Dual-Mount Gear-Driven Resolver Assembly for Redundant Spindle Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ducted-rotor aircraft require a system to detect and measure the rotation of spindles efficiently, while minimizing weight and complexity to facilitate mode conversion between helicopter and airplane operations.
Innovation Solution
A resolver assembly with dual RVDT sensors, mounted redundantly and gear-driven, is used to detect and measure spindle rotation, ensuring engagement and accuracy through a spring-loaded mechanism and engagement component with gear teeth, allowing for precise angular displacement measurement during mode conversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a resolver assembly with dual RVDT sensors is used to detect and measure spindle rotation, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two RVDT sensors into a single resolver assembly that shares common components including a housing, mounting structure, and gear-driven mechanism. The dual sensors are integrated within the same physical assembly, allowing them to measure spindle rotation simultaneously while sharing structural support and reducing overall system complexity compared to completely separate sensor systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The resolver assembly serves multiple functions: it provides redundant measurement capability through dual sensors, maintains engagement with the spindle through a spring-loaded mechanism, and reduces vibration through its integrated design. The single assembly performs both measurement and engagement functions that would otherwise require separate components.
2Reliability
If a spring-loaded mechanism with engagement component is used to maintain sensor engagement, then reliability of measurement is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded engagement component automatically maintains contact between the resolver assembly and the spindle through elastic force. The mechanism self-regulates the engagement pressure without requiring external control systems, continuously pushing the gear teeth into engagement with the spindle to ensure reliable measurement during mode conversion.
3Reliability
If dual RVDT sensors are mounted redundantly, then reliability is improved, but weight and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two RVDT sensors into a single integrated resolver assembly that shares common structural components, mounting hardware, and housing. This integration reduces the total weight compared to having two completely separate sensor assemblies, while still providing redundant measurement capability through the dual sensors within the unified 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 resolver assembly effectively measures spindle rotation, maintaining engagement and reducing vibration, thus enabling seamless conversion between modes while minimizing weight and complexity, enhancing the aircraft's operational flexibility and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
spring-loaded mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A resolver assembly for a ducted-rotor aircraft is configured to detect and measure rotation of a spindle of the aircraft. The resolver assembly includes first and second gear-driven resolvers. The first and second resolvers are coupled about a shared pivot axis and are independently pivotable about the pivot axis to maintain engagement of the first and second resolvers with the spindle of the aircraft. The resolver assembly is configured such that the first and second resolvers are biased toward the spindle. The input shafts of the first and second resolvers are spaced from the pivot axis through respective first and second distances that extend outward from the pivot axis along respective first and second radial directions. The first distance is equal to the second distance and the first radial direction is not coincident with the second radial direction.