Nacelle Mobile Panel Actuator System Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for actuating mobile panels in aircraft nacelles lack sufficient availability and redundancy, leading to potential mechanical blockages and reduced reliability during thrust reversal and secondary nozzle section variation.
Innovation Solution
A system with mechanically interconnected actuators, driven by at least two separate motors and control units, ensuring continued operation even if one control unit fails, with optional features including flexible transmission cables, synchronized motor control, and independent power sources to enhance availability and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single control unit is used to drive actuators, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability and availability deteriorate due to potential mechanical blockages and single points of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into multiple independent control units (first control unit and second control unit), each capable of independently controlling at least one motor. This segmentation eliminates single points of failure and allows the system to maintain functionality even if one control unit fails, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity by distributing control functions across separate modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates redundant control units and motors as a form of prior cushioning against potential failures. By pre-configuring backup control capabilities, the system ensures that if one control unit or motor fails, the remaining components can continue to operate, maintaining availability without requiring complex real-time failure detection and recovery mechanisms.
2Reliability
If multiple motors are used to drive actuators, then the reliability is improved through redundancy, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple motors are mechanically connected through a common mechanical transmission system that drives the actuators. This merging approach allows the motors to work together through shared mechanical components, reducing the overall complexity compared to having completely separate actuation systems. The mechanical transmission integrates the output of multiple motors into a unified actuation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical transmission system serves multiple functions: it transmits power from multiple motors, provides mechanical coupling between motors and actuators, and enables operational continuity if one motor fails. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining reliability improvements.
3Reliability
If separate control units control different motors, then the availability is enhanced through fault isolation, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control architecture is segmented into distinct control units, each responsible for controlling at least one motor independently. This segmentation isolates faults to specific control units, preventing a single point of failure from affecting the entire system. The modular control structure manages complexity by distributing control functions rather than concentrating them in a single complex control unit.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a system for actuating a plurality of actuators (15) that can move a mobile panel of an aircraft nacelle. Said system comprises at least two motors (16) that can drive the actuators (15), the two motors (16) being controlled and supplied by at least two separate control units (33, 35), and the actuators (15) being mechanically interconnected by a mechanical transmission (37). The invention also relates to a nacelle comprising such an actuating system.