Aircraft spoiler and actuation apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11767100-B2
Application number	US-202117449144-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2021
Priority date	Nov 9, 2020
Publication date	Sep 26, 2023
Grant date	Sep 26, 2023

Abstract

An aircraft wing with a wing structure and a spoiler movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration are disclosed. The spoiler includes an actuator configurable between an engaged mode and a disengaged mode. When the actuator is in the engaged mode, the actuator can restrict movement of the spoiler and move the spoiler between the stowed configuration and deployed configuration. In the disengaged mode, the actuator allows free movement of the spoiler, such that the spoiler may pop up due to reduced air pressure on the aircraft wing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An aircraft wing comprising a wing structure and a spoiler movable relative to the wing structure between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein the spoiler comprises an actuator configurable between an engaged mode and a disengaged mode, the actuator comprising a cable and a cable drum, the cable being attached at one end to the spoiler and at the other end to the cable drum, wherein in the engaged mode, the cable is arranged to be held under tension and the actuator is arranged to restrict movement of the spoiler and/or move the spoiler between the stowed configuration and deployed configuration, and in the disengaged mode, the tension in the cable is released and the actuator allows free movement of the spoiler such that the spoiler can be moved from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration unencumbered, and when the spoiler is retracted to the stowed configuration, the cable is tensioned in the engaged mode and arranged to be reeled around the cable drum.

2. An aircraft wing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the actuator is arranged to move the spoiler from the deployed configuration to the stowed configuration.

3. An aircraft wing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a clutch arrangement which, when the actuator is in the disengaged mode, allows free movement in one direction when the spoiler is being moved into the deployed configuration.

4. An aircraft wing as claimed in claim 3 , wherein when the actuator is in the engaged mode, the clutch arrangement is configured to engage a drive mechanism to allow the spoiler to be retracted into the stowed configuration.

5. An aircraft wing as claimed in claim 3 , wherein when the actuator is in the engaged mode, the clutch mechanism is arranged to be lockable to prevent movement of spoiler.

6. An aircraft wing as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the clutch mechanism may comprise a dog clutch.

7. An aircraft wing as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the dog clutch comprises a ramped dog clutch.

8. An aircraft wing as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the clutch mechanism comprises a spring.

9. An aircraft wing as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the clutch mechanism comprises series of friction clutch plates.

10. An aircraft wing as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the clutch mechanism comprises each of a ramped dog clutch, a spring, and a series of friction clutch plates.

11. A method of deploying a stowed spoiler in an aircraft wing according to claim 1 , the method comprising the step of configuring the actuator in the disengaged mode, thereby allowing for free movement of the spoiler.

12. A method of retracting a deployed spoiler in an aircraft wing according to claim 1 , the method comprising the step of configuring the actuator in the engaged mode, and activating the actuator to retract the spoiler.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Ltd

Inventors

• Bishop Benjamin
• Bryant Anthony

Classifications

• B64C13/30 Primary

  using cable, chain, or rod mechanisms · CPC title

• B64C9/26

  by multiple flaps · CPC title

• B64C9/323 Primary

  associated with wings · CPC title

• B64C13/34

  using toothed gearing · CPC title

• B64C3/58 Primary

  provided with fences or spoilers (adjustable for control purposes B64C9/00) · CPC title