A device for inhibiting the rotational movement of a control surface

Abstract

The application discloses a device for inhibiting the rotating movement of the aileron of an aircraft wing, and belongs to the field of aircraft structure design. The device can inhibit the rotating movement of the aileron of the aircraft wing. The device comprises a support frame, a limiting block, a limiting rod, a driving rod, a control motor and a support arm. The support frame and the support arm are installed on the rear wall of the wing through the support arm. When the device is started, the limiting block contains the limiting rod; when the device is restored, the limiting block is separated from the limiting rod. When the motor is started, the limiting block moves to the limiting rod along the axis of the rotating shaft. In the process that the limiting block moves to contain the limiting rod, the rotating angle of the limiting rod (the aileron) is gradually reduced until the rotation is stopped. The aileron flutter of the aircraft is caused by the coupling of the rotating mode of the aileron and other modes of the structure, so that the rotating movement of the aileron is inhibited, and the rotating flutter of the aileron of the aircraft is inhibited. The application can be used in the aircraft flutter test to inhibit the aileron flutter of the wing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of aircraft structural design, specifically relating to a device that can suppress the rotational motion of wing control surfaces. Background Technology

[0002] During flutter flight tests, the aircraft structure vibrates in the airflow. When aeroelastic coupling occurs, the energy gained from the airflow within one vibration cycle exceeds the energy dissipated by internal damping. This causes the vibration amplitude of localized parts of the aircraft structure to increase divergently, potentially damaging the structure – the phenomenon known as flutter. Control surface flutter is caused by the coupling of the control surface's rotational mode with other structural modes. Therefore, suppressing the rotational vibration of the control surface can suppress control surface flutter. While flutter protection can be achieved in wind tunnel tests using safety ropes, the device of this invention can suppress the rotational motion of the control surface to avoid control surface flutter when it is inconvenient to install safety ropes at the test site. The device provided by this invention can immediately suppress the rotational motion of the control surface when control surface flutter is imminent, thus avoiding flutter and protecting the aircraft structure. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the problems existing in the prior art, this invention discloses a device for suppressing the rotational motion of control surfaces. This device avoids control surface flutter by suppressing the rotational motion of the control surfaces. This invention can immediately suppress the rotational motion of the control surfaces when control surface flutter is about to occur in an aircraft, thereby avoiding flutter and protecting the aircraft's structure.

[0004] This invention is implemented as follows:

[0005] A device for suppressing the rotational motion of a control surface, characterized in that the device includes a wing rear wall (9), on which a support frame (1) and a support arm (6) are mounted, and a drive rod (4) is connected between the support frame (1) and the support arm (6), the front end of the drive rod (4) being connected to the support arm (6) via a threaded post (8); the support frame (1) is provided with a movable limiting block (2) and a limiting rod (3); the drive rod (4) is a tubular structure; the outside of the tube has Multiple parallel racks (4-2) form a gear-shaped cross section, and the tube has internal threads (4-1); the rear end of the drive rod (4) is connected to the limiting block (2) by a pin, so that the two can translate at the same amplitude on the axis of rotation; the rack (4-2) outside the drive rod (4) meshes with the gear, and the gear is driven by the operating motor (5); the motor is mounted on the support arm (6), and the motor axis is parallel to the axis of the threaded rod on the support arm (6); the limiting block (2), the limiting rod (3), and the drive rod (4) are on the same axis.

[0006] When the motor starts, the drive rod (4) rotates under the drive of the gear (4-2), and completes the translational movement on the axis of rotation through the threaded column (8), thereby driving the limiting block (2) to hold or release the limiting rod (3); when the device starts, the limiting block (2) holds the limiting rod (3); when the device is restored, the limiting block (2) separates from the limiting rod (3); when the motor starts, the limiting block (2) moves along the axis of rotation toward the limiting rod (3); during the process of the limiting block (2) moving to hold the limiting rod (3), the rotation angle of the limiting rod (3), i.e. the rudder surface, gradually decreases until it stops rotating.

