Remote controlled air nozzles and methods of assembling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10137992-B2
Application number	US-201414166249-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2014
Priority date	Jan 28, 2014
Publication date	Nov 27, 2018
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018

Abstract

An aircraft includes a plurality of seats and an input device coupled to each of the plurality of seats. The aircraft also includes a remotely controlled nozzle positioned proximate each seat of the plurality of seats. Each nozzle includes an actuator assembly including at least one actuator and an actuator shaft. The at least one actuator is configured to move the actuator shaft between an open position and a closed position to control an airflow through the nozzle in response to a signal received from a respective input device of the input devices, wherein the signal represents a position of the actuator shaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aircraft comprising:
a plurality of seats;
an input device coupled to each of said plurality of seats; and
a remotely-controlled nozzle positioned proximate each seat of said plurality of seats, said nozzle comprising an actuator assembly comprising:
a first ring;
a second ring spaced a distance from said first ring;
a plurality of legs coupled between said first ring and said second ring;
at least one actuator; and
an actuator shaft extending through said first ring and said second ring, wherein said at least one actuator is configured to translate said actuator shaft linearly through said first ring and said second ring between an open position, to allow airflow through said nozzle, and a closed position, to restrict airflow through said nozzle, in response to a signal received from a respective input device of said input devices, wherein said signal represents a position of said actuator shaft wherein said at least one actuator includes an external compression actuator and an internal tension actuator.

2. The aircraft in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said internal tension actuator comprised of a shape memory alloy, wherein said external compression actuator is configured to bias said actuator shaft toward said closed position and said internal tension actuator is configured to bias said actuator shaft toward said open position.

3. The aircraft in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said actuator assembly further comprises a current generating circuit configured to apply a current to one of said external compression actuator or said internal tension actuator in response to said signal from a respective one of said input devices.

4. The aircraft in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said at least one actuator is a piezoelectric motor coupled to said actuator shaft, said piezoelectric motor comprising a body portion and a motor shaft, wherein said motor shaft is constrained between two fixed surfaces such that activation of said piezoelectric motor in response to said signal causes movement of said body portion and said actuator shaft between said open and closed positions.

5. The aircraft in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said actuator assembly further comprises a motor mount assembly comprising:
a motor holder comprising a plurality of coupling arms;
a motor mount coupled at an upper end of said actuator shaft, said motor mount defining an opening; and
a piezoelectric motor coupled within said opening.

6. The aircraft in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said piezoelectric motor comprises a body portion and a motor shaft, wherein said plurality of coupling arms extend through said opening and are configured to restrain said body portion such that activation of said piezoelectric motor in response to said signal causes movement of said motor shaft, said motor mount, and said actuator shaft between said open and closed positions.

7. The aircraft in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said signal is at least one of a wired and a wireless signal between a respective one of said input devices and said actuator assembly.

8. A remotely-controlled nozzle comprising:
a housing; and
an actuator assembly comprising:
a first ring;
a second ring spaced a distance from said first ring;
a plurality of legs coupled between said first ring and said second ring;
at least one actuator; and
an actuator shaft extending through said first ring and said second ring, wherein said at least one actuator is configured to translate said actuator shaft linearly through said first ring and said second ring between an open position, to allow airflow through said nozzle, and a closed position, to restrict airflow through said nozzle, in response to a signal received from an input device, wherein said signal represents a position of said actuator shaft wherein said at least one actuator includes an external compression actuator and an internal tension actuator.

9. The remotely controlled nozzle in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said internal tension actuator comprised of a shape memory alloy, wherein said external compression actuator is configured to bias said actuator shaft toward said closed position and said internal tension actuator is configured to bias said actuator shaft toward said open position.

10. The remotely controlled nozzle in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said actuator assembly further comprises a current generating circuit configured to apply a current to one of said external compression actuator or said internal tension actuator in response to said signal from said remote input device.

11. The remotely controlled nozzle in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said at least one actuator is a piezoelectric motor coupled to said actuator shaft, said piezoelectric motor comprising a body portion and a motor shaft, wherein said motor shaft is constrained between two fixed surfaces such that activation of said piezoelectric motor in response to said signal causes movement of said body portion and said actuator shaft between said open and closed positions.

12. The remotely controlled nozzle in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said actuator assembly further comprises a motor mount assembly comprising:
a motor holder comprising a plurality of coupling arms;
a motor mount coupled at an upper end of said actuator shaft, said motor mount defining an opening; and
a piezoelectric motor coupled within said opening.

13. The remotely controlled nozzle in accordance with claim 12 , wherein said piezoelectric motor comprises a body portion and a motor shaft, wherein said plurality of coupling arms extend through said opening and are configured to restrain said body portion such that activation of said piezoelectric motor in response to said signal causes movement of said motor shaft, said motor mount, and said actuator shaft between said open and closed positions.

14. A method of assembling a remotely controlled nozzle, said method comprising:
providing a housing; and
coupling an actuator assembly to the housing, wherein coupling the actuator assembly to the housing comprises:
providing a first ring;
providing a second ring spaced a distance from the first ring;
providing a plurality of legs coupled between the first ring and the second ring;
providing an actuator shaft extending through the first ring and the second ring; and
coupling at least one actuator to the actuator shaft such that the at least one actuator is configured to translate the actuator shaft linearly through the first ring and the second ring between an open position, to allow airflow through the nozzle, and a closed position, to restrict airflow through the nozzle, within the housing in response to a signal received from a remote input device, wherein the signal represents a position of the actuator shaft wherein said at least one actuator includes an external compression actuator and an internal tension actuator.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14 , wherein coupling the internal tension actuator comprised of a shape memory alloy to the actuator shaft, wherein the external compression actuator is configured to bias the actuator shaft toward the closed position and the internal tension actuator is configured to bias the actuator shaft toward the open position.

16. The method in accordance with claim 14 , wherein coupling at least one actuator to the actuator shaft further comprises coupling a piezoelectric motor to the actuator shaft, the piezoelectric motor including a body portion and a motor shaft, wherein the motor shaft is constrained between two fixed surfaces such that activation

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Blom Adriana Willempje
• Abada Christopher H
• Calkins Frederick T
• Ibrahim Yakentim M
• Boppre Paula Jo
• Klein Michael K
• Mabe James Henry

Classifications

• B64D2013/003

  Cabin ventilation nozzles · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• B64D13/00 Primary

  Arrangements or adaptations of air-treatment apparatus for aircraft crew or passengers, or freight space · CPC title