Rotary Actuator Spline Mounting for Lightweight Secure Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary actuator mounting systems for aircraft wing assemblies are bulky, heavy, and labor-intensive, with a high risk of human error and stress-induced loosening or damage due to localized fastening loads, necessitating a more secure and lightweight attachment method.
Innovation Solution
The use of radially extending splines on circumferential earth and output members of the rotary actuator that engage with complementary splines in a mounting sleeve for secure attachment, reducing the need for traditional lugs and bolts, thereby minimizing size, weight, and assembly time while distributing stress evenly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional lugs and bolts are used to attach earth members to the wing structure, then secure attachment is achieved, but the overall size and weight of the actuator assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the mounting function directly into the actuator body by providing circumferential earth members with radially extending locking features (splines) that engage with complementary splines in a mounting sleeve. This merging of the mounting mechanism with the actuator structure eliminates separate lugs and reduces the need for multiple bolts, thereby reducing overall weight while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from discrete point-attachment lugs to a continuous circumferential engagement system. The radially extending locking features are distributed around the entire circumference of the earth members, creating a multi-dimensional engagement pattern that provides secure attachment without requiring heavy individual mounting components.
2Reliability
If traditional lugs and bolts are used to attach earth members to the wing structure, then secure attachment is achieved, but the assembly time and labor intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting sleeve integrates multiple mounting functions into a single component that receives and secures all circumferential earth members simultaneously. The complementary splines in the mounting sleeve engage with the radially extending locking features of multiple earth members in one assembly operation, eliminating the need to individually fasten separate lugs with bolts, thereby reducing assembly time and labor.
3Reliability
If traditional lugs and bolts are used to attach earth members to the wing structure, then attachment is achieved, but local stresses can loosen or damage the fastening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent distributes the attachment function around the entire circumference of the earth members using radially extending locking features engaged with complementary splines. This circumferential distribution spreads the mechanical loads and stresses uniformly around the mounting interface, preventing localized stress concentrations that could loosen or damage discrete bolted lugs during flight operations.
4Weight of stationary object
If circumferential earth members with radially extending locking features are used, then size and weight are reduced, but the complexity of the mounting mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting sleeve serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, contains the complementary splines for engagement, and secures multiple circumferential earth members in a single component. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mounting brackets, lugs, and multiple fasteners, thereby reducing weight while the standardized spline interface keeps the mechanism relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary actuator assembly for moving a first relatively movable part relative to a second relatively movable part. The assembly includes a rotary actuator having a plurality of circumferential earth members for attachment to one of the first and the second relatively movable parts and a plurality of circumferential output members for attachment to the other of the first and second relatively movable parts. At least the plurality of circumferential earth members or the plurality of circumferential output members is provided with radially outwardly extending locking features around their circumference configured to be received in a mounting sleeve having complementary locking features to engage with the radially outwardly extending locking features.