Actuator with declutchable output lever
AssigneeRatier-Figeac SAS
InventorCedric Antraygue
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flight control actuator for actuating an aircraft flight control system is provided. The flight control actuator comprises a gearbox, an output shaft attached to the gearbox and an output lever provided on the output shaft. The output lever is declutchable from the output shaft. The output lever includes an inner diameter through which the output shaft passes and at least one indentation in said inner diameter. The output shaft includes a hollow cylindrical member with at least one hole provided at the axial position of the at least one indentation of the output lever.
Claims14
A flight control actuator for actuating an aircraft flight control system, the flight control actuator comprising:
- a gearbox;
- an output shaft attached to the gearbox;
- and
- an output lever provided on the output shaft, wherein the output lever is declutchable from the output shaft;
- wherein:
- the output lever comprises an inner diameter through which the output shaft passes, wherein there is provided at least one indentation in said inner diameter;
- wherein the output shaft comprises a hollow cylindrical member with at least one hole provided at the axial position of the at least one indentation of the output lever;
- said flight control actuator further comprising:
- a plunger positioned in a first axial position within the output shaft;
- wherein one or more balls are positioned in each of said at least one hole of the output shaft and between the plunger and the at least one indentation of the output lever, such that the output lever and output shaft are rotatably coupled and the flight control actuator is clutched.
A method comprising:
- providing a flight control actuator comprising a gearbox and an output shaft attached to the gearbox;
- providing an output lever on the output shaft, wherein:
- the output lever comprises an inner diameter through which the output shaft passes, wherein there is provided at least one indentation in said inner diameter;
- wherein the output shaft comprises a hollow cylindrical member with at least one hole provided at the axial position of the at least one indentation of the output lever;
- said flight control actuator further comprising:
- a plunger positioned in a first axial position within the output shaft;
- wherein one or more balls are positioned in each of said at least one hole of the output shaft and between the plunger and the at least one indentation of the output lever, such that the output lever and output shaft are rotatably coupled and the flight control actuator is clutched;
- and
- declutching the output lever from the output shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.