Flight control surface actuator for aircraft including remote braking failure detection

An actuator system for controlling the position of a flight control surface on an aircraft, comprising

• a prime mover means for rotating an actuator shaft in opposite angular directions for positioning said flight control surface,
• a braking device for said actuator shaft having a first means integral with said actuator shaft and rotatable therewith, a second means independently rotatable with respect to said actuator shaft, and a third means disposed on said second means which is always contiguous with a portion of said first means,
• a pawl means for releaseably engaging said second means to thereby allow said second means to rotate with said shaft in one of said angular directions and to be fixed with respect to said shaft in the other of said angular directions, whereby said first means is constantly braked by said second means regardless of the angular direction said shaft is being rotated, and
• a fault detection means for said braking device disposed in proximity thereto and having an electrical circuit means for providing a remote indication of the operation of said device.

An actuator system for controlling the position of a flight control surface on an aircraft, comprising

• a prime mover means for rotating a ball-screw actuator shaft in opposite angular directions for positioning said flight control surface,
• a braking device for said actuator shaft having a load bearing disc integral with said actuator shaft and rotatable therewith and a rachet means independently rotatable with respect to said actuator shaft having a braking surface means thereon which is always contiguous with a substantial portion of said load bearing disc, and
• a pawl means for releaseably engaging said rachet means to thereby allow said rachet means to rotate with said shaft in one of said angular directions and to be fixed with respect to said shaft in the other of said angular directions, whereby said load disc is constantly braked by said rachet means regardless of the angular direction said shaft is being rotated, and
• a Hall-effect fault detecting means connected to said pawl means for continuously measuring the operating condition of said pawl means and said rachet means.