Redundant Actuator Drive Electronics With Motor Damping on Total Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional redundant drive systems for electromechanical actuators in aviation are expensive and require large installation volumes, and they fail to address the risk of actuator oscillation due to total failure, which can cause damage to flight control surfaces and neighboring components.
Innovation Solution
A drive system with redundant drive electronics units and an isolating device that electrically isolates units from the motor connection, coupled with a damping unit to prevent vibrations when both units fail, ensuring safe operation even in total failure scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two completely redundant drive trains are implemented, then reliability is improved, but cost and installation volume increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two redundant drive electronics units into a single shared control system that can operate in two modes: normal mode where one unit controls the motor, and failure mode where both units actively dampen motor oscillations. This combining approach provides redundant protection without requiring two complete separate drive trains, thereby reducing installation volume while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive electronics units are designed with multi-functionality: in normal operation, they provide motor control; in failure conditions, they automatically switch to damping mode to suppress motor oscillations. This universal design allows a single redundant unit to serve multiple protective functions, eliminating the need for separate damping mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If redundant drive trains are implemented without damping precautions, then reliability is improved, but harmful vibrations occur upon total failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements preliminary anti-action by pre-configuring the redundant drive electronics units to automatically activate damping functions upon detecting total drive train failure. The isolating devices monitor the operational status, and when both units fail, the system proactively engages oscillation damping to prevent harmful vibrations before they can cause damage to the actuator or surrounding components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of uncontrolled motor oscillations into a beneficial damping action. The same redundant drive electronics units that provide control functionality normally are repurposed in failure mode to generate counteracting forces that dampen oscillations. The isolating devices enable this transformation by detecting failure conditions and triggering the damping mechanism, turning a harmful vibration problem into a protective feature.
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
The system effectively prevents actuator oscillation and damage by damping the motor when both drive electronics units are isolated, providing a cost-effective and compact solution with enhanced safety.
Implementation Method 1
a damping unit, which is connected to the electric motor via the motor connection and which is designed to increase the movement resistance of the electric motor if required
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure proposes a drive system for an actuator, comprising an electric motor for actuating the actuator, a first and second drive electronics unit designed to provide electric power to a motor connection for driving the electric motor, a first isolating device arranged between the first drive electronics unit and the motor connection and configured to selectively electrically isolate the first drive electronics unit from the motor connection, a second isolating device arranged between the second drive electronics unit and the motor connection and configured to selectively electrically isolate the second drive electronics unit from the motor connection, and a damping unit. The first drive electronics unit and the second drive electronics unit are redundant to each other. The damping unit is designed to detect the state of the first and second isolating devices and to cause damping of the electric motor when both are activated.