Single Pivot Shaft Actuator Support for Aircraft Air Intake
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional support devices for actuators in air intake systems of aircraft experience instability due to non-coaxial pivot shafts, leading to adverse effects on the smooth rotation of the actuator, which can cause long-term operational issues.
Innovation Solution
A support device with a single pivot shaft connecting the attachment unit to the support unit, optionally featuring a bush or bearing for reduced abrasion and enhanced movement freedom, and a positioning member for accurate alignment, allowing the actuator to rotate stably about a single axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two independent support components with separate shafts are used to support the actuator, then the actuator can be supported at two sides, but the shafts may become non-coaxial after long-term use, causing unstable operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate support components and their respective shafts into a single integrated support component with one shaft. This integration ensures that the actuator is supported by a unified structure, eliminating the problem of non-coaxial shafts that occurs when two independent shafts are used. The single shaft design maintains operational stability while simplifying the overall structure.
2Ease of operation
If two pivot shafts are employed to support the actuator, then the actuator can be mounted at two sides, but the smooth rotation of the actuator is adversely affected due to non-coaxial alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate pivot shafts into a single pivot shaft that serves both support functions. This merging ensures that the actuator rotates smoothly about a single, perfectly aligned axis, eliminating the misalignment issues that occur with two separate shafts. The single shaft design guarantees both smooth rotation and operational stability.
3Reliability
If a single pivot shaft is used to connect the attachment unit to the support unit, then the actuator rotates stably about a single axis, but the structure requires precise alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a positioning member that performs preliminary alignment of the single pivot shaft during assembly. This positioning member ensures that the shaft is correctly aligned with the actuator's rotation axis before final fixation, thereby achieving stable operation without requiring extremely high manufacturing precision. The preliminary positioning action compensates for minor dimensional variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning member acts as an intermediary element between the support unit and the pivot shaft. It facilitates precise alignment by providing a reference feature that guides the shaft into the correct position during assembly, thereby reducing the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements while ensuring stable operational performance.
4Device complexity
If the attachment unit and actuator casing are formed into one piece, then the structure is simplified, but the design flexibility and applicability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the attachment unit from the actuator casing, making them separate components that can be independently designed and manufactured. This segmentation provides design flexibility, allowing the attachment unit to be customized for different actuator types and applications. The separate components can be optimized independently while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
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 ensures stable and reliable operation of the actuator by eliminating the issue of non-coaxial pivot shafts, prolonging the service life of components and simplifying the structure, thereby improving the overall performance and durability of the air intake system.
Implementation Method 1
a bush or bearing is provided between the pivot shaft and at least one of the attachment unit and the support unit. By providing the bush or bearing, it may reduce abrasion to the attachment unit and/or support unit
Implementation Method 2
the bush or bearing may have a spherical outer surface. The spherical bush or bearing may provide multi-directional freedom to the movement of the attachment unit and/or the support unit
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to a support device for an actuator. The support device includes a support unit adapted to be mounted to a stationary structure, an attachment unit adapted to be attached to an actuator casing and a single pivot shaft, and the attachment unit is pivotably connected to the support unit via the single pivot shaft. The support device according to the present disclosure has a simple structure and is stable in operation. The present disclosure further relates to an air intake system for an auxiliary power unit, which includes the above support device for the actuator. In addition, the present disclosure further relates to an aircraft including the air intake system for the auxiliary power unit.