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US 2004/0103742 A1Published application
Fault-tolerant rotary actuator
OwnerDelbert Tesarinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fault-tolerant actuator module, in a single containment shell, containing two actuator subsystems that are either asymmetrically or symmetrically laid out is provided. Fault tolerance in the actuators of the present invention is achieved by the employment of dual sets of equal resources. Dual resources are integrated into single modules, with each having the external appearance and functionality of a single set of resources.
Claims20
A rotary actuator comprising:
- a fixed structure;
- a first prime mover having a first portion fixed to the fixed structure, and a second portion rotationally movable with respect to the first portion;
- a second prime mover, having substantially identical performance characteristics to the first prime mover, having a first portion fixed to the fixed structure, and a second portion rotationally movable with respect to the first portion;
- a first gearset having an input portion connected to the second portion of the first prime mover and an output portion;
- a second gearset, having substantially identical performance characteristics to the first gearset, having an input connected to the second portion of the second prime mover and an output portion;
- a first clutch having an input portion connected to the output portion of the first gearset and an output portion;
- a second clutch having an input portion connected to the output portion of the second gearset and an output portion;
- a first actuator output rotationally fixed to the output portion of the first clutch;
- and
- a second actuator output rotationally fixed to the output portion of the second clutch.
7 more elements
A rotary actuator comprising:
- a fixed structure;
- a first prime mover having a first portion fixed to the fixed structure, and a second portion rotationally movable with respect to the first portion;
- a second prime mover, having substantially identical performance characteristics to the first prime mover, having a first portion fixed to the fixed structure, and a second portion rotationally movable with respect to the first portion;
- a first gearset having an input portion connected to the second portion of the first prime mover and an output portion;
- a second gearset, having substantially identical performance characteristics to the first gearset, having an input connected to the second portion of the second prime mover and an output portion;
- a first clutch having an input portion connected to the output portion of the first gearset and an output portion;
- a second clutch having an input portion connected to the output portion of the second gearset and an output portion;
- an actuator output rotationally fixed to the output portion of the first clutch and the output portion of the second clutch.
5 more elements
A rotary actuator comprising:
- an actuator shell having a first axis disposed therein;
- a first prime mover, disposed about the first axis and supported by the actuator shell, having a first fixed portion rigidly fixed to the actuator shell and a first rotatable portion rotatable with respect to the first fixed portion;
- a second prime mover, disposed about the first axis and supported by the actuator shell, having a second fixed portion rigidly fixed to the actuator shell and a second rotatable portion rotatable with respect to the second fixed portion;
- at least one rotary component in contact with and driven by the first rotatable portion of the first prime mover and the second rotatable portion of the second prime mover;
- a differential cage, disposed about the at least one rotary component;
- and
- an output shaft, rigidly coupled to the differential cage.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.