A locking block type actuator with adjustable unlocking force

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of aircraft structural design and relates to a locking block type actuator with adjustable unlocking force. This novel actuator uses a combination of a steel ball and a locking block. The steel ball is located at the end of the piston, and the locking block is mounted on the piston rod. The movement of the piston forces the steel ball to contract radially, causing the piston to retract from the inner wall of the locking block. The locking block then falls back into the piston rod under the action of a stop block, thus completing the unlocking process. The piston rod reciprocates under the drive of hydraulic oil. This actuator with adjustable unlocking force has a simple and reliable structure, stable and convenient unlocking pressure adjustment, and smooth piston rod extension and retraction, effectively solving the problems of wear on the cylinder wall and inconvenient unlocking force adjustment in steel ball lock actuators.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of aircraft structural design and relates to a locking block type actuator with adjustable unlocking force. Background Technology

[0002] The landing gear door retraction and extension actuator typically uses a steel ball retaining ring type internal locking structure. The actuator uses a piston to drive a steel ball, thereby locking the piston rod with a retaining ring. The locking mechanism is usually located inside the actuator, and adjusting the unlocking force requires disassembling the actuator. The piston rod's pressure on the retaining ring causes friction within the actuator, resulting in severe wear on the inner wall of the actuator. This leads to stiff retraction and extension movements, unstable unlocking pressure, and ultimately, a shortened service life of the actuator. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Purpose of the invention

[0004] To address issues such as wear on the cylinder wall and difficulty in adjusting the unlocking pressure of the hatch actuator, this invention provides a novel adjustable locking force latch-type actuator. This novel actuator employs a combination of a steel ball and a latch. The steel ball is located at the piston end, and the latch is mounted on the piston rod. The movement of the piston forces the steel ball to contract radially, causing the piston to retract from the inner wall of the latch. The latch, under the action of a stop block, falls back into the piston rod, thus completing the unlocking process. The reciprocating motion of the piston rod is achieved under the drive of hydraulic oil.

[0005] Technical solution

[0006] An adjustable locking force locking type actuator includes an upper end cover, an outer sleeve, a steel ball, an inner sleeve, a bushing, a piston, a locking block, an outer cylinder, a piston rod, a lower end cover, a stop key, an adjusting lug, a locking nut, an end cover nut, a limit rod, a stop block, a nozzle B, a spring, a screw, a sealing ring, an adjusting nut, and nozzles A and C.

[0007] A spring, inner sleeve, and outer sleeve are sequentially mounted on a screw. The screw is placed inside a bushing. The bushing has six circumferentially distributed circular slots, the diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the steel balls. The six steel balls are placed in the circular slots of the bushing and sandwiched between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve. A piston is fitted onto the bushing to form a locking mechanism. The steel balls are constrained by the inner sleeve, outer sleeve, and piston, and move radially along the bushing. The locking mechanism is inserted into the end cap via a screw, sealed with a sealing ring, and then tightened by an adjusting nut. A stop block is installed inside the outer cylinder. The end cap is installed inside the outer cylinder to achieve axial positioning of the stop block. Four annular grooves are evenly distributed along the circumference of the piston rod. The limiting rod is screwed onto the piston rod near the annular grooves. The four locking blocks are positioned within the annular grooves on the piston rod. The end of the piston rod with the annular groove is inserted into one side of the outer cylinder. The other side of the outer cylinder is sealed with a lower end cap and tightened with an end cap nut to achieve axial positioning of the piston rod. The locking nut is mounted on an adjusting lug, which is inserted into the other end of the piston rod and a stop key is inserted. Nozzle A is screwed onto the upper end cap; nozzles B and C are screwed onto the outer cylinder.

[0008] Furthermore, the card block has an angled opening.

[0009] Furthermore, there are two oblique angles, diagonally distributed on the card block. (Function).

[0010] Furthermore, there are several card blocks, the number of which is consistent with the number of annular through slots.

[0011] Furthermore, there are several steel balls, which are circumferentially distributed in the circular through groove on the bushing.

[0012] Furthermore, the diameter of the circular groove is larger than the diameter of the steel ball.

