Stability and control augmentation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10037040-B2
Application number	US-201514632044-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2015
Priority date	Feb 27, 2014
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

A Stability and Command Augmentation System (SCAS) for an aircraft, the SCAS including, a first input shaft providing a first rotational input; a second input shaft providing a second rotational input; and a device for summing the first and second rotational inputs to give a rotational output for controlling an actuator. A method of operating a SCAS on an aircraft, the method including providing a pilot input order in the form of a rotating first shaft, providing an augmentation input order in the form of a rotating second shaft, summing the rotation of the pilot input order and the augmentation input order to give an output order; and using the output order to control an actuator.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A Stability and Command Augmentation System (SCAS) for an aircraft, the SCAS comprising:
a first input shaft providing a first rotational input;
a second input shaft providing a second rotational input;
a device for summing the first and second rotational inputs to give a rotational output for controlling an actuator, wherein the device comprises a planetary gear assembly comprising a ring gear, a sun gear and a plurality of planet gears, wherein each planet gear is driveably connected to both the ring gear and the sun gear;
a housing surrounding at least a portion of the planetary gear assembly; and
a centering mechanism for biasing the planetary gear assembly towards a predetermined position in relation to the housing, wherein the centering mechanism comprises a tension spring positioned between the ring gear and the housing.

2. The SCAS of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
a pilot input device arranged to control the rotation of the first input shaft; or
a flight computer arranged to control the rotation of the second input shaft.

3. The SCAS of claim 1 , further comprising an electric motor arranged to rotate the second input shaft.

4. The SCAS of claim 3 , wherein an angular displacement of the second input shaft is at least one of:
incrementally controlled by the electric motor; or
determined by a position sensor.

5. The SCAS of claim 1 , wherein the second input shaft is driveably connected to the ring gear.

6. The SCAS of claim 1 , wherein the first input shaft is driveably connected to the sun gear.

7. The SCAS of claim 6 , wherein the planet gears provide the rotational output for controlling an actuator.

8. The SCAS of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator driveably connected to the rotational output of the summing device.

9. A method of controlling an actuator, the method comprising using a SCAS as claimed in claim 1 .

Assignees

• Goodrich Actuation Systems Sas

Inventors

• Hervieux Arnauld R E
• Meignat Gregory Y

Classifications

• Y10T74/20207

  Multiple controlling elements for single controlled element · CPC title

• B64C13/18 Primary

  using automatic pilot · CPC title

• B64C13/44

  overriding of personal controls; with automatic return to inoperative position · CPC title

• G05G11/00

  Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with two or more controlling members co-operating with one single controlled member · CPC title

• Y10T74/20366

  Power and manual controlling elements · CPC title