DEVICE FOR DETECTING BREAKAGE OF A PRIMARY PATH IN A FLIGHT CONTROL ACTUATOR

• US 20130105623A1
• Filed: 04/14/2011
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodrich Actuation System SAS (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Raphael Medina
• Inventors: Moulon, Thomas, Medina, Raphal
• Granted Patent: US 8,944,372 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/99.4
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/341 having duplication or stand-by provisions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/20 Screw mechanisms with automatic reversal F16H25/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/205 comprising alternate power paths, e.g. for fail safe back-up

Abstract

A device (13) for detecting the breakage of a primary path in a flight control actuator, said actuator having a primary path (1) comprising a rotary hollow screw (2), a secondary path (10) comprising a safety rod (3) that reacts the load passing through the screw (2), said device (13) being characterized in that it comprises a position sensor (15), connected to the screw (2), to measure information representative of the angular position thereof, and a disconnection system (17) able to disconnect the screw (2) position sensor (15) in the event of relative movement of the rod (3) with respect to the screw (2) if there is a break in the primary path (1).

Claims

1. A device (13) for detecting breakage of a primary load path in a flight control actuator, said actuator having a primary load path (1) comprising a hollow rotary screw (2), a secondary load path (10) comprising a load-assuming safety rod (3) passing through the screw (2), said device (13) being characterized in that it includes a position sensor (15), connected to the screw (2) for measuring information representing its angular position, and a disconnection system (17), capable of disconnecting the position sensor (15) from the screw (2) in the event of relative displacement of the rod (3) with respect to the screw (2) upon a break of the primary load path (1).

2. The device according to claim 1, additionally including a calculator (18) configured to compare the information measured by the position sensor (15), and information representing the angular position of the screw (2) measured by a second position sensor (19) independent of the disconnection system (17).

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the calculator (18) is configured to a break in the primary load path (1) when the comparison is greater or less than a predetermined threshold.

4. The device according to one of claims 1 through 3, wherein the disconnection system (17) is capable of disconnecting the position sensor (15) from the screw (2) when the rod (3) exerts a predetermined load on the screw (2), corresponding to a mechanical load exerted by the rod (3) on the screw (2) upon breakage of the screw (2) or of another element of the primary load path (1).

5. The device according to one of claims 1 through 4, wherein the disconnection system (17) includes a breakable pin (23).

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the breakable pin (23) has a cross-section calibrated to break at a predetermined load, corresponding to a mechanical load exerted by the rod (3) on the screw (2) upon breakage of the primary load path (1).

7. The device according to one of claim 5 or 6, wherein the breakable pin (23) is subjected to a predetermined extraction load, allowing extraction of the pin (23) from the screw (2) in the event of breakage of said pin (23).

8. The device according to one of claims 1 through 7, wherein the position sensor (15) is an angular position sensor (15).

9. A flight control actuator (12) including a primary load path (1) comprising a hollow rotary screw (2),

a secondary load path (10) comprising a load-assuming safety rod (3) passing through the screw (2), the secondary load path (10) being capable of taking over the loads exerted on the primary load path (1) in the event of a break in the primary load path (1), said actuator (12) being characterized in that it includes a device (13) for detecting breakage of the primary load path according to one of claims 1 through 8.