one solenoid is deactivated, the toggle roller being operably connected to the lockbolt;

wherein the latch mechanism locks the ram air turbine actuator in a retracted position when the latch mechanism is in the first position;

wherein the hydraulic pressure is relieved when the latch mechanism is in the first position and the second biasing mechanism retains the latch mechanism in the first position by preventing motion of a reset plunger and the toggle latch in a second direction when the at least one solenoid is deactivated.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the moving the latch mechanism further comprises:

moving a lockbolt to a retracted position using hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic fluid;

moving the reset plunger to a locked position using hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic fluid;

moving a toggle latch using the reset plunger, the toggle latch having a toggle roller;

securing the lockbolt in the retracted position using the toggle roller; and

securing the reset plunger in the locked position using the second biasing mechanism.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the hydraulic pressure system further comprises:

a reset plunger hydraulic chamber containing the reset plunger; and

an actuator stow hydraulic chamber fluidly connected to the reset plunger through fluid channels.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the second biasing mechanism is a spring.

10. A method of manufacturing a ram air turbine actuator, comprising:

forming an actuator housing;

installing at least one solenoid in the actuator housing;

installing a latch mechanism in the actuator housing;

operably connecting the latch mechanism to the at least one solenoid, the latch mechanism in operation moves from a first position to second position when the at least one solenoid is activated, wherein the latch mechanism further comprises;

a lockbolt having a first biasing mechanism, the first biasing mechanism in operation moves the lockbolt in a first direction, when the at least one solenoid is activated;

a toggle roller operably connected to the lockbolt, the toggle roller prevents motion by lockbolt in the first direction when the at least one solenoid is deactivated;

a toggle latch operably connected to the toggle roller and the at least one solenoid, the toggle latch in operation moves the toggle roller in a second direction when the at least one solenoid is activated;

a reset plunger operably connected to the toggle latch; and

a second biasing mechanism operably connected to the reset plunger, the second biasing mechanism prevents motion of the reset plunger and the toggle latch in second direction when the at least one solenoid is deactivated; and

operably connecting the latch mechanism to a hydraulic pressure system, the second biasing mechanism and the hydraulic pressure system in operation move the latch mechanism from the second position to the first position using force from the second biasing mechanism and hydraulic pressure from a hydraulic fluid, when the at least one solenoid is deactivated, wherein the hydraulic pressure system is located within the housing.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the hydraulic fluid is operably connected to the latch mechanism through the reset plunger, the hydraulic fluid in operation moves the reset plunger in a direction opposite the second direction until the latch mechanism is in the first position.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the second biasing mechanism is a spring.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the hydraulic pressure system further comprises:

a reset plunger hydraulic chamber containing the reset plunger; and

an actuator stow hydraulic chamber fluidly connected to the reset plunger through fluid channels.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the hydraulic pressure system further comprises:

a reset plunger hydraulic chamber containing the reset plunger; and

an actuator stow hydraulic chamber fluidly connected to the reset plunger through fluid channels.