[0013] Furthermore, the card block material is stainless steel or silicon steel.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows:

[0015] This adjustable unlocking force actuator has a simple and reliable structure, stable and convenient unlocking pressure adjustment, and smooth piston rod extension and retraction movement, effectively solving the problems of cylinder wall wear and inconvenient unlocking force adjustment in steel ball lock actuators. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of a locking block actuator with adjustable unlocking force;

[0017] Figure 2 This is a sectional view of a block-type actuator cylinder;

[0018] in:

[0019] 1. Upper end cover, 2. Outer sleeve, 3. Steel ball, 4. Inner sleeve, 5. Bushing, 6. Piston, 7. Clamping block, 8. Outer cylinder, 9. Piston rod, 10. Lower end cover, 11. Stop key, 12. Adjusting lug, 13. Locking nut, 14. End cover nut, 15. Limiting rod, 16. Stop block, 17. Nozzle B, 18. Spring, 19. Screw, 20. Sealing ring, 21. Adjusting nut, 22. Nozzle A, 23. Nozzle C.

[0020] Figure 3 Detailed view of the locking mechanism for the locking block type actuator;

[0021] Figure 4 A three-dimensional view of the bushing and piston rod;

[0022] The components are: 2. Outer sleeve, 3. Steel ball, 4. Inner sleeve, 5. Bushing, 6. Piston, 7. Clamping block, 9. Piston rod, 15. Limiting rod, 16. Stop block, 18. Spring, 19. Screw, 21. Adjusting nut. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this invention will be described in more detail below. In the examples, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar components or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of this invention. The embodiments described below with reference to reference are exemplary and intended to explain this invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention. The embodiments of this invention will be described in detail below.

[0024] The adjustable locking force of the locking block type actuator is composed of an upper end cover (1), an outer sleeve (2), a steel ball (3), an inner sleeve (4), a bushing (5), a piston (6), a locking block (7), an outer cylinder (8), a piston rod (9), a lower end cover (10), a stop key (11), an adjusting ear (12), a locking nut (13), an end cover nut (14), a limit rod (15), a stop block (16), a nozzle B (17), a spring (18), a screw (19), a sealing ring (20), an adjusting nut (21), a nozzle A (22), and a nozzle C (23).

[0025] Spring (18), inner sleeve (4), and outer sleeve (2) are sequentially installed on screw (19). Screw (19) is placed in bushing (5). Bushing (5) has 6 circular through slots distributed circumferentially. The diameter of the circular through slots is larger than the diameter of the steel ball (3). The 6 steel balls (3) are placed in the circular through slots of bushing (5) and sandwiched between inner sleeve (4) and outer sleeve (2). Piston (6) is sleeved on bushing (5) to form a locking mechanism. The steel ball (3) is constrained by inner sleeve (4), outer sleeve (2) and piston (6). The steel ball (3) moves radially along bushing (5). The locking mechanism is inserted into upper end cover (1) by screw (19) and sealed with sealing ring (20). It is then tightened by adjusting nut (21). Stop block (16) is installed on Inside the outer cylinder (8), the upper end cap (1) is installed inside the outer cylinder (8) to achieve axial positioning of the stop block (16); four annular through grooves are opened on the piston rod (9), the annular through grooves are evenly distributed around the piston rod (9), the limiting rod (15) is screwed on the piston rod (9) near the annular through groove, and the four locking blocks (7) are set in the annular through groove on the piston rod (9); one end of the piston rod (9) with the annular through groove is inserted into one side of the outer cylinder (8), and the other side of the outer cylinder (8) is sealed with the lower end cap (10) and tightened with the end cap nut (14) to achieve axial positioning of the piston rod (9); the locking nut (13) is installed on the adjusting ear (12), the adjusting ear (12) is installed into the other end of the piston rod (9), and the stop key (11) is inserted. Nozzle A (22) is screwed onto the upper end cap (1); Nozzle B (17) and Nozzle C (23) are screwed onto the outer cylinder (8).

[0026] In one embodiment of the present invention, the card block (7) is provided with an oblique angle.

[0027] In one embodiment of the present invention, there are two oblique angles, which are diagonally distributed on the card block (7).

[0028] In one embodiment of the present invention, there are several card blocks (7), the number of which is consistent with the number of annular through slots.

[0029] In one embodiment of the present invention, there are several steel balls (3) distributed circumferentially in the circular through groove on the bushing (5).