[0007] Furthermore, the support frame (1) is a square frame with a support arm (11); the support arm (6) also has a support arm (11), and the support frame (1) and the support arm (6) are installed on the rear wall of the wing (9) through the support arm (11).

[0008] Furthermore, the inner surfaces of the upper and lower sides of the square frame of the support frame (1) have ribs that are parallel to the axis of rotation of the rudder surface; the limiting block (2) slides in the square frame; the ribs reduce the frictional resistance between the limiting block and the square frame.

[0009] Furthermore, the limiting block (2) can slide in the support frame (1), and the limiting rod (3) does not contact the support frame (1) under normal conditions; when the device is started, the limiting block (2) extends out from the support frame and holds the limiting rod (3).

[0010] Furthermore, one end of the limiting rod (3) is a cylinder (13) with an inner hexagonal recess, and the other end is a square cross-section rod (12); the square cross-section rod is perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder, the height of the square rod cross-section is adapted to the height of the limiting block groove, and the shape between the cylinder and the square cross-section rod is a straight transition.

[0011] Furthermore, both the limiting rod (3) and the limiting block (2) are made of high-rigidity materials, including carbon steel. The hexagonal part is nested and connected to the pivot (7) of the control surface, and locked with a pin, so that the limiting rod (3) and the pivot (7) of the control surface rotate synchronously. One end of the pivot (7) is connected to the pivot support (14), and the other end of the pivot (7) is connected to the aileron (10). The pivot support (14) is also mounted on the rear wall of the wing (9) through the support arm (11). The pivot support is connected to the rear wall of the wing through the support arm, and the pivot is connected to the control surface through the support, so that the control surface rotates with the pivot.

[0012] Furthermore, the limiting block (2) has a groove inside, which is adapted to the square section rod (12) at the front end of the limiting rod (3). The height of the groove corresponds to the height of the square section rod (12), and the depth of the groove corresponds to the width of the square section rod (12). The width of the limiting block corresponds to the length of the square section rod (12). One end of the limiting block (2) has an opening, which forms an inclined slope with the two sides of the internal groove. The angle of the slope is consistent with the slope of the generatrix of the limiting rod. The maximum width of the slope can accommodate the limiting rod to rotate 30 degrees.

[0013] Furthermore, the other end of the limiting block (2) has a rigid column with a groove at the end. The drive rod (4) is connected to the limiting block (2) by a pin. The drive rod (4) and the limiting block (2) are aligned on the same axis, and the two can rotate relative to each other.

[0014] Furthermore, one end of the drive rod (4) is connected to the limiting block (2) by a pin, so that the two can translate at the same amplitude on the axis of rotation; the pin can slide in the groove at the end of the limiting block (2); the pin needs to have shear resistance; the other end of the drive rod is connected to the threaded post (8) fixed on the support arm by an internal thread. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 The wing is equipped with the device of the present invention for suppressing the rotational motion of the control surfaces;

[0016] Figure 2 This is the XOZ plane cross-section of the device for suppressing the rotational motion of the control surface according to the present invention;

[0017] Figure 3 AA planar cross-section of the device for suppressing the rotational motion of the rudder surface according to the present invention;

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the limiting rod in the device for suppressing the rotational motion of the rudder surface according to the present invention;

[0019] Figure 5 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the drive rod in the device for suppressing the rotational motion of the rudder surface according to the present invention;

[0020] Figure 6 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the suppressor along the BB direction in the device for suppressing the rotational motion of the control surface according to the present invention;

[0021] Among them, 1-support frame, 2-limiting block, 3-limiting rod, 4-drive rod, 4-1-internal thread, 4-2-rack, 5-control motor, 6-support arm, 7-rotating shaft, 8-threaded column, 9-wing rear wall, 10-aileron, 11-support arm, 12-square section rod, 13-cylinder, 14-rotating shaft support. Implementation

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and effects of this invention clearer and more explicit, the following examples provide a more detailed description of the invention. It should be noted that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0023] like Figure 1 , 6 As shown, the device disclosed in this invention includes a support frame 1, a limiting block 2, a limiting rod 3, a drive rod 4, a control motor 5, and a support arm 6. The support frame, support arm, and rotating shaft support are all fixed to the rear wall of the wing via the support arm.

