US 11,912,399 B2 · Compact aircraft actuator system

Abstract

An aircraft actuation system is disclosed that includes a pair of cylinders, a piston movably disposed in each cylinder, and a roller train that extends between the pistons in the two cylinders. A portion of the roller train is disposed beyond the cylinders to engage a pinion. Movement of the pistons in the two cylinders in opposite directions produces a corresponding movement of the roller train to in turn rotate the pinion. The roller train may be maintained in compression between its two ends by fluid pressure exerted on a common face of each of the pistons in the two cylinders. The cylinders may be disposed in non-colinear relation, including in parallel relation to one another. A guide may be used to maintain rollers of the roller train in a proper orientation for entry into a space between an outer race and the pinion.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An aircraft actuation system comprising:

a pinion;
a first cylinder;
a first piston movably disposed within said first cylinder;
a second cylinder disposed in non-collinear relation with said first cylinder;
a second piston movably disposed within said second cylinder;
a transfer member interconnected with each of said first piston and said second piston, wherein at least part of said transfer member is disposed out of each of said first and second cylinders and is engaged with said pinion;
and
an outer race extending from a first end of said first cylinder, around a portion of said pinion and spaced from said pinion, and to a first end of said second cylinder,
wherein movement of said first piston and said second piston within said first cylinder and said second cylinder, respectively, moves said transfer member to rotate said pinion.

6 more elements

A method of operating an aircraft actuation system comprising a first cylinder and a second cylinder, wherein each of said first cylinder and said second cylinder has a first cylinder end and an oppositely disposed second cylinder end, said method comprising:

directing a first flow into said first cylinder;
moving a first piston within said first cylinder toward said first cylinder end of said first cylinder in response to said directing a first flow step;
pushing a roller train in a first direction in response to said moving a first piston step by said first flow, wherein said roller train extends between said first and second cylinders and is engaged with a pinion of said aircraft actuation system throughout said pushing a roller train in a first direction step;
moving a second piston within said second cylinder toward said second cylinder end of said second cylinder in response to said pushing a roller train in a first direction step and against a pressurized fluid within said second cylinder between said second piston and said second cylinder end of said second cylinder;
rotating said pinion in a first rotational direction using said pushing a roller train in a first direction step;
and
compressing said roller train between said first piston and said second piston using each of said pushing a roller train in a first direction step and said pressurized fluid within second cylinder.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Compact aircraft actuator system

Life of this patent

Compact aircraft actuator system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19