Back to results
US 12,692,925 B2Granted
Damping unit as a secondary load path for a movable element with actuator
AssigneeWisk Aero LLC
InventorsChase Nichols, Shawn Falzone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments provide a damping unit coupled to a moveable element. An actuator configured to drive the moveable element provides a primary load path, while the damping unit provides a secondary load path that slows uncontrolled motion of the moveable element in the event of failure of the primary load path. To test the working condition of the damping unit, a load on the actuator can be measured when the actuator drives the moveable element. If the load is greater than a predetermined threshold, it can be determined that the damping unit is providing a damping force against the actuator, and therefore the damping unit is operational.
Claims19
A method comprising:
- controlling, by a control system, an actuator to actuate to cause a tilting motion of a tiltable propulsion system relative to a support structure, wherein the actuator is coupled to the tiltable propulsion system and coupled to the support structure, a damping unit is coupled to the tiltable propulsion system and coupled to the support structure, and the damping unit is configured to provide a damping force that opposes the tilting motion of the tiltable propulsion system;
- determining, by the control system, a load on the actuator during the tilting motion of the tiltable propulsion system, wherein the damping unit, when operational, causes an increase in the load on the actuator by opposing the tilting motion of the tiltable propulsion system being caused by the actuator;
- comparing, by the control system, the load on the actuator to a predetermined threshold value;
- and
- determining, by the control system, that the damping unit is operational when the load on the actuator exceeds the predetermined threshold value, wherein exceeding the predetermined threshold value indicates the load on the actuator has been increased as a result of the damping unit applying the damping force to the tiltable propulsion system.
2 more elements
A control system comprising:
- a processor;
- a computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to execute a method comprising:
- controlling an actuator to actuate to cause a tilting motion of a tiltable propulsion system relative to a support structure, wherein the actuator is coupled to the tiltable propulsion system and coupled to the support structure, a damping unit is coupled to the tiltable propulsion system and coupled to the support structure, and the damping unit is configured to provide a damping force that opposes the tilting motion of the tiltable propulsion system;
- determining a load on the actuator during the tilting motion of the tiltable propulsion system, wherein the damping unit, when operational, causes an increase in the load on the actuator by opposing the tilting motion of the tiltable propulsion system being caused by the actuator;
- comparing the load on the actuator to a predetermined threshold value;
- and
- determining that the damping unit is operational when the load on the actuator exceeds the predetermined threshold value, wherein exceeding the predetermined threshold value indicates the load on the actuator has been increased as a result of the damping unit applying the damping force to the tiltable propulsion system.
4 more elements
An aircraft comprising:
- a tiltable propulsion system;
- a support structure;
- an actuator coupled to the tiltable propulsion system and coupled to the support structure, and configured to cause a tilting motion of the tiltable propulsion system relative to the support structure;
- a damping unit coupled to the tiltable propulsion system and coupled to the support structure, and configured to provide a damping force to the tiltable propulsion system that opposes the tilting motion of the tiltable propulsion system;
- and
- a control system configured to:
- control the actuator to actuate to cause the tilting motion of the tiltable propulsion system;
- determine a load on the actuator during the tilting motion of the tiltable propulsion system, wherein the damping unit, when operational, causes an increase in the load on the actuator by opposing the tilting motion of the tiltable propulsion system;
- compare the load on the actuator to a predetermined threshold value;
- and
- determine that the damping unit is operational when the load on the actuator exceeds the predetermined threshold value, wherein exceeding the predetermined threshold value indicates the load on the actuator has been increased as a result of the damping unit applying the damping force to the tiltable propulsion system.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.