[0024] The limiting block 2 has a groove inside, corresponding to the square cross-section rod 12 at the front end of the limiting rod 3. The support frame is a square frame with a support arm 11. The limiting block 2 can slide within the square frame.

[0025] The drive rod 4 is a tubular structure. Multiple parallel ribs on the outside of the tube form a gear-shaped cross-section, and the inside of the tube has internal threads 4-1. One end of the drive rod 4 is connected to the limiting block 2 via a pin, allowing both to translate at the same amplitude along the rotation axis. The external ribs of the drive rod 4 mesh with a gear driven by a control motor 5, which is mounted on the support arm 6. The axis of the control motor 5 is parallel to the axis of the threaded rod on the support arm 6. The limiting block, the limiting rod, and the drive rod are on the same axis. When the motor starts, the drive rod 4 rotates under the drive of the gear, and through the threaded post 8, it can complete the translational movement along the rotation axis, thereby driving the limiting block to engage or disengage the limiting rod.

[0026] One end of the limiting rod 3 is a cylinder 13 with an internal hexagonal recess, and the other end is a square-section rod 12. The square-section rod is perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder, and the height of the square rod cross-section matches the height of the limiting block groove. The shape between the cylinder and the square-section rod is a straight transition (e.g., ...). Figure 4 (As shown). The limiting rod 3 is made of a high-rigidity material. The hexagonal inner portion is nested and connected to the rudder surface's rotating shaft 7, and locked with a pin, allowing the limiting rod to rotate synchronously with the rudder surface's rotating shaft. Under normal conditions, the limiting rod 3 does not contact the supporting frame 1 structure. When the device is activated, the limiting block 2 extends from the supporting frame 1 and holds the limiting rod 3 (see...). Figure 3 (As shown).

[0027] like Figure 2 As shown, the support frame 1 is a square frame with support arms 11, which are connected to the rear wall 9 of the wing via the support arms 11. The inner surfaces of the upper and lower sides of the square frame have ribs parallel to the axis of the control surface rotation 7. The limiting block 2 can slide within the square frame. The ribs reduce the frictional resistance between the limiting block and the square frame.

[0028] The limiting block 2 has a groove inside, which matches the square cross-section rod at the front end of the limiting rod 3. The height of the groove corresponds to the height of the square cross-section rod 12, and the depth of the groove corresponds to the width of the square cross-section rod 12. The width of the limiting block 2 corresponds to the length of the square cross-section rod 12 of the limiting rod 3. One end of the limiting block has an opening, which forms an inclined slope with the two sides of the internal groove. The angle of the slope is consistent with the slope of the generatrix of the limiting rod, and the maximum width of the slope can accommodate the limiting rod to rotate 30 degrees.

[0029] The materials used for the limiting block and limiting rod need to have sufficient toughness, so that they will collide frequently and for a short period of time when the device is activated. The other end of the limiting block has a rigid post with a groove at its end. The drive rod is connected to the limiting block by a pin, and the drive rod and the limiting block are aligned on the same axis, allowing them to rotate relative to each other. As the limiting block moves to contain the limiting rod, the rotation angle of the limiting rod (rudder surface) gradually decreases until it stops rotating.

[0030] The drive rod 4 is a tubular structure. The exterior of the tube has multiple parallel ribs forming a gear-shaped cross-section, and the interior of the tube has threads (see...). Figure 5 (As shown). One end of the drive rod 4 is connected to the limiting block via a pin, allowing both to translate at the same amplitude along the axis of rotation. The pin can slide within a groove at the end of the limiting block. The pin needs sufficient shear resistance. The other end of the drive rod 4 is connected to a threaded rod fixed to the support arm via an internal thread. The outer rib of the drive rod meshes with a gear driven by a motor. The support arm is connected to the rear wall of the wing via a support arm, and the motor is mounted on the support arm with its axis parallel to the axis of the threaded rod.

