Electro-hydraulic On-Blade Actuation System for Rotorcraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotorcraft blade actuation systems face challenges such as weight, complexity, and inefficiency due to heavy components, limited bandwidth, and increased drag from linkage mechanisms, which affect stability and performance.
Innovation Solution
An electro-hydraulic on-blade actuation system utilizing a pair of linear motors and flexible bladders, where hydraulic units connect the motors to the bladders to transmit linear forces along the chord length of the rotorcraft blade, enabling efficient actuation with reduced weight and increased bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If traditional hydraulic actuators with linkages are used, then actuation force is sufficient, but weight increases and bandwidth is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical linkage mechanisms with a flexible bladder system that uses hydraulic pressure directly to actuate the control surface. This eliminates heavy mechanical linkages, reduces weight, and increases bandwidth while maintaining sufficient actuation force through the compliant bladder mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic actuators that use fluid pressure to directly inflate flexible bladders, replacing mechanical force transmission. This hydraulic approach provides sufficient actuation force with reduced mechanical complexity and lower weight compared to traditional linkage-based systems.
2Ease of operation
If traditional linkage mechanisms are used, then actuation is achieved, but drag increases and stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid mechanical linkages with flexible bladders that actuate control surfaces through internal pressure. This eliminates external linkage mechanisms that create drag, reducing harmful aerodynamic effects while maintaining full actuation capability through the compliant bladder system.
3Reliability
If heavy actuator components are used, then reliability is improved, but weight increases affecting performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible bladder shells as the primary actuation mechanism, replacing heavy rigid components. These thin-film flexible structures provide reliable actuation through controlled inflation and deflation, achieving the necessary durability and reliability with significantly reduced weight compared to traditional heavy-duty mechanical actuators.
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 system provides lightweight, high-power density actuation with improved stability and reduced drag, capable of handling environmental vibrations and temperature variations, while maintaining large displacement and bandwidth.
Implementation Method 1
Each hydraulic unit connects a linear motor to a flexible bladder to hydraulically transmit the linear force of the linear motor to the flexible bladder
Implementation Method 2
Each linear motor outputs linear force in response to input
Data Source
AI summary
An electro-hydraulic on-blade actuation system includes a pair of linear motors, a pair of flexible bladders and a pair of hydraulic units. Each linear motor outputs linear force in response to input. The pair of flexible bladders attach to opposite sides of a rotorcraft blade. Each hydraulic unit connects a linear motor to a flexible bladder to hydraulically transmit the linear force of the linear motor to the flexible bladder to actuate the rotorcraft blade.