Dual-mount for spring-loaded gear-driven resolvers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11815368-B2
Application number	US-202016846372-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 12, 2020
Priority date	Apr 12, 2020
Publication date	Nov 14, 2023
Grant date	Nov 14, 2023

Abstract

A resolver assembly for a ducted-rotor aircraft is configured to detect and measure rotation of a spindle of the aircraft. The resolver assembly includes first and second gear-driven resolvers. The first and second resolvers are coupled about a shared pivot axis and are independently pivotable about the pivot axis to maintain engagement of the first and second resolvers with the spindle of the aircraft. The resolver assembly is configured such that the first and second resolvers are biased toward the spindle. The input shafts of the first and second resolvers are spaced from the pivot axis through respective first and second distances that extend outward from the pivot axis along respective first and second radial directions. The first distance is equal to the second distance and the first radial direction is not coincident with the second radial direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A ducted-rotor aircraft comprising:
a fuselage;
a spindle that is coupled to the fuselage such that the spindle is rotatable about a spindle axis; and
a resolver assembly that is configured to measure rotation of the spindle about the spindle axis, the resolver assembly comprising first and second resolvers that are independently pivotable about a shared pivot axis to maintain engagement of the first and second resolvers with the spindle.

2. The ducted-rotor aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the first and second resolvers comprise respective first and second input shafts, the first input shaft is spaced from the pivot axis through a first distance along a first radial direction that extends perpendicularly outward from the pivot axis, and the second input shaft is spaced from the pivot axis through a second distance along a second radial direction that extends perpendicularly outward from the pivot axis.

3. The ducted-rotor aircraft of claim 2 , wherein the first distance is equal to the second distance.

4. The ducted-rotor aircraft of claim 2 , wherein the first radial direction is not coincident with the second radial direction.

5. The ducted-rotor aircraft of claim 1 , further comprising an engagement component that is carried by the spindle and that engages with the first and second resolvers.

6. The ducted-rotor aircraft of claim 5 , wherein the engagement component comprises a body having an arc-shaped outer surface that defines a plurality of gear teeth, and
wherein the first and second resolvers further comprise respective first and second gears that are coupled to the first and second input shafts, the first and second gears having complementary teeth configured to engage the plurality of gear teeth of the engagement component.

7. The ducted-rotor aircraft of claim 1 , the resolver assembly further comprising:
a base that is mounted to the fuselage;
a first carrier to which the first resolver is fixedly mounted; and
a second carrier to which the second resolver is fixedly mounted,
wherein the first and second carriers are coupled to the base such that the first and second carriers pivot along with the first and second resolvers about the pivot axis.

8. The ducted-rotor aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the first and second resolvers are biased toward the spindle.

9. A resolver system for a ducted-rotor aircraft:
an engagement component that is configured to be carried by a rotatable spindle of the ducted-rotor aircraft; and
a resolver assembly that is configured to measure rotation of the spindle about a spindle axis, the resolver assembly comprising first and second resolvers that are each independently pivotable about a shared pivot axis to maintain engagement of the first and second resolvers with the engagement component.

10. The resolver system of claim 9 , wherein the first and second resolvers comprise respective first and second input shafts, the first input shaft is spaced from the pivot axis through a first distance along a first radial direction that extends perpendicularly outward from the pivot axis, and the second input shaft is spaced from the pivot axis through a second distance along a second radial direction that extends perpendicularly outward from the pivot axis.

11. The resolver system of claim 10 , wherein the first distance is equal to the second distance.

12. The resolver system of claim 10 , wherein the first radial direction is not coincident with the second radial direction.

13. The resolver system of claim 9 , wherein the engagement component comprises a body having an arc-shaped outer surface that defines a plurality of gear teeth, and
wherein the first and second resolvers further comprise respective first and second gears that are coupled to the first and second input shafts, the first and second gears having complementary teeth configured to engage the plurality of gear teeth of the engagement component.

14. The resolver system of claim 9 , the resolver assembly further comprising:
a base that is mountable to a structural component of the ducted-rotor aircraft;
a first carrier to which the first resolver is fixedly mounted; and
a second carrier to which the second resolver is fixedly mounted,
wherein the first and second carriers are coupled to the base such that the first and second carriers pivot along with the first and second resolvers about the pivot axis.

15. The resolver system of claim 14 , wherein the resolver assembly is configured such that the first and second resolvers are biased toward the spindle.

16. A resolver assembly that is configured to measure rotation of a spindle of a ducted-rotor aircraft, the resolver assembly comprising:
a first resolver having a first input shaft and a first gear coupled to the first input shaft; and
a second resolver having a second input shaft and a second gear coupled to the second input shaft,
wherein the first and second resolvers are coupled about a shared pivot axis and are independently pivotable about the pivot axis to maintain engagement of the first and second resolvers with the spindle, such that rotation of the spindle causes rotation of the first and second gears, and
wherein the first input shaft is spaced from the pivot axis through a first distance along a first radial direction that extends perpendicularly outward from the pivot axis and the second input shaft is spaced from the pivot axis through a second distance along a second radial direction that extends perpendicularly outward from the pivot axis.

17. The resolver assembly of claim 16 , the resolver assembly further comprising:
a base that is mountable to a structural component of the ducted-rotor aircraft;
a first carrier to which the first resolver is fixedly mounted; and
a second carrier to which the second resolver is fixedly mounted,
wherein the first and second carriers are coupled to the base such that the first and second carriers pivot along with the first and second resolvers about the pivot axis.

18. The resolver assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first distance is equal to the second distance.

19. The resolver assembly of claim 16 , wherein the second radial direction is not coincident with the first radial direction.

20. The resolver assembly of claim 16 , wherein the resolver assembly is configured such that the first and second resolvers are biased toward the spindle.

Assignees

• Bell Textron Inc
• Textron Innovations Inc

Inventors

• Beall Grant Michael
• Amante William Anthony
• Revere Jessica Arlie

Classifications

• G01D5/2291 Primary

  Linear or rotary variable differential transformers (LVDTs/RVDTs) having a single primary coil and two secondary coils · CPC title

• B64C11/001

  Shrouded propellers · CPC title

• B64C29/0033 Primary

  the propellers being tiltable relative to the fuselage · CPC title

• B64D45/0005

  Devices specially adapted to indicate the position of a movable element of the aircraft, e.g. landing gear · CPC title

• F16H19/001

  for conveying reciprocating or limited rotary motion · CPC title