[0030] In one embodiment of the present invention, the diameter of the circular through groove is larger than the diameter of the steel ball (3).

[0031] In one embodiment of the present invention, the material of the card block (7) is stainless steel or silicon steel.

[0032] The locking block (7) has two oblique angles, which are diagonally distributed on the locking block (7) and respectively fit into the oblique surface of the stop block (16) and the oblique surface of the piston (6). The function of the oblique angles on the locking block (7) is: during the locking process, the piston (6) can lift the locking block (7) along the oblique angle when inserting the piston rod (9); during the unlocking process, the stop block (16) can press the locking block (7) into the piston rod (9) along the oblique angle.

[0033] Working principle:

[0034] When the piston rod (9) of the piston cylinder retracts to the left side of the outer cylinder (8), the piston (6) is in the right side of the bushing (5) and is inserted into the piston rod (9). The right end of the piston (6) is in contact with the oblique angle of the locking block (7), which pushes the locking block (7) radially. The radial height of the locking block (7) exceeds the inner diameter of the outer cylinder (8). At this time, the oblique angle of the locking block (7) is blocked by the oblique surface of the stop block (16), and the piston rod (9) is locked at the left end of the outer cylinder (8). Due to the tension of the outer sleeve (2), the inner sleeve (4) and the spring (18), the steel ball (3) is higher than the outer diameter of the bushing (5). The steel ball (3) is stuck in the groove on the left side of the piston (6), and the piston (6) is axially limited, thereby ensuring the radial height of the locking block (7) and realizing the locking of the piston rod (9) in the retracted position.

[0035] When hydraulic oil enters from nozzle B (17) on the outer cylinder (8), after reaching the unlocking pressure, under the action of hydraulic pressure, the inner wall boss of the piston (6) presses the steel ball (3) to contract radially inward along the bushing (5), the spring (18) is compressed, the inner sleeve (4) moves to the right, the steel ball (3) retracts into the bushing (5), the piston (6) moves to the left after unlocking, the spring (18) resets, the inner sleeve (4) moves to the left, and the steel ball (3) is squeezed out of the bushing (5). The steel ball (3) is stuck in the groove on the right side of the piston (6). At this time, the piston (6) exits the piston rod (9). The piston rod (9) is subjected to hydraulic pressure. The angle of the locking block (7) is squeezed by the inclined surface of the stop block (16) and retracts to the surface of the limit rod (15) inside the piston rod (9). The radial height of the locking block (7) is less than the inner diameter of the outer cylinder (8). The locking block (7) completes the unlocking process, and the piston rod (9) can complete the extension process under the push of hydraulic oil.

[0036] When the piston rod (9) of the actuator cylinder extends to the right position, hydraulic oil is injected from the nozzle A (22) of the upper end cover (1). Under the action of hydraulic pressure, the boss on the inner wall of the piston (6) compresses the steel ball (3) and causes it to contract radially inward along the bushing (5). The spring (18) is compressed, the inner sleeve (4) moves to the right, and the steel ball (3) retracts into the bushing (5). After the piston (6) is unlocked, it moves a certain distance to the left, the spring (18) resets, and the inner sleeve (4) moves to the left, squeezing the steel ball (3) out of the bushing (5). The steel ball (3) is stuck in the groove on the left side of the piston (6), thus realizing the reset operation of the steel ball locking mechanism. If no oil is supplied to the nozzle A (22), the locking mechanism will not reset. At this time, the piston rod (9) retracts to the left side of the outer cylinder (8) and cannot be locked, and the actuator cylinder has no locking function.

[0037] The outer sleeve (2) in the above-mentioned locking mechanism is connected to the inside of the bushing (5) by thread. By rotating the adjusting nut (21), the extension length of the screw (19) is changed, thereby adjusting the compression length of the spring (18), adjusting the clamping force of the inner and outer sleeves (2) and the sleeve (4), realizing the magnitude of the radial movement force of the steel ball (3), thereby completing the adjustment of the unlocking pressure of the above-mentioned locking mechanism.

