Self-damping actuator
AssigneeWoodward, Inc.
InventorsJoseph Thomas Kopecek, William Muster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, an actuator apparatus includes an output member configured to actuate between a first positional configuration and a second positional configuration, a source fluid reservoir, a fluid velocity resistor configured to provide a predetermined resistance to fluid flow, a fluid velocity fuse configured to flow fluid flows having a first predetermined range of fluid velocities and to block fluid flows having second predetermined range of fluid velocities, and a fluid actuator assembly configured to urge fluid flow from the source fluid reservoir through the fluid velocity resistor and the fluid velocity fuse based on actuation of the output member.
Claims7
An actuator apparatus comprising:
- an output member configured to actuate between a first positional configuration and a second positional configuration;
- an electromechanical actuator mechanically linked to the output member and configured to mechanically urge actuation of the output member;
- a source fluid reservoir;
- a fluid velocity resistor configured to provide a predetermined resistance to fluid flow;
- a fluid velocity fuse configured to flow fluid flows having a first predetermined range of fluid velocities at or below a predetermined fluid velocity threshold in a first direction and to block fluid flows having second predetermined range of fluid velocities above the predetermined fluid velocity threshold in the first direction;
- and
- a fluid actuator assembly configured to urge fluid flow from the source fluid reservoir through the fluid velocity resistor and the fluid velocity fuse based on actuation of the output member.
A turbofan engine system comprising:
- a turbofan engine;
- a nacelle surrounding the turbofan engine and defining an annular bypass duct through the turbofan engine to define a generally forward-to-aft bypass air flow path;
- a thrust reverser having at least one output member, movable to and from a reversing position where at least a portion of bypass air flow is reversed;
- an electromechanical actuator mechanically coupled to the at least one output member and configured to mechanically urge movement of the at least one output member into and out of the reversing position;
- a source fluid reservoir;
- a fluid velocity resistor configured to provide a predetermined resistance to fluid flow;
- a fluid velocity fuse configured to flow fluid flows having a first predetermined range of fluid velocities and to block fluid flows having second predetermined range of fluid velocities;
- and
- a fluid actuator assembly configured to urge fluid flow from the source fluid reservoir through the fluid velocity resistor and the fluid velocity fuse based on actuation of the output member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.