Strain wave gearing and drive arrangements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12397903-B2
Application number	US-202218713488-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2022
Priority date	Dec 2, 2021
Publication date	Aug 26, 2025
Grant date	Aug 26, 2025

Abstract

A strain wave-type gearbox comprises: a flex spline component; an outer circular spline component; and a wave generator component, wherein the wave generator component is configured for adjustment of at least one dimension of the wave generator component, to cause engagement and disengagement of the flex spline component and the outer circular spline component. A drive arrangement for manipulating a vehicle control surface comprises: a first drive; a second drive; an output member for connecting to the vehicle control surface; first engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the first drive and the output member; and second engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the second drive and the output member, wherein the first engaging means comprises a strain wave-type gearbox.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A drive arrangement for manipulating a vehicle control surface, the drive arrangement comprising:
a first drive;
a second drive;
an output member for connecting to the vehicle control surface;
first engaging component for selectively engaging and disengaging the first drive and the output member; and
second engaging component for selectively engaging and disengaging the second drive and the output member,
wherein the first engaging component comprises a strain wave-type gearbox, the strain wave-type gearbox including
a flex spline component,
an outer circular spline component, and
a wave generator component configured to cause engagement and disengagement of the flex spline component and the outer circular spline component.

2. The drive arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the wave generator component is configured for adjustment of at least one dimension of the wave generator component, to cause the engagement and the disengagement of the flex spline component and the outer circular spline component.

3. The drive arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first drive and the second drive are mechanically grounded.

4. The drive arrangement of claim 1 , comprising a first actuator configured to cause the first engaging component to engage and disengage the first drive and the output member, and a second actuator configured to cause the second engaging component to engage and disengage the second drive and the output member.

5. The drive arrangement of any of claim 1 , wherein the output member includes a connecting portion configured for connection to the vehicle control surface.

6. The drive arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first drive and the second drive are arranged to both be engaged with the output member at the same time, the first drive and the second drive being independently disengageable from the output member to allow the other drive to independently control the output member.

7. A vehicle comprising a drive arrangement of claim 1 .

8. The drive arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the wave generator component includes a mechanism arranged to cause lengthening and shortening of a major axis of the wave generator component.

9. The drive arrangement of claim 8 , wherein when the major axis of the wave generator component is in a lengthened configuration, the wave generator component causes engagement of the flex spline component and the outer circular spline component, and when the major axis of the wave generator component is in a shortened configuration, the wave generator component causes disengagement of the flex spline component and the outer circular spline component.

10. The drive arrangement of claim 8 , wherein the mechanism comprises a hinged mechanism, a leadscrew mechanism, a rack and pinion mechanism, or a cam mechanism.

11. The drive arrangement of claim 1 , comprising at least one actuator configured to cause the first engaging component to engage and disengage the first drive and the output member.

12. The drive arrangement of claim 11 , wherein the at least one actuator is configured to cause movement of a rod and a pair of arms which are attached to the rod.

13. The drive arrangement of claim 12 , wherein the movement of the rod and the pair of arms causes the adjustment of the at least one dimension of the wave generator component.

14. The drive arrangement of claim 11 , wherein the at least one actuator is configured to substantially simultaneously cause:
the first engaging component to disengage the first drive and the output member, and
the second engaging component to engage the second drive and the output member.

15. A drive arrangement for manipulating a vehicle control surface, the drive arrangement comprising:
a first drive;
a second drive;
an output member for connecting to the vehicle control surface;
one or more first engaging components for selectively engaging and disengaging the first drive and the output member; and
one or more second engaging components for selectively engaging and disengaging the second drive and the output member;
wherein the one or more first engaging components comprise a strain wave-type gearbox, the strain wave-type gearbox including
a flex spline component,
an outer circular spline component, and
a wave generator component configured to cause lengthening and shortening of a major axis of the wave generator component;
wherein when the major axis of the wave generator component is in a lengthened configuration, the wave generator component causes engagement of the flex spline component and the outer circular spline component; and
wherein when the major axis of the wave generator component is in a shortened configuration, the wave generator component causes disengagement of the flex spline component and the outer circular spline component.

16. The drive arrangement of claim 15 , wherein the one or more second engaging components comprise one or more of: a Hirth joint; a friction clutch; an epicyclic gearbox; a planetary gearbox; a strain wave-type gearbox; a releasable connection.

17. The drive arrangement of claim 15 , comprising at least one actuator configured to cause the one or more first engaging components to engage and disengage the first drive and the output member.

18. A drive arrangement for manipulating a vehicle control surface, the drive arrangement comprising:
a first drive;
a second drive;
an output member for connecting to the vehicle control surface;
one or more first engaging components for selectively engaging and disengaging the first drive and the output member; and
one or more second engaging components for selectively engaging and disengaging the second drive and the output member;
wherein the one or more first engaging components comprise a strain wave-type gearbox, the strain wave-type gearbox including
a flex spline component,
an outer circular spline component, and
a wave generator component including a mechanism arranged to cause lengthening and shortening of a major axis of the wave generator component,
wherein when the major axis of the wave generator component is in a lengthened configuration, the wave generator component causes engagement of the flex spline component and the outer circular spline component, and
wherein when the major axis of the wave generator component is in a shortened configuration, the wave generator component causes disengagement of the flex spline component and the outer circular spline component.

19. The drive arrangement of claim 18 , wherein the one or more second engaging components comprise one or more of: a Hirth joint; a friction clutch; an epicyclic gearbox; a planetary gearbox; a strain wave-type gearbox; a releasable connection.

20. The drive arrangement of claim 18 , wherein the mechanism comprises a hinged mechanism, a leadscrew mechanism, a rack and pinion mechanism, or a cam mechanism.

Assignees

• Bae Systems Plc

Inventors

• Hollands Robert David
• Ingleton Martyn

Classifications

• F16H49/001

  Wave gearings, e.g. harmonic drive transmissions · CPC title

• F16H37/122

  for interconverting rotary motion and oscillating motion · CPC title

• F16H37/04

  Combinations of toothed gearings only (F16H37/06 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16H19/08

  for interconverting rotary motion and oscillating motion · CPC title

• F16H19/04

  comprising a rack · CPC title