Spindle drive

• US 8,656,797 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2010
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH (Liebherr-International AG)
• Original Assignee: Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH (Liebherr-International AG)
• Inventors: Bassett, Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, William C
• Application Number:
  US12/785,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20100300224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 74/892.3, 74/892.6, 74/893.6, 324/207.18, 244/99.2
• US Class Current: 74/89.23
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 9/02 Mounting or supporting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/205 comprising alternate power paths, e.g. for fail safe back-up
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/2204 with balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/2472 Safety nuts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18576 including screw and nut
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/186 Alternate power path operable on failure of primary
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1868 Deflection related

Abstract

A spindle drive has a first load path formed by a first nut which meshes with a threaded bolt and a second load path formed by a second nut which also meshes with the threaded bolt and is arranged to be movable relative to the first nut in an axial direction of the threaded bolt in at least one state of the spindle drive. A sensor unit detects relative movement between the first and second nuts.

Claims

1. A spindle drive (100) having

a threaded bolt (10),

a first load path which includes a first nut (20) which meshes with the threaded bolt (10),

a second load path which includes a second nut (22) which meshes with the threaded bolt (10) and is arranged to be movable relative to the first nut (20) in an axial direction of the threaded bolt (10) in at least one state of the spindle drive (100),

a sensor unit (30) configured to detect a relative movement between the first (20) nut and the second nut (22),

a piston (60) configured to move upon the relative movement between the first and second nuts (20, 22), and

an element (40) connected to the second nut (22) an having a groove, wherein

the sensor unit (30) includes an LVDT (linear variable displacement transducer) activated by the piston (60) to detect position of the piston (60), and

the piston (60) is arranged, in a normal operating state, in the groove of the element (40) connected to the second nut (22) and moves in event of a defect, in a radial direction relative to the second nut (22).

2. A spindle drive (100) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the element (40) is moved in the axial direction of the spindle by the axial movement of the second nut (22).

3. A spindle drive (100) in accordance with claim 2, wherein the element (40) is located outside the region surrounded by the first nut (20).

4. A spindle drive (100) in accordance with claim 2, wherein the element (40) is arranged such that it is displaceably arranged on the outer side of the first nut (20) remote from the threaded bolt (10).

5. A spindle drive (100) in accordance with claim 2, wherein the element (40) extends by a bolt (42) through a cut-out in the first nut (20).

6. A spindle drive (100) in accordance with claim 2, wherein the element (40) is an activation ring.

7. A spindle drive (100) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sensor unit (30) is arranged in a fixed position.

8. A spindle drive (100) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first nut (20) is connected to the second nut (22) such that the two nuts (20, 22) are not rotatable relative to one another.

9. A spindle drive (100) in accordance with claim 8, wherein one or more pins (50) are provided which connect the two nuts (20, 22) rotationally fixedly to one another.

10. A spindle drive (100) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the threaded bolt (10) has an operating region (110) in which, during the usual operation of the spindle drive (100), a relative movement takes place between the threaded bolt (10) and the first nut (20);

and the second nut (22) is arranged such that it is located at least partly outside the operating region (110) when the spindle drive (100) is located in one of its end positions.

11. A spindle drive (100) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spindle drive (100) is connected to an aircraft component whose position is to be changed.

12. A spindle drive (100) in accordance with claim 11, wherein the aircraft component is a flap or rudder.

13. An aircraft having at least one spindle drive (100) in accordance with claim 1.

14. A spindle drive (100) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second nuts (20, 22) are concentrically arranged with respect to one another.

15. A spindle drive (100) in accordance with claim 14, wherein the second nut (22) is at least partially-surrounded by the first nut (20).