Dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10507910-B2
Application number	US-201715441427-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 24, 2017
Priority date	Feb 24, 2017
Publication date	Dec 17, 2019
Grant date	Dec 17, 2019

Abstract

Dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus and methods are disclosed. An example dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus includes a primary link and a secondary link spaced apart from the primary link. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus further includes a first extension link extending between the primary link and the secondary link. The first extension link is coupled to the primary link, to the secondary link and to a first input link. The first input link is coupled to a first actuator. The primary link is coupled to a second input link. The second input link is coupled to a second actuator. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus further includes a second extension link spaced apart from the first extension link and extending between the primary link and the secondary link. The second extension link is coupled to the primary link, to the secondary link and to an output link.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus, comprising:
a first actuator configured to generate a first input force;
a second actuator configured to generate a second input force;
a primary link movable in response to the second input force;
a secondary link movable in response to the first input force, the secondary link spaced apart from the primary link;
a first extension link spaced apart from the first actuator and extending between the primary link and the secondary link, the first extension link coupled to the primary link, to the secondary link and to a first input link, the first input link coupled to and extending between the first actuator and the first extension link, the primary link coupled to a second input link, the second input link coupled to and extending between the second actuator and the primary link; and
a second extension link spaced apart from the first extension link and extending between the primary link and the secondary link, the second extension link coupled to the primary link, to the secondary link and to an output link.

2. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first extension link is rotatably coupled to the primary link, rotatably coupled to the secondary link, and rotatably coupled to the first input link, the primary link is rotatably coupled to the second input link, and the second extension link is rotatably coupled to the primary link, rotatably coupled to the secondary link, and rotatably coupled to the output link.

3. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator is manually powered and the second actuator is electromechanically powered.

4. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second actuator is in electrical communication with the first actuator.

5. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second actuator is an electromechanical motor.

6. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first actuator is a collective lever, a cyclic stick, or a foot pedal of a helicopter.

7. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the output link is coupled to a main rotor or a tail rotor of the helicopter.

8. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first input force is transferable from the first actuator to the first input link to move the first input link, from the first input link to the first extension link to move the first extension link, from the first extension link to the secondary link to move the secondary link, from the secondary link to the second extension link to move the second extension link, and from the second extension link to the output link to move the output link.

9. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second input force is transferable from the second actuator to the second input link to move the second input link, from the second input link to the primary link to move the primary link, from the primary link to the second extension link to move the second extension link, and from the second extension link to the output link to move the output link.

10. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the second input force is to boost the first input force.

11. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the second input force is to be balanced with the first input force.

12. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first input link, the first extension link, the secondary link, and the second extension link are to provide a mechanical bypass to move the output link when the second actuator fails.

13. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus if claim 9 , wherein the first input link, the first extension link, the secondary link, and the second extension link are to provide a mechanical bypass to move the output link when the second input link is locked.

14. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second actuator is configured to generate a stabilization input force without the first input force being generated by the first actuator, the stabilization input force being transferable from the second actuator to the second input link, from the second input link to the primary link, from the primary link to the second extension link, and from the second extension link to the output link.

15. A dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus, comprising:
a first actuator configured to generate a first input force;
a second actuator configured to generate a second input force;
a primary link movable in response to the second input force, the primary link having a first end, a second end located opposite the first end, and a midpoint located between the first end and the second end;
a secondary link movable in response to the first input force, the secondary link having a first end and a second end located opposite the first end, the secondary link spaced apart from the primary link;
a first extension link having a first end, a second end located opposite the first end, and a midpoint located between the first end and the second end, the first extension link spaced apart from the first actuator and extending between the primary link and the secondary link, the first end of the first extension link rotatably coupled to the first end of the primary link, the second end of the first extension link rotatably coupled to the first end of the secondary link, the midpoint of the first extension link rotatably coupled to a first input link, the first input link coupled to and extending between the first actuator and the first extension link, the midpoint of the primary link rotatably coupled to a second input link, the second input link coupled to and extending between the second actuator and the primary link; and
a second extension link having a first end, a second end located opposite the first end, and a midpoint located between the first end and the second end, the second extension link spaced apart from the first extension link and extending between the primary link and the secondary link, the first end of the second extension link rotatably coupled to the second end of the primary link, the second end of the second extension link rotatably coupled to the second end of the secondary link, the midpoint of the second extension link rotatably coupled to an output link.

16. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first input force is transferable from the first actuator to the first input link to move the first input link, from the first input link to the first extension link to move the first extension link, from the first extension link to the secondary link to move the secondary link, from the secondary link to the second extension link to move the second extension link, and from the second extension link to the output link to move the output link.

17. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the second input force is transferable from the second actuator to the second input link to move the second input link, from the second input link to the primary link to move the primary link, from the primary link to the second extension link to move the second extension link, and from the second extension link to the output link to move the output link.

18. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus of claim 16 , w

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Guzman Donald

Classifications

• B64C13/28

  mechanical · CPC title

• F16H21/02

  the movements of two or more independently-moving members being combined into a single movement · CPC title

• B64C27/82

  characterised by the provision of an auxiliary rotor or fluid-jet device for counter-balancing lifting rotor torque or changing direction of rotorcraft · CPC title

• B64C27/68

  using electrical energy, e.g. having electrical power amplification · CPC title

• B64C27/59 Primary

  mechanical · CPC title