Ram Air Turbine Locking Mechanism Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional ram air turbine (RAT) locking mechanisms face issues with instability and force translation due to torsional springs and imperfections in base clevis alignment holes, leading to undesired friction fits and inefficiencies in force transmission.
Innovation Solution
A locking mechanism featuring a base clevis with slotted apertures and chamfered edges for improved alignment, a rotatable pin with a spring biased by a sleeve to maintain wind diameter, and a piston link connected to a sliding clevis for enhanced stability and force translation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a torsional spring is disposed directly on the pin connecting the base link clevis to the base clevis, then a biasing actuation force toward the unlocked position is provided, but instabilities and force translation issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
A sleeve is introduced as an intermediary component between the torsional spring and the pin. The sleeve stabilizes the spring's wind diameter and improves force transmission to the base link clevis, eliminating the instabilities and force translation issues that occur when the spring is disposed directly on the pin
2Ease of manufacture
If alignment holes in the base clevis are used for mounting on the housing, then the base clevis can be fixed to the housing, but friction fits occur due to imperfections in the alignment holes
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment holes in the base clevis are changed from circular to slotted, allowing the alignment feature on the housing to move within the slot during assembly. This parameter change accommodates manufacturing imperfections and eliminates friction fits, ensuring smooth force translation to the lock piston
3Stability of the object's composition
If the sleeve is positioned between the spring and the pin, then the wind diameter of the spring is maintained and stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve serves as a simple intermediary component that maintains the spring's wind diameter and stabilizes force transmission. While it does increase device complexity by adding one more component, the sleeve's simple cylindrical geometry and straightforward installation minimize the practical impact on manufacturing and assembly complexity
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 provides improved stability and efficient force transmission, allowing for reliable locking and unlocking of the ram air turbine without friction fits, enhancing the overall performance of the locking mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a spring positioned around the pin, wherein a first spring end abuts the base clevis and a second spring end abuts the base link clevis to bias the base link clevis to an unlocked position
Data Source
AI summary
A locking mechanism for a ram air turbine (RAT) includes a base clevis configured to mount to a housing and to have a base link clevis connector portion defining a plurality of base link clevis connector arms and a base link clevis having a base connector portion defining base connector arms that are configure to movably connect to the base link clevis connector arm. The locking mechanism also includes a pin operatively connecting the base connector portion to the base link clevis connector portion in a rotatable relationship and a spring positioned around the pin, wherein a first spring end abuts the base clevis and a second spring end abuts the base link clevis to bias the base link clevis to an unlocked position. A sleeve is positioned between the spring and the pin to maintain a wind diameter of the spring.