Actuator for use in a piston engine powered aircraft actuation control system

An actuation control system for an aircraft piston engine, comprising:

• a controller configured to selectively supply motor control signals;
• and
• an actuator in operable communication with the controller, the actuator comprising:
• a housing;
• a motor mounted on the housing and coupled to receive the motor control signals, the motor responsive to the motor control signals to rotate and supply a drive torque;
• a helical guide disposed at least partially within the housing, the helical guide coupled to receive the drive torque from the motor and configured, in response to the drive torque, to rotate in either a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction;
• a drive gear coupled to the motor to receive the drive torque therefrom;
• a driven gear meshed with the drive gear and having an opening therein through which the helical guide extends, the driven gear coupled to the helical guide to thereby supply the drive torque to the helical guide when the drive gear is rotating;
• an actuation tube disposed at least partially within the housing and having an inner surface that defines an actuation tube cavity, the actuation tube at least partially surrounded by the helical guide and configured, in response to rotation of the helical guide in the first rotational direction or the second rotational direction, to selectively translate in either a first axial direction or a second axial direction, respectively;
• an inner rod disposed within, and extending from, the actuation tube cavity, the inner rod movable between a first position, in which rotation of the helical guide causes the actuation tube to translate, and a second position, in which rotation of the helical guide does not cause the actuation tube to translate;
• and
• an inner rod actuator coupled to the inner rod and configured to move the inner rod between the first position and the second position.

An actuation control system for an aircraft powered by a piston engine, the actuation system comprising:

• a controller configured to selectively supply a plurality of motor control signals;
• and
• a plurality of actuators in operable communication with the controller, wherein each actuator comprises:
• a housing;
• a motor mounted on the housing and coupled to receive one of the motor control signals from the controller, the motor responsive to the received motor control signals to rotate and supply a drive torque;
• a helical guide disposed at least partially within the housing, the helical guide coupled to receive the drive torque from the motor and configured, in response to the drive torque, to rotate in either a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction;
• a drive gear coupled to the motor to receive the drive torque therefrom;
• a driven gear meshed with the drive gear and having an opening therein through which the helical guide extends, the driven gear coupled to the helical guide to thereby supply the drive torque to the helical guide when the drive gear is rotating;
• an actuation tube disposed at least partially within the housing and having an inner surface that defines an actuation tube cavity, the actuation tube at least partially surrounded by the helical guide and configured, in response to rotation of the helical guide in the first rotational direction or the second rotational direction, to selectively translate in either a first axial direction or a second axial direction, respectively;
• a control handle coupled to, and movable with, the actuation tube when the actuation tube is translating, the control handle dimensioned to be grasped by a hand and to receive a force;
• an inner rod disposed within, and extending from, the actuation tube cavity, the inner rod movable between a first position, in which rotation of the helical guide causes the actuation tube to translate, and a second position, in which rotation of the helical guide does not cause the actuation tube to translate but application of the force to the control handle causes the actuation tube to translate;
• and
• a solenoid coupled to the inner rod and configured, upon being energized, to move the inner rod to the first position and, upon being deenergized, to move the inner rod to the second position.