Apparatus and methods for actuation of flight control surfaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016355253-A1
Application number	US-201515114532-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 30, 2015
Priority date	Jan 31, 2014
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for actuating flight control surfaces ( 16 A-C) of fixed-wing aircraft are disclosed herein. An exemplary apparatus disclosed includes a common movable driving member ( 20 ) for actuating a plurality of flight control surfaces; a first power transfer device ( 24 A) configured to variably adjust power transfer from the common movable driving member to a first of the plurality of flight control surfaces; and a second power transfer device ( 24 B) configured to variably adjust power transfer from the common movable driving member to a second of the plurality of flight control surfaces. The power transferred to the second flight control surface may be adjusted independently of the power transferred to the first flight control surface. Apparatus and methods for actuating flight control surfaces using magneto-rheological fluid or electro-rheological fluid are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for differentially actuating a plurality of flight control surfaces of a fixed-wing aircraft, the apparatus comprising:
a common movable driving member for actuating the plurality of flight control surfaces; a first power transfer device configured to variably adjust power transfer from the common movable driving member to a first of the plurality of flight control surfaces; and a second power transfer device configured to, independently of the power transferred to the first flight control surface, variably adjust power transfer from the common movable driving member to a second of the plurality of flight control surfaces.

2 . The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first power transfer device and the second power transfer device comprises one of magneto-rheological fluid and electro-rheological fluid.

3 . The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first power transfer device is configured to permit deployment and retraction of the first flight control surface based on actuation of the movable driving member in a first direction.

4 . The apparatus as defined in claim 3 , wherein the second power transfer device is configured to permit deployment and retraction of the second flight control surface based on actuation of the movable driving member in the first direction.

5 . The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first power transfer device comprises a first clutch and a second clutch cooperating to permit deployment and retraction of the first flight control surface.

6 . The apparatus as defined in claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first clutch and the second clutch comprises one of magneto-rheological fluid and electro-rheological fluid.

7 . The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first power transfer device and the second power transfer device comprises a clutch configured for controllable slippage.

8 . The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first power transfer device is configured to permit adjustment of an actuation speed of the first flight control surface based on actuation of the movable driving member at a constant speed.

9 . The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the second power transfer device is configured to permit adjustment of an actuation speed of the second flight control surface independently of the actuation of the first flight control surface.

10 . The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , comprising a first brake for holding the first flight control surface at a first desired position and a second brake for holding the second flight control surface at a second desired position.

11 . An apparatus for actuating a flight control surface of a fixed-wing aircraft, the apparatus comprising:
a source of power for actuating the flight control surface; and a power transfer device configured to transfer power from the source of power to the flight control surface, the power transfer device comprising one of magneto-rheological fluid and electro-rheological fluid.

12 . The apparatus as defined in claim 11 , wherein the source of power comprises a rotatable driving member.

13 . The apparatus as defined in claim 12 , wherein the power transfer device is configured to permit deployment and retraction of the flight control surface based on rotation of the rotatable driving member in a first direction.

14 . The apparatus as defined in claim 11 , wherein the power transfer device comprises a first clutch and a second clutch cooperating to permit deployment and retraction of the flight control surface.

15 . The apparatus as defined in claim 14 , wherein the first clutch and the second clutch comprise one of magneto-rheological fluid and electro-rheological fluid.

16 . The apparatus as defined in claim 12 , wherein the power transfer device is configured to permit adjustment of an actuation speed of the flight control surface based on rotation of the rotatable driving member at a constant speed.

17 . The apparatus as defined in claim 11 , comprising a linear actuator configured to transfer power from the power transfer device to the flight control surface.

18 . The apparatus as defined in claim 17 , wherein the linear actuator comprises a nut engaged with a screw.

19 . A method for differentially actuating a plurality of flight control surfaces of a fixed-wing aircraft using a common movable driving member, the method comprising:
variably adjusting the power transferred from the common movable driving member to a first of the plurality of flight control surfaces; and independently of the power transferred to the first flight control surface, variably adjusting the power transferred from the common movable driving member to a second of the plurality of flight control surfaces.

20 . An apparatus for differentially actuating a plurality of actuatable members, the apparatus comprising:
a common movable driving member for actuating the plurality of actuatable members; a first power transfer device configured to variably adjust power transfer from the common movable driving member to a first of the plurality of actuatable members; and a second power transfer device configured to, independently of the power transferred to the first actuatable member, variably adjust power transfer from the common movable driving member to a second of the plurality of actuatable members.

21 . The apparatus as defined in claim 20 , wherein at least one of the first power transfer device and the second power transfer device comprises one of magneto-rheological fluid and electro-rheological fluid.

Assignees

• Bombardier Inc
• UNIVERSITé DE SHERBROOKE

Inventors

• Nfonguem Gustave
• Chouinard Patrick
• Plante Jean-Sebastien

Classifications

• F16D2037/007

  characterised by multiple substantially radial gaps in which the fluid or medium consisting of small particles is arranged · CPC title

• B64C13/341

  having duplication or stand-by provisions · CPC title

• F16D37/02

  the particles being magnetisable · CPC title

• F16D2037/004

  characterised by multiple substantially axial gaps in which the fluid or medium consisting of small particles is arranged · CPC title

• F16D2023/123

  Clutch actuation by cams, ramps or ball-screw mechanisms · CPC title