Piezoelectric Arcuate Actuator for Backlash-Free Flap Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motion actuating systems for flap control in devices like UAVs, projectiles, and missiles require gears or levers for direct drive, leading to inefficiencies in torque and velocity transmission.
Innovation Solution
A piezoelectric motor-based arcuate motion actuator with a static arcuate member and a housing that eliminates the need for gears, using a spring-biased nub to directly drive the flap orientation shaft, providing direct drive, high precision, and low power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If gears or levers are used for direct drive in motion actuating systems, then torque and velocity transmission is achieved, but the system becomes more complex and less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gear train and lever mechanisms from the actuator design, extracting only the essential piezoelectric motor components. This eliminates the complex mechanical transmission elements while maintaining the core torque and velocity transmission function through direct piezoelectric actuation of the flap.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical gear-and-lever system with a piezoelectric motor system. The piezoelectric elements directly convert electrical signals to mechanical motion, substituting the multi-component mechanical transmission system with a more efficient electromechanical system that achieves the same torque and velocity transmission without intermediate mechanical elements.
2Ease of operation
If gears or levers are used for direct drive, then motion transmission is achieved, but backlash is introduced reducing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the gear and lever components that inherently create backlash. By eliminating these mechanical transmission elements, the system achieves direct piezoelectric actuation of the flap, ensuring that positioning precision is maintained without the play or slack that characterizes gear-based systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the backlash-prone mechanical gear system with a piezoelectric motor system that provides direct, backlash-free motion transmission. The piezoelectric elements directly drive the flap through controlled expansion and contraction, eliminating the intermediate mechanical linkages that cause positioning errors.
3Ease of operation
If traditional motor systems with clutches are used, then motion control is achieved, but reliability decreases due to more components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the clutch mechanism from the actuator design, extracting only the essential piezoelectric motor components needed for motion control. This simplification eliminates the clutch-related failure points while maintaining full motion control capability through direct piezoelectric actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional motor-clutch system with a pure piezoelectric motor system. The piezoelectric elements provide direct motion control without requiring a clutch mechanism for engagement or disengagement, thereby increasing reliability by eliminating the additional mechanical components and their associated failure modes.
4Ease of operation
If gears and levers are used for direct drive, then motion transmission is achieved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the heavy gear and lever components from the actuator. By eliminating these dense mechanical transmission elements, the overall weight of the actuator is significantly reduced while maintaining the essential motion transmission function through lighter piezoelectric components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the weight-intensive mechanical gear and lever system with a lightweight piezoelectric motor system. The piezoelectric elements, which convert electrical energy directly to mechanical motion without intermediate mechanical linkages, dramatically reduce the actuator weight while preserving full motion transmission capability.
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 solution enables high-resolution, low-weight, compact, and high-performance flap actuation with direct drive, eliminating backlash and requiring no clutch, while maintaining high reliability and low power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
piezoelectric motor-based arcuate motion actuator
Data Source
AI summary
A flap actuator for adjusting the orientation of a flap or the like, the actuator. The actuator includes: a static arcuate member having a radius of curvature; a piezoelectric motor biased to be in operable contact with the static arcuate member; a housing for housing the piezoelectric motor; and a flap orientation shaft operably connecting between the housing and the flap. The distance between the shaft and the static arcuate member is essentially equal to the radius of curvature of the static arcuate member.