Redundant Control Surface Drive Engagement for Failure Takeover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive arrangements for vehicle control surfaces lack redundancy in case of malfunction or failure, relying on a single drive that can lead to system failure if it malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A drive arrangement with two independent drives and engaging mechanisms, such as Hirth joints, friction clutches, or epicyclic gearboxes, allowing selective engagement and disengagement with an output member to ensure redundancy, with actuators controlling the transition between drives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single drive is used to manipulate vehicle control surfaces, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to lack of redundancy in case of malfunction or failure
Solution Approach 1:
The drive system is segmented into multiple independent drives (first drive and second drive), each capable of independently manipulating the vehicle control surface. This segmentation provides redundancy so that if one drive fails, the other can take over, thereby improving reliability without requiring a completely complex integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
Each drive is equipped with its own engaging means (first engaging means and second engaging means) that selectively engage or disengage from the output member. This local quality allows independent control and failure isolation, where the failure of one drive does not necessarily affect the other, thus improving overall system reliability.
2Reliability
If multiple drives with selective engaging means are used, then the reliability is improved through redundancy, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging means are designed to dynamically engage or disengage from the output member based on operational requirements or failure conditions. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt its configuration, maintaining reliability while managing complexity through controlled engagement rather than permanent mechanical connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The engaging means act as intermediaries between the drives and the output member, providing a controlled interface that manages the complexity of multiple drives. These intermediaries selectively transmit or block power flow, simplifying the overall system architecture by providing clear engagement/disengagement states rather than complex continuous control mechanisms.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If friction material is used to constrain ring gear movement, then the wear during engagement/disengagement is minimized, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The friction material is designed as a consumable component that can be replaced when worn. This approach minimizes wear during engagement and disengagement operations, extending the service life of the critical gear components. The friction material acts as a sacrificial element that protects more expensive and critical components from wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction material serves as an intermediary between the moving and stationary components during engagement and disengagement. It provides a controlled friction interface that reduces impact and wear on the ring gear and other critical components, thereby extending their operational life while adding minimal structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A drive arrangement for manipulating a vehicle control surface, comprises: a first drive; a second drive; an output member for connecting to the vehicle control surface; first engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the first drive and the output member; and second engaging means for selectively engaging and disengaging the second drive and the output member, wherein the first engaging means comprises a first epicyclic gearbox.