[0031] When the motor starts, the drive rod rotates under the drive of the gears, and through the threaded column, it can complete the translational movement along the axis of rotation, thereby driving the limiting block to engage or disengage the limiting rod. The motor can be remotely controlled to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. The contact surface between the gear and the outer edge of the drive rod must be sufficiently smooth, and the resistance should be minimized when there is relative displacement between the two in the direction of rotation. To increase the support rigidity of the motor, it can be installed between the support arms of the support frame.

[0032] The following specific examples illustrate the present invention.

[0033] Taking a control surface with a pivot diameter of 8mm as an example, one end of the limiting rod is a cylinder with an internal hexagonal recess, and the other end is a square-section rod. The square-section rod is perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder, and the height of the square rod cross-section matches the height of the limiting block groove. The shape between the cylinder and the square-section rod is a straight transition. The cylinder at the root of the limiting rod has a diameter of 14mm and a length of 10mm; the square-section rod end has a width of 4mm, a height of 4mm, and a length of 24mm; the limiting rod is 20mm long, and the generatrix angle is 14.04°. The internal hexagon has a side length of 4.61mm and a depth of 8mm. The limiting rod is made of a material with high rigidity. The internal hexagonal part is nested and connected to the pivot of the control surface, locked with a pin, so that the limiting rod can rotate synchronously with the pivot of the control surface. Under normal conditions, the limiting rod does not contact the supporting frame structure. When the device is activated, the limiting block extends from the supporting frame and holds the limiting rod.

[0034] The support frame is a square frame with outriggers, connected to the rear wall of the wing via these outriggers. The height of the square frame corresponds to the thickness of the control surface, its length is along the axial direction of the control surface, and its width is chordally parallel, consistent with the limiting block, and should not exceed the thickness of the control surface. In this example, the square frame is 30mm wide, 25mm long, and 20mm high. The inner surfaces of the top and bottom sides of the square frame have ribs, each 1mm thick and 3mm wide, parallel to the control surface's rotation axis. The frame thickness is 2mm. The limiting block can slide within the square frame. The ribs reduce friction between the limiting block and the square frame. The limiting block is 26mm wide, 30mm long, and 14mm high. The limiting block has an internal groove corresponding to the square section rod at the front end of the limiting rod, with a groove depth of 4mm. The groove inside the limiting block has inclined slopes on both sides, the angle of which matches the slope of the limiting rod's generatrix. The maximum width of the slope can accommodate a 30-degree rotation of the limiting rod. The materials used for the limiting block and limiting rod need sufficient toughness to ensure that they experience short-term, high-frequency collisions when the device is activated. The other end of the limiting block has a rigid post, 12mm long and 12mm in diameter. The end of the rigid post has a groove, 2mm wide and 3mm deep, located 2mm from the end of the post. The drive rod and the limiting block are connected by a pin, and the drive rod and the limiting block are aligned on the same axis, allowing relative rotation between them. As the limiting block moves to contain the limiting rod, the rotation angle of the limiting rod (rudder surface) gradually decreases until it stops rotating.