[0038] When hydraulic oil enters from the nozzle C (23) on the outer cylinder (8), the piston rod (9) moves to the left side of the outer cylinder (8) under the action of hydraulic pressure. After the above-mentioned locking mechanism is reset, the piston (6) is in the right side of the bushing (5). During the process of the piston rod (9) moving to the left, the inclined surface of the piston (6) contacts the inclined block (7) at an angle and gradually inserts into the inside of the piston rod (9), pushing the block (7) radially up. The radial height of the block (7) exceeds the inner diameter of the outer cylinder (8). At this time, the inclined angle of the block (7) is blocked by the inclined surface of the stop block (16), and the piston rod (9) is locked at the left end of the outer cylinder (8), thereby realizing the locking of the piston rod (9) in the retracted position.

[0039] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. It should also be understood that terms such as those defined in general dictionaries should be understood to have the same meaning as in the context of the prior art, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless defined as herein. The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial effects of the present invention. It should be understood that the above descriptions are merely specific embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Within the spirit and principles of the present invention, any person skilled in the art may use the disclosed technical content to make changes or modifications to create equivalent embodiments applicable to other fields. However, any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the content of the technical solution of the present invention, any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A locking block type actuator with adjustable unlocking force, characterized in that, The components include an upper end cap, an outer sleeve, steel balls, an inner sleeve, a bushing, a piston, a locking block, an outer cylinder, a piston rod, a lower end cap, a stop key, an adjusting lug, a locking nut, an end cap nut, a limit rod, a stop block, nozzle B, a spring, a screw, a sealing ring, an adjusting nut, and nozzles A and C. The spring, inner sleeve, and outer sleeve are sequentially mounted on the screw, which is then placed inside the bushing. The bushing has six circumferentially distributed circular slots, each with a diameter larger than the steel balls. The six steel balls are placed in these slots and sandwiched between the inner and outer sleeves. A plug sleeve is installed on the bushing to form a locking mechanism. The steel ball is constrained by the inner sleeve, outer sleeve, and piston. The steel ball moves radially along the bushing. The locking mechanism is inserted into the upper end cover via a screw, and after being sealed with a sealing ring, it is tightened by an adjusting nut. A stop block is installed inside the outer cylinder, and the upper end cover is installed inside the outer cylinder to achieve axial limitation of the stop block. Four annular through grooves are opened on the piston rod, and the annular through grooves are evenly distributed along the circumference of the piston rod. A limiting rod is screwed onto the piston rod near the annular through groove. Four locking blocks are set in the annular through grooves on the piston rod. The piston rod has annular... One end of the through groove is inserted into one side of the outer cylinder, and the other side of the outer cylinder is sealed with a lower end cap and tightened with an end cap nut to achieve axial limiting of the piston rod; a locking nut is installed on the adjusting lug, the adjusting lug is installed into the other end of the piston rod, and a stop key is inserted; nozzle A is screwed onto the upper end cap; nozzles B and C are screwed onto the outer cylinder; the outer sleeve is threaded into the bushing, and the extension length of the screw is changed by rotating the adjusting nut, thereby adjusting the compression length of the spring, adjusting the clamping force of the outer sleeve and inner sleeve, and adjusting the diameter of the steel ball. The magnitude of the moving force determines the unlocking pressure of the locking mechanism. When hydraulic oil enters from nozzle C on the outer cylinder, the piston rod moves to the left side of the outer cylinder under the action of hydraulic pressure. After the locking mechanism resets, the piston is in the right side of the bushing. During the leftward movement of the piston rod, the piston's inclined surface contacts the angled edge of the locking block and gradually inserts into the piston rod, pushing the locking block radially upward. The radial height of the locking block exceeds the inner diameter of the outer cylinder. At this time, the angled edge of the locking block is blocked by the inclined surface of the stop block, and the piston rod is locked at the left end of the outer cylinder, thus locking the piston rod in the retracted position.

2. The actuator cylinder as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The card block has an angled opening.

3. The actuator cylinder as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The aforementioned oblique angles are two.

4. The actuator cylinder as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The cards are distributed diagonally on the card blocks.

5. The actuator cylinder as described in claim 4, characterized in that, There are several card blocks, the number of which is consistent with the number of annular through slots.

6. The actuator cylinder as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The steel balls are a number of them, which are circumferentially distributed in the circular through groove on the bushing.

7. The actuator cylinder as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The diameter of the circular groove is larger than the diameter of the steel ball.

8. The actuator cylinder as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The card block is made of stainless steel or silicon steel.

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