US 11,454,308 B2 · Eddy current brake appratus, systems, and related methods for use with actuators having a fail-safe mode of operation

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure provide an electric actuator including a first driving source coupled to an output through a first pathway created by a transmission, a second driving source coupled to the output though a second pathway created by the transmission that, upon the electric actuator losses electrical power to the electric actuator, causes the output to be positioned at a fail-safe position, a differential coupled to the first driving source and the second driving source through a third pathway created by the transmission to store energy from the first driving source in the second driving source, and an eddy current brake coupled to the output through the transmission that reduces a speed at which the second driving source moves the output to the fail-safe position.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An electric actuator, comprising:

a first driving source coupled to an output through a first pathway created by a transmission;
a second driving source coupled to the output through a second pathway created by the transmission that, upon loss of electrical power to the electric actuator, causes the output to be positioned at a fail-safe position;
a differential coupled to the first driving source and the second driving source through a third pathway created by the transmission to store energy from the first driving source in the second driving source;
and
an eddy current brake coupled to the output through the transmission that reduces a speed at which the second driving source moves the output to the fail-safe position.

2 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

an actuator configured to change from a normal operating mode to a fail-safe operating mode upon loss of electrical power to the actuator, the actuator including:
a differential including a first input member, a second input member, and an output member operatively coupled together to form part of a transmission in the actuator;
an output connected to the output member of the differential that is movable between different positions including a fail-safe position;
a first driving source connected to the first input member of the differential configured to drive the output when the actuator is in the normal operating mode;
a second driving source connected to the second input member of the differential configured to drive the output when the actuator is in the fail-safe operating mode;
and
an eddy current brake connected to the differential that is driven by the second driving source when the actuator is in the fail-safe operating mode to generate a braking force, the eddy current brake configured to apply the braking force to the output through the transmission while the output moves to the fail-safe position.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Eddy current brake appratus, systems, and related methods for use with actuators having a fail-safe mode of operation

Life of this patent

Eddy current brake appratus, systems, and related methods for use with actuators having a fail-safe mode of operation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13