# US 12,179,910 B2 · System architecture for operation of aircraft flaps

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- Number: US 12,179,910 B2
- Document ID: US12179910B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/973,870
- Filed: 2022-10-26
- Published: 2023-05-04
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2021-11-03
- Assignees: Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited
- Applicants: Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited
- Inventors: Paul Smith; Peter William Bacon; Maamar Benarous
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179910B2

## CPC

- B64C 13/50: using electrical energy
- B64C 13/505: {having duplication or stand-by provisions}
- B64C 9/06: with two or more independent movements
- B64C 9/16: at the rear of the wing
- H02P 5/74: controlling two or more AC dynamo-electric motors (H02P5/46, H02P5/60 take precedence)
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS

## Abstract

A system architecture for operation of aircraft flaps. The system architecture includes a first pair of motor drive units, the first pair comprising a first motor drive unit (MD1) and a second motor drive unit (MD3), and a second pair of motor drive units, the second pair comprising a third motor drive unit (MD2) and a fourth motor drive unit (MD4). The system further includes a first plurality of switches connected between the first motor drive unit (MD1) and the second motor drive unit (MD3), the first plurality of switches configured to operate a first electric motor and a second electric motor, and a second plurality of switches connected between the third motor drive unit (MD2) and the fourth motor drive unit (MD4), the second plurality of switches configured to operate a third electric motor and a fourth electric motor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system architecture for operation of aircraft flaps, the system architecture comprising:
a first pair of motor drive units, the first pair comprising a first motor drive unit (MD1) and a second motor drive unit (MD3) connected in series;
a second pair of motor drive units, the second pair comprising a third motor drive unit (MD2) and a fourth motor drive unit (MD4);
a first plurality of switches connected between the first motor drive unit (MD1) and the second motor drive unit (MD3), said first plurality of switches configured to operate a first electric motor and a second electric motor, wherein the first plurality of switches comprises a first switch (SW1), a second switch (SW5), a third switch (SW2) and a fourth switch (SW6), and wherein the first switch (SW1) and the second switch (SW5) are arranged in parallel with the third switch (SW2) and the fourth switch (SW6); and
a second plurality of switches connected between the third motor drive unit (MD2) and the fourth motor drive unit (MD4), said second plurality of switches configured to operate a third electric motor and a fourth electric motor;
wherein the first electric motor (201) is connected to the first switch (SW1) and to the second switch (SW5), and
wherein the second motor (202) is connected to the third switch (SW2) and to the fourth switch (SW6).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system architecture of claim 1, wherein the first electric motor is configured to operate a left hand outboard flap panel, and
wherein the second electric motor is configured to operate a left hand inboard flap panel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system architecture of claim 1, wherein the third motor drive unit (MD2) and the fourth motor drive unit (MD4) are connected in series, and
wherein the second plurality of switches comprises a fifth switch (SW3), a sixth switch (SW7), a seventh switch (SW4) and an eighth switch (SW8).

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system architecture of claim 3, wherein the fifth switch (SW3) and the sixth switch (SW7) are arranged in parallel with the seventh switch (SW4) and the eighth switch (SW8).

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system architecture of claim 4, wherein the third electric motor is connected between the fifth switch (SW3) and the sixth switch (SW7), and
wherein the fourth motor is connected to the seventh switch (SW4) and to the eighth switch (SW8).

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system architecture of claim 5, wherein the third electric motor is configured to operate a right hand inboard flap panel and wherein the fourth electric motor is configured to operate a right hand outboard flap panel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

An aircraft comprising:
a left hand outboard flap panel;
a left hand inboard flap panel;
a right hand inboard flap panel;
a right hand outboard flap panel;
the system architecture of claim 1, wherein the first electric motor is configured to operate a left hand outboard flap panel and wherein the second electric motor is configured to operate a left hand inboard flap panel; and
wherein the third electric motor is configured to operate a right hand inboard flap panel and wherein the fourth electric motor is configured to operate a right hand outboard flap panel.

### Claim 8

A method of operation of aircraft flaps, the method comprising:
providing a first pair of motor drive units, the first pair comprising a first motor drive unit (MD1) and a second motor drive unit (MD3);
providing a second pair of motor drive units, the second pair comprising a third motor drive unit (MD2) and a fourth motor drive unit (MD4);
providing a first plurality of switches connected between the first motor drive unit (MD1) and the second motor drive unit (MD3), said first plurality of switches configured to operate a first electric motor and a second electric motor;
providing a second plurality of switches connected between the third motor drive unit (MD2) and the fourth motor drive unit (MD4), said second plurality of switches configured to operate a third electric motor and a fourth electric motor;
wherein the first motor drive unit (MD1) and the second motor drive unit (MD3) are connected in series, and wherein the first plurality of switches comprises a first switch (SW1), a second switch (SW5), a third switch (SW2) and a fourth switch (SW6);
wherein the first switch (SW1) and the second switch (SW5) are arranged in parallel with the third switch (SW2) and the fourth switch (SW6); and
wherein the first electric motor is connected to the first switch (SW1) and to the second switch (SW5), and wherein the second motor is connected to the third switch (SW2) and to the fourth switch (SW6).

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8,
wherein the third motor drive unit (MD2) and the fourth motor drive unit (MD4) are connected in series, and wherein the second plurality of switches comprises a fifth switch (SW3), a sixth switch (SW7), a seventh switch (SW4) and an eighth switch (SW8).

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9,
wherein the fifth switch (SW3) and the sixth switch (SW7) are arranged in parallel with the seventh switch (SW4) and the eighth switch (SW8).

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10,
wherein the third electric motor is connected to the fifth switch (SW3) and to the sixth switch (SW7), and wherein the fourth motor is connected to the seventh switch (SW4) and the to eighth switch (SW8).

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the first electric motor is configured to operate a left hand outboard flap panel and wherein the second electric motor is configured to operate a left hand inboard flap panel; or
wherein the third electric motor is configured to operate a right hand inboard flap panel and wherein the fourth electric motor is configured to operate a right hand outboard flap panel.