[0035] The drive rod is a tubular structure. Multiple parallel ribs on the outside of the tube form a gear-shaped cross-section with internal threads. The tube has an outer diameter of 16mm, a thickness of 2mm, and a length of 50mm. The gear cross-section formed by the ribs has a module of 2, a tooth pitch of 6.28mm, a tooth root height of 2mm, and a tooth tip height of 1.5mm. There are a total of 9 ribs evenly distributed on the outside of the tube. One end of the drive rod is connected to a limiting block via a pin, allowing both to translate at the same amplitude along the axis of rotation. The pin can slide within a groove at the end of the limiting block. The pin needs sufficient shear strength. The other end of the drive rod is connected to a threaded rod fixed to the support arm via internal threads. The threaded rod is 30mm long, 8mm in diameter, and its axis is aligned with the axis of rotation. The outer ribs of the drive rod mesh with a gear driven by a motor. The support arm is connected to the rear wall of the wing via a support arm, and the motor is mounted on the support arm via the support arm. The motor axis is parallel to the axis of the threaded rod. A Kodak 28 stepper motor, 9.5mm thick and 34.5mm in diameter, is selected and can be mounted on the support arm via a threaded hole. The motor size needs to be determined based on the thickness of the airfoil control surface. If the airfoil thickness is smaller than the motor diameter, a fairing needs to be added to the motor mounting location. When the motor starts, the drive rod rotates under the drive of the gears, and the threaded column completes the translational movement along the axis of rotation, thereby driving the limiting block to engage or disengage the limiting rod. The motor can be remotely controlled to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise. Here, the number of motor rotations must be controlled so that the drive rod moves a distance of 24mm, ensuring that the limiting block just engages the limiting rod. This avoids insufficient drive failing to properly suppress the rotation of the axis of rotation, or excessive drive causing unnecessary stress on the structure. The contact surface between the gears and the outer edge of the drive rod must be sufficiently smooth, and the resistance should be minimized when there is relative displacement in the direction of rotation.

[0036] like Figure 1 The diagram shows an overall top view of the suppression device of the present invention installed on the rear wall of an airfoil. It includes a limiting rod mounted on the control surface pivot, a support frame mounted on the rear wall of the airfoil via a support arm, a threaded post fixed to the rear wall of the airfoil via a support arm, a motor and servo-driven gear mounted on the support arm, and a drive rod connected to the threaded post, gear, and limiting block, respectively. The above structure is installed on the rear wall of the airfoil as shown in the diagram.

[0037] Figure 2 , 3Figure 6 shows cross-sectional views of the suppressor in various directions. The front end of the limiting rod is on the same plane as the groove of the limiting block. The limiting block has an opening with a certain slope on both sides, widening from the inside to the outside, with the widest part accommodating the maximum rotation angle of the limiting rod (30 degrees by default in this invention). The deepest part of the limiting block opening has a groove corresponding to the square cross-section of the limiting rod. When the motor starts, the drive rod rotates under the drive of the gears, and through the threaded column, it can complete the translational movement along the axis of rotation. The translational distance is the length of the limiting rod, i.e., 24mm, thus driving the limiting block to precisely hold or release the limiting rod. The motor can be remotely controlled to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0038] In this invention, the constraint on the control surfaces is ultimately provided by the support arms of the supporting frame. The materials and dimensions need to be selected based on the specific aircraft size and the power of the control surface servos. The dimensions provided in this example are intended to illustrate the invention, not to limit it. Simultaneously, the wing itself will experience high-frequency vibrations during the test, and the connection between the support arms and the rear wall also needs to be shock and tensile resistant. The motor can be remotely controlled, and its rotation can be controlled in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, thereby driving the limiting block to engage or disengage the limiting rod.

[0039] In this invention, the drive rod transmits thrust to the limiting block via a gear drive. During this process, the outer surface of the drive rod undergoes relative displacement with respect to the gear in the direction of rotation, and the drive rod pin undergoes relative displacement with respect to the limiting block in the direction of rotation. Therefore, the contact surface between the gear and the drive rod needs to be as smooth as possible, and the contact surface between the groove at the end of the limiting block and the pin also needs to be as smooth as possible to minimize friction, so that as much of the motor's driving force as possible can be transmitted as thrust to the limiting block.

