FLAP ACTUATOR

• US 20140076154A1
• Filed: 09/19/2013
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH (Liebherr-International AG)
• Original Assignee: Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH (Liebherr-International AG)
• Inventors: FRICK, Joern, GAILE, Anton, WEIXLER, Franz
• Granted Patent: US 9,574,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 91/361
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/504 using electro-hydrostatic actuators [EHA's]
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/149 Fluid interconnections, e.g. fluid connectors, passages
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/202 Externally-operated valves mounted in or on the actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2215/30 Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49405 Valve or choke making

Abstract

The invention relates to a flap actuator, in particular to a servo/spoiler actuator, comprising at least one electrohydraulic servo valve and at least one actuator which are hydraulically connected to one another, wherein the actuator comprises at least one actuator housing in and/or at which the at least one channel is arranged by means of which one or more components, preferably likewise arranged in and/or at the actuator housing, are hydraulically connected and wherein no valve block is arranged between the actuator and the servo valve.

Claims

1. A servo/spoiler flap actuator comprising at least one electrohydraulic servo valve and at least one actuator which are hydraulically connected to one another, wherein the actuator comprises at least one actuator housing in and/or at which at least one channel is arranged by means of which one or more components selected from the group consisting of advanced blocking valve, maintenance operator, thermal relief valve, check valve, filter and combinations thereof, preferably likewise arranged in and/or at the actuator housing, are hydraulically connected and in that no valve block is arranged between the actuator and the servo valve, wherein the actuator housing has a layer-wise structure regionally or overall and the actuator housing is manufactured partly or completely by a generative process (additive manufacturing technologies), in particular by selective laser melting (SLM®

), direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), laserCusing®

, selective laser sintering, rapid manufacturing and electron beam melting.

5. A flap actuator in accordance with claim 1, wherein one or more channels for receiving a hydraulic fluid and/or one or more channels for receiving electrical lines and/or cables and/or one or more mounts for components such as valves and filters are arranged in and/or at the actuator housing;

and/or in that the channels are integrated in the actuator housing and/or extend on its surface.

6. A flap actuator in accordance with claim 1, wherein the functions and components contained in a 2nd stage (power stage) of the servo valve are partly or completely integrated at and/or in the actuator housing and are hydraulically connected by it.

7. A flap actuator in accordance with claim 1, wherein an inflow line and/or a return line is/are arranged in a bearing bolt close to the pivot axis of a flap controlled by the flap actuator.

8. A method of manufacturing an actuator housing of a flap actuator, in particular of a servo/spoiler actuator in accordance with claim 1, wherein the manufacture of the actuator housing takes place partly or overall by means of a generative process (additive manufacturing technologies).

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the manufacture of the actuator housing takes place by means of selective laser melting (SLM®

), direct metal laser sintering (DMSL), laserCusing®

, selective laser sintering, rapid manufacturing and electron beam melting.

10. An aircraft, in particular an airplane, having at least one flap, preferably having at least one spoiler and at least one flap actuator controlling the flap, wherein the flap actuator is a flap actuator in accordance with claim 1.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)