Aircraft Actuator Limit Stop with Replaceable Destructible Bearing Surface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft actuators, such as control surface actuators, face issues with limit stops that have a low energy absorption capacity, are prone to aging, and are sensitive to environmental conditions, leading to potential deterioration and performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a limit stop with a destructible portion that irreversibly deforms upon contact, providing high energy absorption capacity and being designed for easy replacement, with visible destruction indicators to ensure safety and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If elastic or rubber buffers are used in limit stops, then the actuator is protected from shocks, but the energy absorption capacity is low and the buffers are prone to aging and environmental degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sacrificial bearing surfaces made of softer material that are designed to be replaceable. These surfaces absorb wear and damage instead of the entire limit stop assembly, allowing the main structure to remain serviceable while the consumable parts are replaced periodically, resolving the contradiction between reliability and service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The limit stop is divided into separable components: a durable main body and replaceable bearing surfaces. This segmentation allows the permanent parts to maintain structural integrity while the consumable surfaces can be independently replaced, extending the overall system service life and maintaining consistent performance.
2Reliability
If traditional limit stops are used, then the actuator structure remains simple, but the energy absorption capacity is insufficient and characteristics change after limit contacts
Solution Approach 1:
The limit stop combines materials with different properties: harder materials for the main structural components and softer, more energy-absorbent materials for the bearing surfaces. This composite approach increases braking energy absorption capacity while maintaining relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The softer bearing surfaces are applied locally at the contact points where energy absorption is needed, rather than making the entire limit stop complex. This localized quality enhancement provides superior energy absorption where required while keeping the rest of the structure simple and robust.
3Reliability
If elastic buffers are used in limit stops, then shock protection is provided, but the buffers are highly sensitive to environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and solvents
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing surfaces are designed as replaceable components that can be removed and replaced without affecting the environmental stability of the main limit stop structure. This allows the use of material optimized for energy absorption in the replaceable parts while the permanent structure uses environmentally stable materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The environmentally sensitive bearing surfaces are extracted as separate, replaceable components from the main limit stop assembly. This separation allows the primary structure to be made from environmentally stable materials while the consumable surfaces can be optimized for their specific function without being constrained by environmental durability requirements.
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 enhances the energy absorption capacity of aircraft actuators, maintains consistent performance over time, and is less sensitive to environmental conditions, ensuring the safety and reliability of aircraft components.
Implementation Method 1
at least one limit stop comprising at least one destructible portion which is able to, and is arranged to, be irreversibly deformed under the effect of the co-operation by limit contact of said driving member and driven member bearing surfaces
Implementation Method 2
each driven member bearing surface co-operating by contact with a driving member bearing surface in at least one radial contact plane
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator of an aircraft includes at least one limit stop in which at least one of the bearing surfaces, named destructible bearing surface (19), has at least one destructible portion which is able to, and is arranged to, be irreversibly deformed under the effect of the co-operation by limit contact between the driving member bearing surface (19) and the driven member bearing surface (20). Each destructible portion of each destructible bearing surface is mounted to be removable with respect to the stop as to be able to be replaced.