Drive arrangements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12404009-B2
Application number	US-202218713527-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2022
Priority date	Dec 2, 2021
Publication date	Sep 2, 2025
Grant date	Sep 2, 2025

Abstract

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.

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;
second engaging component for selectively engaging and disengaging the second drive and the output member; and
at least one actuator configured to cause the first engaging component to engage and disengage the first drive and the output member, 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, wherein the at least one actuator, the rod, and the arms are configured to rotate around the first and second drives.

2. The drive arrangement according to claim 1 , 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.

3. The drive arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the second engaging component comprises one of: a Hirth joint; a clutch-based mechanism; a friction clutch; a strain wave-type gearbox; a releasable connection.

4. The drive arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first engaging component comprises a clutch-based mechanism.

5. The drive arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first engaging component comprises a Hirth joint.

6. The drive arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first engaging component comprises a friction clutch.

7. The drive arrangement of any of claim 1 , wherein the first engaging component comprises a strain wave-type gearbox.

8. The drive arrangement of claim 7 , wherein the strain wave-type gearbox includes a variable-size wave generator mechanism.

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

10. A vehicle comprising the drive arrangement of claim 1 .

11. 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;
second engaging component for selectively engaging and disengaging the second drive and the output member; and
at least one actuator configured to cause the first engaging component to engage and disengage the first drive and the output member, 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;
wherein the first engaging component comprises a first side configured to slide along a splined section of a first output shaft of the first drive under the action of the at least one actuator to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the first drive and the output member.

12. The drive arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first engaging component comprises an epicyclic gearbox.

13. The drive arrangement of claim 12 , comprising friction material configured to constrain movement of a ring gear of the epicyclic gearbox.

14. The drive arrangement of claim 13 , wherein the rod is a rocker configured to apply the friction material to the ring gear.

15. The drive arrangement of claim 13 , wherein the friction material is configured to move radially relative to the epicyclic gearbox.

16. The drive arrangement of claim 12 , comprising at least one additional gearing arrangement.

Assignees

• Bae Systems Plc

Inventors

• Hollands Robert David
• Ingleton Martyn

Classifications

• F16D11/14

  with clutching members movable only axially (F16D11/02, F16D11/08 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16D2011/008

  characterised by the form of the teeth forming the inter-engaging parts; Details of shape or structure of these teeth · CPC title

• B64C13/505

  having duplication or stand-by provisions · CPC title

• B64C13/341 Primary

  having duplication or stand-by provisions · CPC title

• B64C13/28 Primary

  mechanical · CPC title