Aircraft Flap Actuation Assembly with Curved Track and Carriage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flap actuation assemblies on commercial aircraft are heavy and have many moving parts, leading to increased friction and maintenance due to grease and grime buildup, necessitating a simpler mechanism for actuating flight control surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The proposed actuation assembly includes a track with curved sections and rollers supported by a carriage, coupled with an actuator that translates along the track, minimizing friction and wear by maintaining tight tolerances and reducing the number of moving parts, thereby reducing maintenance requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a roller and channel arrangement is used with nominal clearance, then the mechanism can accommodate manufacturing tolerances, but grease, grime, and grit build up resulting in increased friction and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful clearance between roller and channel by using a track with integrated roller surfaces. The rollers are supported by a carriage that moves along the track, eliminating the need for nominal clearance while preventing grease and grime buildup that causes friction and maintenance issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional roller and channel mechanical arrangement with a carriage and track system. The carriage moves along a fixed track with curved sections, substituting the clearance-based mechanical interaction with a guided motion system that reduces friction and maintenance requirements.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional roller and channel arrangement is used, then the actuation mechanism can be implemented, but the assembly becomes heavy and complex with many moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the roller support and guidance functions into a single carriage component that moves along the track. This integration reduces the number of separate moving parts while maintaining the actuation functionality, making the assembly lighter and less complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The carriage serves multiple functions: it supports the rollers, guides the motion along the track, and transmits the actuating force. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, simplifying the overall mechanism while maintaining implementation capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If nominal clearance is maintained in roller and channel arrangement, then assembly is easier, but friction increases due to grease, grime, and grit buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the clearance that allows grease and grime accumulation by using a tight-fitting carriage and track interface. The rollers are supported precision-machined surfaces that move along the track with minimal clearance, eliminating the energy loss to friction while maintaining assembly feasibility through precision manufacturing.
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 results in a lighter, more energy-efficient actuation assembly that requires less maintenance, as it minimizes friction and wear, and provides a greater mechanical advantage by reducing the torque imparted to the actuator during operation.
Implementation Method 1
The first roller is rotatably supported by the carriage and comprises a first-roller rolling surface engaged with the first roller surface. The second roller is rotatably supported by the carriage and comprises a second-roller rolling surface engaged with the second roller surface.
Implementation Method 2
The actuator comprises a proximal end that is configured to be operatively fixed relative to the support structure, and a distal end that is configured to be selectively translated away from and toward the proximal end. The distal end is operatively coupled to the carriage to selectively translate the carriage along the track
Data Source
AI summary
Actuation assemblies comprise a track comprising a first roller surface, a second roller surface opposite the first roller surface, and a curved section. Actuation assemblies further comprise a carriage operatively coupled to a flight control surface, a first roller rotatably supported by the carriage and comprising a first-roller rolling surface engaged with the first roller surface, a second roller rotatably supported by the carriage and comprising a second-roller rolling surface engaged with the second roller surface, and an actuator, whose distal end is operatively coupled to the carriage to selectively translate the carriage along the track and thus to selectively translate the first roller along the first roller surface and the second roller along the second roller surface.