[0040] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements can be made without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these improvements should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for suppressing the rotational motion of a control surface, characterized in that, The device includes a wing rear wall (9), on which a support frame (1) and a support arm (6) are installed. A drive rod (4) is located between the support frame (1) and the support arm (6). The front end of the drive rod (4) is connected to the support arm (6) through a threaded post (8). The support frame (1) is provided with a movable limiting block (2). When the device is started, the limiting block (2) extends out from the support frame (1) and holds the limiting rod (3). The limiting rod (3) is connected to the rotating shaft (7). The drive rod (4) is a tubular structure; there are multiple parallel racks (4-2) on the outside of the tube, forming a gear-shaped cross section, and there are internal threads (4-1) inside the tube; the rear end of the drive rod (4) is connected to the limiting block (2) by a pin, so that the two can translate at the same amplitude on the axis of rotation; the racks (4-2) on the outside of the drive rod (4) mesh with the gear, and the gear is driven by a control motor (5); the motor is mounted on the support arm (6), and the motor axis is parallel to the axis of the threaded rod on the support arm (6); The limiting block (2), the limiting rod (3), and the driving rod (4) are on the same axis. When the motor starts, the driving rod (4) rotates under the drive of the gear, and completes the translational movement on the axis of rotation through the threaded column (8), thereby driving the limiting block (2) to hold or release the limiting rod (3). One end of the limiting block (2) has an opening, which forms an inclined slope with the two sides of the internal groove. The angle of the slope is consistent with the slope of the generatrix of the limiting rod. The maximum width of the slope can accommodate the limiting rod to rotate 30 degrees. One end of the limiting rod (3) is a cylinder (13) with an internal hexagonal recess, and the other end... The end is a square cross-section rod (12); the square cross-section rod is perpendicular to the cylinder axis, the height of the square rod cross-section is adapted to the height of the groove of the limiting block, and the shape between the cylinder and the square cross-section rod is a straight transition; the inner hexagonal part is nested and connected to the rotating shaft (7) of the rudder surface and locked with a pin, so that the limiting rod (3) and the rotating shaft (7) of the rudder surface rotate synchronously; the limiting block (2) has a groove inside, which is adapted to the square cross-section rod (12) at the front end of the limiting rod (3), the depth of the groove corresponds to the width of the square cross-section rod (12), and the width of the limiting block corresponds to the length of the square cross-section rod (12).

2. The device for suppressing the rotational motion of a control surface according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the device is started, the limiting block (2) contains the limiting rod (3); when the device is restored, the limiting block (2) and the limiting rod (3) separate; when the motor is started, the limiting block (2) moves along the axis of rotation toward the limiting rod (3); during the process of the limiting block (2) moving and containing the limiting rod (3), the rotation angle of the limiting rod (3), i.e. the rudder surface, gradually decreases until it stops rotating.

3. The device for suppressing the rotational motion of a control surface according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support frame (1) is a square frame with a support arm (11); the support arm (6) also has a support arm (11), and the support frame (1) and the support arm (6) are installed on the rear wall of the wing (9) through the support arm (11).

4. The device for suppressing the rotational motion of a control surface according to claim 3, characterized in that, The inner surfaces of the upper and lower sides of the square frame of the support frame (1) have ribs that are parallel to the axis of the rudder surface rotation; the limiting block (2) slides in the square frame; the ribs are used to reduce the frictional resistance between the limiting block and the square frame.

5. The device for suppressing the rotational motion of a control surface according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting block (2) can slide in the support frame (1), and the limiting rod (3) does not contact the support frame (1) under normal conditions; when the device is started, the limiting block (2) extends out from the support frame and holds the limiting rod (3).

6. The device for suppressing the rotational motion of a control surface according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting block (2) has a rigid column at the other end, and the end of the rigid column has a groove. The driving rod (4) is connected to the limiting block (2) by a pin. The driving rod (4) and the limiting block (2) are aligned on the same axis, and the two can rotate relative to each other.

7. The device for suppressing the rotational motion of a control surface according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the drive rod (4) is connected to the limiting block (2) by a pin, so that the two can translate at the same amplitude on the axis of rotation; the pin can slide in the groove at the end of the limiting block (2); the pin needs to have shear resistance; the other end of the drive rod is connected to the threaded post (8) fixed on the support arm by an internal thread.

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