Eccentric actuator

An actuator for effecting relative pivotal movement between first and second structures about a pivot axis, comprising:

• an elongate beam with first and second portions having first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, said axes interesecting at the pivot axis and being mutually skewed at a predetermined skew angle;
• said beam being secured at the first portion to the first structure for rotation about the first axis;
• housing means attached to the second structure for supporting the second beam portion for rotation about the second axis and for eccentric revolution about a circle with a centerline intersecting the pivot axis;
• index means interconnecting said housing means and the second portion of said beam such that eccentric revolution of the second portion of said beam in one direction is accompanied by rotation of said beam in the opposite direction;
• and
• means including a drive shaft mounted for eccentric revolution in said housing means for simultaneously effecting rotation of said beam about the second axis as well as effecting eccentric revolution of the second portion of the beam to pivot the first beam portion about the pivot axis and cause relative pivotal movement between the first and second structures.

An actuator for effecting pivotal movement of one structure relative to another structure about a pivot axis, comprising:

• an elongate beam with first and second portions having first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, said axes intersecting at the pivot axis and being mutually skewed at a predetermined skew angle;
• said beam being secured at the first portion to one of said structures for rotation about the first axis;
• housing means for securing the second portion of said beam to the other structure;
• said housing means including a support member fixed to said other structure and a carrier member mounted for rotation with said support member;
• the second portion of said beam being supported in the carrier member of said housing means for rotation about the second axis and for eccentric revolution;
• a rotatable drive shaft supported on the carrier member of said housing means;
• gear means for coupling said drive shaft to said beam;
• and
• index means for interconnecting said beam with the support member of said housing means such that rotation of said beam in one direction is accompanied by eccentric revolution of the second portion of said beam in the opposite direction whereby the first portion of said beam pivots about the pivot axis to cause relative pivotal movement between the structures.

An actuator for effecting relative pivotal movement between two structures about a pivot axis, comprising:

• an elongate beam with first and second portions having first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, said axes intersecting at the pivot axis and being skewed at a predetermined skew angle;
• first housing means attached to one of said structures for supporting the first portion of said beam for rotation and for eccentric revolution;
• second housing means attached to the other one of said structures for supporting the second portion of said beam for rotation and for eccentric revolution;
• means for effecting rotation of said beam;
• and
• first and second index means for interconnecting the first and second portions, respectively, of said beam with said first and second housing means, respectively, such that rotation of said beam in one direction is accompanied by eccentric revolution of the corresponding portions of said beam in the opposite corresponding direction whereby the portions of said beam pivot about the axis to effect relative pivotal movement between the structures.

An actuator for effecting relative movement between first and second structures connected for pivotal movement about a pivot axis, comprising:

• an elongate beam with first and second portions each having a longitudinal axis, said axes being mutually skewed at a predetermined acute skew angle and intersecting the pivot axis;
• said beam being secured at the first portion to the first structure for rotation about the axis of the first portion;
• housing means attached to the second structure for rotatably supporting the second portion of the beam, said beam being supported for rotation about the axis of the second portion and for eccentric revolution about a circle having a centerline intersecting the pivot axis;
• means disposed within said housing means for effecting rotation of the beam about the axis of the second portion of said beam;
• and
• index means interconnecting the second portion of said beam with said housing means for effecting the eccentric motion of the second portion of the beam in an opposite direction at substantially the same rotational rate responsive to the rotation of the beam so that one of the portions of the beam is pivoted about the pivot axis to effect relative pivotal movement between the first and second structures.

An actuator for connecting first and second structures and for effecting relative pivotal movement between said structures about a pivot axis, comprising:

• an elongate beam with first and second portions each having a longitudinal axis, said axes being mutually skewed at a predetermined acute skew angle and intersecting the pivot axis;
• said beam being secured at the first portion to the first structure for rotation about the axis of the first portion;
• bearing means for rotatably securing the second portion of the beam to the second structure;
• housing means for rotatably securing the distal end of the second portion of the beam to the second structure, said housing means supporting said beam for rotation about the axis of the second portion of the beam and for eccentric revolution about a circle having a centerline intersecting the pivot axis;
• means disposed within said housing means for selectively effecting rotation of the beam about the axis of the second portion of said beam;
• and
• index means interconnecting the second portion of said beam with said housing means for effecting the eccentric motion of the second beam portion in an opposite direction and at substantially the same rate responsive to the rotation effected in the beam so that one portion of the beam is moved about the pivot axis to effect pivotal actuation between the first and second structures.

In combination with an airfoil of the variable camber type having first and second relatively pivotal segments, an improved actuator for effecting relative movement about a pivot axis, which comprises:

• an elongate beam with first and second beam portions each having a longitudinal axis, said axes being mutually skewed at a predetermined acute skew angle and intersecting the pivot axis;
• said first beam portion being secured to the first segment for rotation about the axis of the first beam portion;
• housing means for rotatably securing the second beam portion to the second segment;
• said housing means including a support member affixed to the second segment and a carrier member secured at one end to the support member for rotation relative thereto about an axis extending through the pivot axis, with said second beam portion being rotatably secured to the carrier member at an angle approximately equal to the skew angle so that the second beam portion is mounted for eccentric revolution;
• means disposed within said housing means for effecting rotation of the beam about the axis of the second beam portion;
• and
• index means interconnecting the second beam portion with the support member of said housing means for effecting rotation of the carrier member in an opposite direction and at substantially the same rate as the rate of rotation effected in the beam so that one portion of the beam is pivoted about the pivot axis to effect relative pivotal movement between the first and second segments of the airfoil.

An actuator for effecting relative movement between first and second structures about a pivot axis, comprising:

• an elongate member with first and second portions having first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, said axes intersecting at the pivot axis and being mutually skewed at a predetermined skew angle;
• first means, connecting the member at its first portion to the first structure and permitting revolution of the member first portion relative to the first structure;
• second means, attached to the second structure, for supporting the member at its second portion for rotation about the second axis and for eccentric revolution about a circle with a centerline intersecting the pivot axis;
• and
• fourth, indexing means, discrete from said third means, interconnecting the second portion of said member with said second means, for effecting eccentric revolution of said member second portion, in response to rotation of said member and in an opposite direction, such that the first portion of said member pivots about the pivot axis to cause relative movement between the structures.