Actuator Assembly Electromagnetic Drive Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft actuators face challenges in efficiently actuating pivotable flaps due to limited clearances, requiring innovative solutions that can provide both redundancy and force magnification within compact spaces.
Innovation Solution
An actuation assembly featuring a drive mechanism with an array of magnetic members and a gear train, utilizing electromagnetic fields to move magnetic members along an axis, enabling dual redundancy and force amplification through a duplex drive mechanism and a compact gear train design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a traditional linear actuator is used to drive pivotable flaps, then the actuator can provide sufficient force, but the actuator occupies too much space and cannot fit in the limited clearances of aircraft wings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical linear actuator with an electromagnetic drive mechanism. The electromagnetic system uses magnetic members and electromagnetic fields to produce linear motion, eliminating the need for bulky mechanical components while maintaining force output capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from linear actuator geometry to a planar electromagnetic array configuration. The magnetic members are arranged in a two-dimensional array that generates force through electromagnetic interaction, allowing the system to fit within the limited three-dimensional clearance space of aircraft wing components.
2Reliability
If redundancy is added to the actuator system for reliability, then the system becomes more reliable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two drive mechanisms into a single integrated electromagnetic array. The magnetic members serve dual purposes: they generate force for actuation and provide redundancy through their array configuration. This merging approach achieves reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic array structure performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides primary actuation force, offers redundant force paths through the array configuration, and enables force magnification through the gear train. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity compared to separate redundant mechanical actuators.
3Force
If force magnification is achieved through gear train, then the output force increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces a traditional mechanical transmission system with an electromagnetic drive mechanism coupled to a simplified gear train. The electromagnetic array directly generates linear motion, eliminating the need for complex mechanical linkages, and the gear train is minimized to only the essential force magnification function.
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 solution allows for efficient actuation of aircraft components with increased force and compactness, addressing the limitations of traditional actuators in small spaces while providing dual redundancy for reliability.
Implementation Method 1
The drive mechanism causes the input to move in response to generating an electromagnetic field that interacts with at least one of the array of magnetic members
Data Source
AI summary
An actuation assembly includes a drive mechanism that has an array of magnetic members moveable along an axis, and a gear train that has an input and an output. The drive mechanism causes the input to move in response to generating an electromagnetic field that interacts with at least one of the array of magnetic members.