Reduced-friction roller and related assembly for a moveable control surface of an aircraft

A roller assembly for an aircraft having a moveable control surface, the roller assembly comprising:

• a roller fitting configured to be coupled to the moveable control surface;
• a track comprising a first bearing surface and a second bearing surface, the track configured to be coupled to a structure of the aircraft in a fixed position relative to the structure;
• and
• a roller comprising:
• a roller shaft comprising:
• a longitudinal shaft axis;
• a mounting end configured to couple with the roller fitting;
• and
• a roller end opposite the mounting end;
• a primary roller coupled to the roller end of the roller shaft and configured to rotate about the longitudinal shaft axis, the primary roller configured to engage and roll along the first bearing surface of the track;
• and
• a roller assembly coupled to the roller end of the roller shaft, the roller assembly comprising:
• a secondary roller comprising a longitudinal roller axis, the secondary roller configured to engage and roll along the second bearing surface of the track;
• and
• a housing that retains the secondary roller while allowing the secondary roller to rotate about the longitudinal roller axis, wherein the housing is movably coupled to the roller end of the roller shaft with three degrees of rotational freedom relative to the roller end of the roller shaft.

An aircraft comprising:

• a wing;
• a control surface movably coupled to the wing;
• a roller fitting coupled to the control surface;
• a track comprising a first bearing surface and a second bearing surface, the track coupled to the wing in a fixed position relative to the wing;
• and
• a roller comprising:
• a roller shaft comprising:
• a longitudinal shaft axis;
• a mounting end coupled to the roller fitting;
• and
• a roller end opposite the mounting end;
• a primary roller coupled to the roller end of the roller shaft and configured to rotate about the longitudinal shaft axis, the primary roller configured to engage and roll along the first bearing surface of the track;
• and
• a roller assembly coupled to the roller end of the roller shaft, the roller assembly comprising:
• a secondary roller comprising a longitudinal roller axis, the secondary roller configured to engage and roll along the second bearing surface of the track;
• and
• a housing that retains the secondary roller while allowing the secondary roller to rotate about the longitudinal roller axis, wherein the housing is movably coupled to the roller end of the roller shaft with three degrees of rotational freedom relative to the roller end of the roller shaft.