Electromechanical actuator including redundant, dissimilar position feedback
First Claim
1. An actuator assembly, comprising:
- a plurality of motors, each motor adapted to receive electrical drive power and configured, upon receipt thereof, to supply a drive force;
an actuation member coupled to receive the drive force from each of the motors and configured, upon receipt thereof, to rotate;
a translation member disposed adjacent the actuation member and configured, upon rotation of the actuation member, to translate to a position;
a first position sensor mounted within the actuation member and configured to sense the position of the translation member and supply a first position signal representative thereof; and
a second position sensor coupled to receive the drive force from at least one of the plurality of motors and operable, upon receipt thereof, to supply a second position signal representative of the position of the translation member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A relatively small, lightweight actuator includes a plurality of motors, an actuation element, a translation member, and a plurality of position sensors. The motors each supply a drive force to the actuation member, causing it to rotate. The translation member is configured, upon rotation of the actuator, to translate to a position. The position sensors sense the translational position of the translation member and the rotational position of each motor. The actuator is relatively small, lightweight, and can withstand the relatively severe environmental conditions and relatively significant levels of vibration and shock associated with many aerospace applications.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An actuator assembly, comprising:
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a plurality of motors, each motor adapted to receive electrical drive power and configured, upon receipt thereof, to supply a drive force;
an actuation member coupled to receive the drive force from each of the motors and configured, upon receipt thereof, to rotate;
a translation member disposed adjacent the actuation member and configured, upon rotation of the actuation member, to translate to a position;
a first position sensor mounted within the actuation member and configured to sense the position of the translation member and supply a first position signal representative thereof; and
a second position sensor coupled to receive the drive force from at least one of the plurality of motors and operable, upon receipt thereof, to supply a second position signal representative of the position of the translation member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An actuator assembly, comprising:
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a housing;
a plurality of motors mounted on the housing, each motor configured to supply a rotational drive force;
a ballscrew rotationally mounted within the housing and including at least an inner surface and an outer surface, the ballscrew inner surface defining a sensor cavity, the ballscrew outer surface having one or more ball grooves formed thereon, the ballscrew adapted to receive the rotational drive force from each of the motors and configured, in response thereto, to rotate;
a ballnut disposed at least partially within housing and mounted against rotation, the ballnut disposed at least partially around the ballscrew and including at least an inner surface and an outer surface, the ballnut inner surface having one or more ball grooves formed thereon;
a plurality of balls disposed within the one or more ballnut ball grooves and at least selected ones of the one or more ballscrew ball grooves, whereby rotation of the ballscrew causes translation of the ballnut to a position;
a first position sensor disposed at least partially within the ballscrew cavity, the first position sensor configured to sense the position of the ballnut and supply a position signal representative thereof; and
a second position sensor coupled to receive the drive force from at least one of the plurality of motors and operable, upon receipt thereof, to supply a second position signal representative of the position of the ballnut. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An actuation control system, comprising:
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a plurality of motors, each motor coupled to receive actuator position control signals and operable, in response thereto, to supply a drive force;
an actuation member coupled to receive the drive force from the motors and configured, upon receipt thereof, to rotate;
a translation member disposed adjacent the actuation member and adapted to couple to an aerospace flight control component, the translation member configured, upon rotation of the actuation member, to translate to a position;
a first position sensor mounted within the actuation member and configured to sense the position of the translation member and supply a first position feedback signal representative of the position thereof;
a second position sensor coupled to receive the drive force from at least one of the plurality of motors and operable, upon receipt thereof, to supply a second position feedback signal representative of the position of the translation member;
a controller adapted to receive control signals and coupled to receive the first and second position feedback signals and configured, in response to the received signals, to supply the actuator position control signals to the plurality of motors. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification