Support device for actuator, air intake system and aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10814997-B2
Application number	US-201715629915-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2017
Priority date	Jul 1, 2016
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a support device for an actuator. The support device includes a support unit adapted to be mounted to a stationary structure, an attachment unit adapted to be attached to an actuator casing and a single pivot shaft, and the attachment unit is pivotably connected to the support unit via the single pivot shaft. The support device according to the present disclosure has a simple structure and is stable in operation. The present disclosure further relates to an air intake system for an auxiliary power unit, which includes the above support device for the actuator. In addition, the present disclosure further relates to an aircraft including the air intake system for the auxiliary power unit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A support device for an actuator having an actuator casing, wherein, the support device comprises:
a support unit adapted to be mounted to a stationary structure;
an attachment unit configured to be attached to the actuator casing; and
a single pivot shaft via which the attachment unit is pivotably connected to the support unit; and,
wherein the attachment unit includes a first member and a second member each comprising a main body portion configured to receive the pivot shaft, and a second portion configured to enclose a part of the actuator casing.

2. The support device according to claim 1 , wherein a bush or bearing is provided between the pivot shaft and at least one of the attachment unit and the support unit, or a bush or a bearing has a spherical outer surface.

3. The support device according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment unit and the actuator casing are formed into one piece, the attachment unit is at least one lug extending from the actuator casing, and the at least one lug is provided therein with a hole configured to receive the pivot shaft.

4. The support device according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment unit and the actuator casing are separately formed, the attachment unit comprises a main body portion, a lug extending from the main body portion, and a fastener configured to fasten the main body portion to the actuator casing, and the lug is provided therein with a hole configured to receive the pivot shaft.

5. The support device according to claim 4 , wherein the fastener is a damper, a hoop, a snap ring, a buckle, or a strap.

6. The support device according to claim 1 , wherein the support device further comprises a positioning member for positioning the attachment unit relative actuator housing,
the positioning member is one of the following:
a pin for inserting in pinholes provided in the attachment unit and the actuator housing;
a protrusion extending from the attachment unit and adapted to be engaged with corresponding holes in the actuator housing;
a recess or hole provided in the attachment unit and adapted to be engaged with a protrusion on the actuator housing; or a step provided on the attachment unit.

7. The support device according to claim 1 , wherein the support unit comprises: a base plate adapted to be fixedly mounted to the stationary structure; and a support portion arranged on one side of the base plate and comprising a hole configured to receive the pivot shaft.

8. The support device according to claim 7 , wherein the support portion comprises two parallel supporting plates spaced apart, and the supporting plates are arranged at two sides of a portion, connected onto the pivot shaft, of the attachment unit.

9. The support device according to claim 7 , wherein the support portion is provided at its free end with a U-shaped member or Y-shaped member, the U-shaped member or Y-shaped member has two legs each provided with a hole for receiving the pivot shaft, so that the portion, connected onto the pivot shaft, of the attachment unit is located between the legs of the U-shaped member or Y-shaped member.

10. The support device according to claim 7 , wherein the support unit further comprises a reinforcing rib arranged between the base plate and the support portion.

11. The support device according to claim 7 , wherein a stopper is arranged on the pivot shaft between the support portion and the attachment unit.

12. An air intake system for an auxiliary power unit, wherein the air intake system is adapted to introduce ambient air into an inlet plenum of the auxiliary power unit, the air intake system comprises a housing, an air intake duct defined by the housing, an air intake arranged in the housing, a flap configured to open or closed the air intake, an actuator configured to move the flap, and the support device for the actuator according to claim 1 ,
the support device is mounted to the housing as a stationary structure, the actuator has an actuator rod articulated to a first end of the flap, and the flap is articulated to the housing at a second end opposite to the first end, so as to allow a linear movement of the actuator rod to be converted into rotation of the flap to open or close the air intake.

13. An aircraft, comprising the air intake system for the auxiliary power unit according to claim 12 , wherein the air intake system is located in a tail part of the aircraft.

14. A support device for an actuator having an actuator casing, wherein, the support device comprises:
a support unit adapted to be mounted to a stationary structure;
an attachment unit configured to be attached to the actuator casing; and
a single pivot shaft via which the attachment unit is pivotably connected to the support unit,
wherein the attachment unit comprises a first member and a second member, each of the first member and the second member comprises:
a main body portion;
a lug extending from one end of the main body portion and provided therein with a hole configured to receive the pivot shaft; and
a flange extending from another end of the main body portion and provided therein with a hole configured to receive a bolt; and
wherein after the first member is fastened to the second member by the bolt, the main body portion of the first member and the main body portion of the second member clamp or enclose a part of the actuator casing.

15. The support device according to claim 14 , wherein the first member and the second member are symmetrical with respect to a central axis of the clamped or enclosed part of the actuator casing.

Assignees

• Airbus Sas

Inventors

• Zhang Feng
• Shi Na
• An Ying

Classifications

• B64D33/02 Primary

  of combustion air intakes · CPC title

• B64D29/08

  Inspection panels for power plants · CPC title

• B64D2033/0213

  specially adapted for auxiliary power units (APU's) · CPC title

• B64C1/1446

  Inspection hatches (for engine cowls B64D29/08) · CPC title