Locking Electromechanical Actuator with Pneumatic Backup
AssigneeTextron Aviation Inc.
InventorsMichael Haugen, Justin Jirik, Donald Edward Hill, Robin L. Young, Jeremy Phillip Taylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A linear actuator may include a piston and a linear drive. The piston is slidably mounted for sliding along an axis. The linear drive includes a ball screw and a ball nut operably mounted on the ball screw, with rotation of the ball screw causing the ball nut to move axially along the ball screw. The piston is attached to the ball nut, and the piston is configured to be advanced along the axis as the ball screw is rotated.
Claims21
A linear actuator comprising:
- a piston slidably mounted for sliding along an axis;
- a linear drive including a ball screw and a ball nut operably mounted on the ball screw, with rotation of the ball screw causing the ball nut to move axially along the ball screw,
- a drive mechanism including a rotational drive element operable to impart rotation to the ball screw about the axis,
- said piston being attached to the ball nut, with the ball nut and piston configured to be advanced along the axis as the ball screw is rotated;
- and
- a releasable coupling that drivingly interconnects the drive mechanism and ball screw, with rotation of the drive element causing rotation of the ball screw,
- said coupling releasably attached to one of the drive element and the ball screw to permit relative movement between the drive element and the ball screw.
15-24. (canceled)
A linear actuator comprising:
- a linear drive including a ball screw and a ball nut operably mounted on the ball screw,
- said ball screw defining an axis, with rotation of the ball screw causing the ball nut to move axially along the ball screw,
- a drive mechanism including a rotational drive element operable to impart rotation to the ball screw about the axis,
- said ball nut configured to be advanced along the axis as the ball screw is rotated;
- and
- a releasable coupling that drivingly interconnects the drive mechanism and ball screw, with rotation of the drive element causing rotation of the ball screw,
- said coupling releasably attached to one of the drive element and the ball screw to permit relative movement between the drive element and the ball screw.
A process of operating a linear actuator to provide a primary actuation mode and a secondary blow-down actuation mode for extending an aircraft landing gear, said linear actuator having a piston that moves axially to extend and retract the aircraft landing gear, said linear actuator having a linear drive with a ball screw and a ball nut operably mounted on the ball screw, with rotation of the ball screw causing the ball nut to move axially along the ball screw, said piston being attached to the ball nut, with the ball nut and piston configured to be advanced along the axis as the ball screw is rotated, said process comprising:
- drivingly engaging a drive element and a ball screw during the primary actuation mode via a releasable coupling, with rotation of the drive element causing rotation of the ball screw and corresponding distal movement of the piston,
- releasing the coupling from one of the drive element and the ball screw during the secondary blow-down actuation mode to restrict rotation of the drive element from causing rotation of the ball screw,
- supplying pressurized gas to the actuator during the secondary blow-down actuation mode to push the piston distally to extend the aircraft landing gear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.