Control Stick Pivot Redundancy With Bearing Failure Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current control stick pivot systems for aircraft, while incorporating redundant bearings for reliability, lack effective detection mechanisms to swiftly identify primary bearing malfunctions, potentially leading to suboptimal performance or failure in critical flight conditions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a redundant pivot bearing and a detection component, such as sensors or maintenance features, to detect primary pivot bearing malfunctions, ensuring seamless transition to redundant bearing operation and maintaining control stick functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a redundant pivot bearing is added to ensure continued operation after primary bearing failure, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The redundant pivot bearing is nested concentrically within the primary pivot bearing assembly, with the redundant bearing positioned inside the primary bearing's outer race. This nesting arrangement allows both bearings to share the same mounting space and structural envelope, thereby improving reliability through redundancy while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity and footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The redundant pivot bearing is designed with universal applicability to serve multiple functions: it remains dormant during normal operation (when primary bearing functions), activates automatically when primary bearing fails (providing backup support), and can be maintained in a ready-state for potential future use. This multi-functionality approach maximizes reliability benefit while minimizing the complexity penalty of adding redundant components.
2Reliability
If a detection component is added to detect primary bearing malfunction, then reliability is improved through early warning, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection component replaces complex mechanical monitoring systems with simpler sensor-based detection mechanisms. Instead of using elaborate mechanical linkages or complex mechanical indicators to detect bearing malfunction, the invention employs sensors (such as vibration sensors, temperature sensors, or strain gauges) that can detect bearing degradation or failure conditions through physical parameter changes, thereby improving reliability through early warning while minimizing the complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection component acts as an intermediary between the primary pivot bearing and the pilot or maintenance system. Rather than requiring direct observation or complex mechanical indication of bearing status, the detection component mediates by sensing bearing condition parameters (such as vibration patterns, temperature, or load distribution) and translating them into detectable signals that indicate bearing health status, thus improving reliability through early fault detection while keeping the added complexity manageable.
3Ease of operation
If rolling-element bearings are used to provide low-friction pivot, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to susceptibility to shock loads and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The redundant pivot bearing is pre-positioned and pre-configured within the assembly before any failure occurs, serving as a cushion or backup against potential primary bearing failure. This beforehand cushioning ensures that when shock loads or wear affect the primary rolling-element bearing, the redundant bearing is already in place to immediately assume the load and maintain operational capability, thereby compensating for the reduced reliability of rolling-element bearings while preserving ease of operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A control stick pivot (200) comprises a primary pivot bearing (210), a redundant pivot bearing (220), and a detection component for detecting malfunction of the primary pivot bearing. The redundant pivot bearing is provided on one side of the primary pivot bearing. The redundant pivot bearing becomes operative as a bearing in the event that the primary pivot bearing malfunctions. The detection component may comprise one or more features (230) provided on the redundant pivot bearing for applying a torque to the redundant pivot bearing during maintenance or testing and/or a sensor (300; 310; 320) configured to detect relative motion at an interface between the primary pivot bearing and the redundant pivot bearing.