Flight lock actuator with dual energy sources
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for providing improved reliability in an aircraft door flight lock actuator comprising:
- storing energy in a mechanical energy storage means and an electrical energy storage means;
powering the actuator using the energy stored in the mechanical energy storage means and the electrical energy storage means to complete an unlocking stroke in the absence of aircraft power; and
controlling a linear velocity of the actuator.
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Abstract
A flight lock actuator that can be powered by two sources of stored energy when aircraft power has been switched off. A mechanical energy storage means and an electrical energy storage means provide a fully redundant energy storage system that stores sufficient energy to complete the actuator'"'"'s extension stroke when aircraft power is removed. The actuator has a motor control system that limits the stroke velocity for both the extension and retraction strokes, including a damper feature capable of effectively braking the actuator during the back-driven extension stroke.
23 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for providing improved reliability in an aircraft door flight lock actuator comprising:
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storing energy in a mechanical energy storage means and an electrical energy storage means;
powering the actuator using the energy stored in the mechanical energy storage means and the electrical energy storage means to complete an unlocking stroke in the absence of aircraft power; and
controlling a linear velocity of the actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for providing improved reliability in an aircraft door flight lock actuator comprising apparatus for:
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storing energy in a mechanical energy storage means and an electrical energy storage means;
powering the actuator using the energy stored in the mechanical energy storage means and the electrical energy storage means to complete an unlocking stroke in the absence of aircraft power; and
controlling a linear velocity of the actuator. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A linear actuator comprising:
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a brushless electric motor for rotating a shaft in either rotational direction;
a ball screw assembly for converting rotation of the shaft to linear motion of a follower member and vice versa, the follower member moving in either linear direction with the respective rotational direction of the shaft;
control circuitry for selectively powering the motor to rotate in either rotational direction; and
a mechanical energy storage assembly for resiliently urging the follower member to move in a predetermined one of its linear directions, the motor being powerful enough to overcome the resilient urging of the storage assembly when the control circuitry powers the motor to produce motions of the follower member opposite the predetermined one linear direction. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification