Electromechanical Linear Actuator Brake Position Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electro-mechanical linear actuators in helicopter control systems face issues with maintaining a set linear position under high external axial forces, leading to undesired relative adjustments when an electric drive fails, as they require continuous electrical actuation to prevent movement.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating selective brakes for each electric drive that can be actuated by the control device to prevent adjustment movements when a spindle drive fails, and using independent control branches with sensors and monitoring units to detect faults and activate brakes, ensuring reliable operation even if individual components fail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If continuous electrical actuation is used to maintain set position under high external axial forces, then position stability is improved, but energy consumption increases and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brake is activated in advance to hold the spindle drive in position, eliminating the need for continuous electrical actuation. The brake applies mechanical force beforehand to counteract external axial forces, allowing the electric drive to remain inactive and conserve energy while maintaining position stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces continuous electrical actuation with a mechanical brake system to maintain position. Instead of relying on continuous electrical force to counteract external loads, a mechanical brake applies friction force to hold the spindle drive stationary, reducing energy consumption while maintaining position stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If continuous electrical actuation is used to maintain set position, then position stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex continuous electrical control systems with a simpler mechanical brake system. The brake provides passive mechanical holding force without requiring continuous electrical signals or complex control algorithms, reducing system complexity while maintaining position stability under external axial forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake system provides self-service by automatically holding the spindle drive in position without requiring continuous external control. Once activated, the brake maintains position autonomously through mechanical friction, eliminating the need for continuous electrical actuation and simplifying the control system.
3Reliability
If a single spindle drive is used after failure of another, then redundancy is maintained, but undesired adjustment movements occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or isolates the faulty spindle drive from the system by activating its brake. This prevents the faulty drive from producing undesired adjustment movements while allowing the functional drive to continue operation. The brake effectively removes the problematic component from active participation in the positioning system.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake applies preliminary counter-action to prevent undesired adjustment movements from the faulty spindle drive. By activating the brake before the faulty drive can produce harmful movements, the system prevents position instability while maintaining operational reliability through the remaining functional drive.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively prevents undesired adjustment movements and ensures operational reliability by maintaining the set position without continuous electrical actuation, allowing safe flight and landing even if individual components fail.
Implementation Method 1
forming a frictional connection between the brake concerned and the associated driveshaft
Data Source
AI summary
An electro-mechanical linear actuator unit comprising an actuator housing that accommodates at least two electric drives, each of which, when actuated by a control device, sets an associated drive of a respective spindle drive into rotation for adjusting linear movement of the associated spindle drive in order to produce relative linear adjustment of a control rod. The two electric drives are located in the actuator housing in such manner that relative adjustment can be produced by simultaneous actuation of the two electric drives, as the sum of the adjustment movements of the associated spindle drives, or by actuating a single electric drive, as the adjustment movement of the associated spindle drive. A respective brake is provided, in an area of each of the two electric drives, which can be selectively actuated by the control device to then prevent the adjustment movement of the respective associated spindle drive.