ACTUATORS FOR FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES

• US 20150353186A1
• Filed: 03/27/2014
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Buttolph, Martin E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,694,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/28 mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/32 using cam mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 5/16 about spanwise axes
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 9/00 Adjustable control surfaces or members, e.g. rudders trimming stabilising surfaces B64C5/10

Abstract

An actuator assembly includes an actuator body, a ram, and a cross pin. The actuator body has an internal axial cavity bounded by an actuator body wall and defines a pivot axis. A longitudinal slot extends along a portion of the length of the actuator body wall and is in communication with the internal axial cavity. The ram is slidably received within the axial cavity of the actuator body. The cross pin is mounted to the ram and extends laterally from the ram and into the longitudinal slot for converting linear motion of the ram into rotational motion about the pivot axis for displacing a control surface of an air vehicle.

Claims

1. An actuator assembly, comprising:

an actuator body with an internal axial cavity bounded by an actuator body wall and a longitudinal slot communicating through the actuator body wall and into the cavity;

a ram slidably received within the axial cavity; and

a cross pin mounted to the ram and extending laterally from the ram and into the longitudinal slot, wherein the actuator body defines a pivot axis and the cross pin and longitudinal slot are configured to convert linear motion of the ram into rotational motion about the pivot axis for displacing a control surface of an air vehicle.

2. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the cross pin is arranged orthogonally with respect to the pivot axis.

3. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal slot in the actuator body is parallel with the pivot axis.

4. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal slot forms an inclined or helical surface extending about the pivot axis.

5. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal slot is a first longitudinal slot and wherein the actuator body defines a second longitudinal slot diametrically opposing the first longitudinal slot.

6. An assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein the first and second longitudinal slots in the actuator body are parallel to the pivot axis.

7. An assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the cross pin constrains rotation of the nut tube or ram about the pivot axis while imparting rotation to the control surface.

8. An air vehicle, comprising:

a flight surface;

a control surface outboard of the flight surface or airframe; and

an actuator assembly coupling the control surface to the flight surface, including;

an actuator body with a wall bounding an internal axial cavity and a longitudinal slot, wherein the longitudinal slot is communicative with the axial cavity through the wall;

a ram slidably received within the axial cavity; and

a cross pin mounted to the ram and extending laterally from the ram into the longitudinal slot, wherein the actuator body defines a pivot axis and wherein the cross pin and longitudinal slot are configured to convert linear motion of the ram into rotational motion about the pivot axis for deflecting the control surface in relation to the flight surface.

9. An air vehicle as recited in claim 8, wherein the actuator body integrally couples the control surface to the flight surface and provides a structural pivot for the control surface.

10. An air vehicle as recited in claim 8, wherein the actuator body defines a bulged region on its outboard portion, wherein the bulged region axially fixes the flight control surface in relation to the actuator body.

11. An air vehicle as recited in claim 8, wherein the flight surface and control surface define an airfoil with an interior, wherein the actuator assembly is disposed within the interior of the airfoil.

12. An air vehicle as recited in claim 8, further including a motor housed within an interior of the control surface and operatively associated with the ram.

13. An air vehicle as recited in claim 8, further including a motor housed within the interior of the flight surface and operative associated with the ram.

14. An air vehicle as recited in claim 8, wherein the longitudinal slot is parallel with the pivot axis, and wherein the control surface includes a pin-receiving slot with an inclined or helical shape defined in the control surface.

15. An air vehicle as recited in claim 9, wherein the longitudinal slot has an inclined or helical shape extending about the pivot axis, wherein the control surface defines a pin-receiving slot that is parallel with the pivot axis.