System for an actuator
AssigneeGoodrich Actuation Systems Limited
InventorsAxel CHAUSSIVERT, Raphael MEDINA
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for identifying a failure of the primary load path in an actuator. The system includes a first strain gauge configured to be mounted to a static portion and to measure vibrations of the static portion and a second strain gauge configured to be mounted to a nut assembly and to measure vibrations of the nut assembly. The system comprises a processor configured to identify a failure of the primary load path by comparing the measured vibrations of the static portion and the measured vibrations of the nut assembly.
Claims15
A system for identifying a failure of the primary load path in an actuator,
- the actuator comprising:
- a screw shaft;
- a static portion fixedly attached to the screw shaft;
- and
- a nut assembly moveable along the screw shaft,
- wherein the nut assembly is moveable relative to the static portion,
- wherein the nut assembly comprises:
- a primary nut for transmitting load through the actuator along a primary load path;
- and
- a secondary nut for transmitting load through the actuator along a secondary load path;
- wherein the nut assembly is configured such that, in normal operation, the secondary nut is not engaged with the screw shaft and load is transmitted through the actuator along the primary load path, and such that, upon failure of the primary load path, the secondary nut is configured to engage the screw shaft and transmit load through the actuator along the secondary load path,
- the system comprising:
- a first strain gauge configured to be mounted to the static portion and to measure vibrations of the static portion;
- a second strain gauge configured to be mounted to the nut assembly and to measure vibrations of the nut assembly;
- and
- a processor configured to identify a failure of the primary load path by comparing the measured vibrations of the static portion and the measured vibrations of the nut assembly.
A method for identifying a failure of the primary load path in an actuator, the actuator comprising:
- a screw shaft;
- a static portion fixedly attached to the screw shaft;
- and
- a nut assembly moveable along the screw shaft,
- wherein the nut assembly is moveable relative to the static portion,
- wherein the nut assembly comprises a primary nut for transmitting load through the actuator along a primary load path, and a secondary nut for transmitting load through the actuator along a secondary load path,
- wherein the nut assembly is configured such that, in normal operation, the secondary nut is not engaged with the screw shaft and load is transmitted through the actuator along the primary load path, and such that, upon failure of the primary load path, the secondary nut is configured to engage the screw shaft and transmit load through the actuator along the secondary load path,
- the method comprising:
- measuring vibrations of the static portion by a first strain gauge mounted to the static portion;
- measuring vibrations of the nut assembly by a second strain gauge mounted to the nut assembly;
- and
- comparing the measured vibrations of the static portion and the measured vibrations of the nut assembly to identify a failure of the primary load path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.