Fault tolerant actuator

A clutch assembly adapted to be mounted on an actuator assembly having an outer section and an inner section that are moveable relative to each other, the clutch comprising:

• a clutch housing configured to surround a portion of the actuator housing outer section, the clutch housing rotatable between an engaged position and a disengaged position;
• a clutch motor coupled to the clutch housing and configured, upon being energized, to rotate the clutch housing between the engaged position and the disengaged position, and
• a plurality of pins disposed within, and extending radially inwardly from, the clutch housing, each pin movable between an extended position and a retracted position,
• wherein:
• when the clutch housing is rotated into the engaged position, the pins are moved to, and retained in, the extended position, and
• when the clutch housing is rotated into the disengaged position, the pins are movable to the retracted position.

A fault tolerant actuator assembly, comprising:

• an actuator housing outer section having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the actuator housing outer section defining an outer section cavity;
• an actuator housing inner section disposed at least partially within the outer section cavity, the actuator housing inner section having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the actuator housing inner section defining an inner section cavity;
• a plurality of first openings formed in the actuator housing outer section and extending between the inner surface and the outer surface of the actuator housing outer section;
• a plurality of second openings formed in the actuator housing inner section and extending between the inner surface and the outer surface of the actuator housing inner section, each second opening aligned with a different one of the first openings;
• and
• a clutch disposed within the inner section cavity, the clutch comprising:
• a clutch housing rotatable, relative to the actuator housing inner section, between an engaged position and a disengaged position,
• a clutch motor coupled to the clutch housing and configured, upon being energized, to rotate the clutch housing between the engaged position and the disengaged position, and
• a plurality of pins disposed within, and extending radially outwardly from, the clutch housing, each pin extending at least partially into a different one of the second openings and movable between an extended position, in which each pin is disposed within a different one of the first openings, and a retracted position, in which each pin is not disposed within a different one of the first openings,
• wherein:
• when the clutch housing is rotated into the engaged position, the pins are moved to, and retained in, the extended position, to thereby prevent relative movement between the actuator housing outer and inner sections, and
• when the clutch housing is rotated into the disengaged position, the pins are movable to the retracted position, to thereby allow relative movement between the actuator housing outer and inner sections.