Actuator assemblies for control surfaces of an aircraft, aircraft including the actuator asssemblies, and methods of utilizing the same

An actuator assembly configured to move a control surface of an aircraft through a control surface range-of-motion, the actuator assembly comprising:

• a base structure;
• an actuated arm including a base mount pivotally coupled to the base structure, a surface mount configured to be pivotally coupled to the control surface, and a linkage mount;
• a drive assembly operatively attached to the base structure and including an output shaft;
• a linear actuator including:
• (i) an actuator shaft coupled to, and configured to rotate with, the output shaft of the drive assembly about an actuator shaft axis of rotation;
• and
• an actuated body coupled to the actuator shaft and including a joint mount, wherein the actuator shaft and the actuated body are configured such that the actuated body operatively translates linearly along a length of the actuator shaft responsive to rotation of the actuator shaft about the actuator shaft axis of rotation;
• a joint operatively attached to the joint mount, wherein the joint defines a plurality of joint pivot axes that all are spaced apart from the actuator shaft axis of rotation;
• and
• a linkage including a body mount and an arm mount, wherein the body mount is operatively attached to actuated body via the joint, wherein the arm mount is pivotally coupled to the linkage mount of the actuated arm, and further wherein operative translation of the actuated body along the length of the actuator shaft pivots the actuated arm relative to the base structure about the base mount to move the control surface through the control surface range-of-motion.