Aircraft actuator with no-back, load detent assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021114717-A1
Application number	US-202017087669-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 3, 2020
Priority date	Apr 29, 2016
Publication date	Apr 22, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A load detent assembly for restricting creep of a rotating assembly of an actuator used to actuate an aircraft flight control surface. The load detent assembly includes an engagement member having circumferentially spaced engagement surfaces/protruding portions, and a load detent having a stoppage member radially biasable towards the engagement member for interengagement between the engagement surfaces to restrict creep of the rotating assembly. One of the engagement member or the load detent is configured for rotation radially inward of the other of the engagement member or the load detent through at least 360 degrees of rotation. The other of the engagement member or the load detent is configured for being fixed radially outward of the one of the engagement member or the load detent.

First claim

1 . An actuator for moving a control surface, the actuator comprising:
an actuator housing; a rotating assembly mounted in the actuator housing having a driven component that is rotatably drivable about a longitudinal axis; and a load detent assembly including an engagement member coupled to one of the driven component of the rotating assembly or the actuator housing, and a load detent supported with respect to the actuator housing for movement relative to the longitudinal axis between a releasing position released from the engagement member and an engaging position interengaged with the engagement member for restricting rotation of the driven component of the rotating assembly relative to the actuator housing; and wherein the load detent is configured to be selectively movable between the engaging position and the releasing position.

2 . The load detent assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein one of the engagement member or the load detent is configured for common rotation with the driven component through at least 360 degrees of rotation.

3 . The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the driven component is a first driven component that is rotatably drivable about the longitudinal axis to effect movement of a second driven component of the rotating assembly along the longitudinal axis.

4 . The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the engagement member is coupled to the driven component for common rotation therewith through at least 360 degrees of rotation.

5 . The actuator of claim 3 , wherein the driven component is a screw and the second component is a nut assembly.

6 . The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the load detent is supported with respect to the actuator housing for radial movement relative to the longitudinal axis.

7 . (canceled)

8 . (canceled)

9 . The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes opposing skewed no-back roller assemblies for engaging the driven component.

10 . (canceled)

11 . The actuator of claim 1 , wherein a housing of the load detent is fixed relative to the actuator housing.

12 . (canceled)

13 . (canceled)

14 . A load detent assembly for restricting creep of a rotating assembly of an actuator, the load detent assembly comprising:
an engagement member having circumferentially spaced engagement surfaces, and a load detent having a stoppage member engageable with the engagement member to restrict creep of the rotating assembly, means for selectively moving the stoppage member out of engagement with the engagement member to permit rotation of the rotating assembly wherein one of the engagement member or the load detent is configured for rotation radially inward of the other of the engagement member or the load detent through at least 360 degrees of rotation.

15 . The load detent assembly of claim 14 , wherein the stoppage member includes one of a projection or a detent and the engagement surfaces include the other of the projection or the detent, the projection and the detent being interengageable to restrict relative rotation of the load detent and engagement member.

16 . The load detent assembly of claim 14 , wherein the engagement member is configured for rotation radially inward of the load detent through at least 360 degrees of rotation.

17 . The load detent assembly of claim 14 , wherein the engagement member is annular in shape.

18 . A linear actuator for moving a control surface, the actuator comprising:
an actuator housing; a nut and screw assembly mounted with respect to the actuator housing and having a screw that is rotatably drivable about a longitudinal axis to drive a nut assembly along the longitudinal axis; and a load detent assembly including
an engagement member coupled to one of the screw or the actuator housing, and
a load detent supported with respect to the actuator housing and having a stoppage member selectively movable relative to the longitudinal axis between a releasing position released from the engagement member and an engaging position interengaged with the engagement member and restricting rotation of the screw relative to the actuator housing,
wherein one of the engagement member or the load detent is configured for common rotation with the screw through at least 360 degrees of rotation.

19 . (canceled)

20 . (canceled)

21 . The actuator of claim 1 , including means for moving the load detent between the engaging position and the releasing position.

22 . The actuator of claim 21 , wherein the means for moving includes a solenoid.

23 . The actuator of claim 21 , wherein the means for moving includes a piston.

24 . The actuator of claim 21 , wherein the engaging position is a default position, and the means for moving is activated to move the load detent from the engaging position to the releasing position.

Assignees

• Parker Hannifin Corp

Inventors

• Edwards David
• Charafeddine Abbas M
• Polcuch Eric A

Classifications

• F16H25/2454

  Brakes; Rotational locks · CPC title

• B64C5/02

  Tailplanes · CPC title

• B64C5/10

  adjustable · CPC title

• B64C13/28 Primary

  mechanical · CPC title