Compliant Rotary Actuator Mounting for Wing Deflection Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for mounting rotary actuators to aircraft wing structures face challenges such as high relative deflection between fixed and movable wing parts, and thermal expansion issues, which can lead to actuator damage and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A compliant attachment component is used to securely attach the rotary actuator to the wing structure, featuring ball bearings at both ends to allow for relative movement between the wing and the actuator, thereby isolating the actuator from wing bending forces and thermal expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rotary actuator is rigidly mounted to the wing structure using traditional attachment methods, then the actuator is securely fixed to the wing, but the actuator is subjected to high relative deflection and thermal expansion forces that can cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
A compliant attachment component is introduced as an intermediary element between the actuator and the wing structure. This component includes a first end attached to the actuator and a second end attached to the wing, with at least one end featuring a ball bearing received in a complementary socket. This intermediary allows the actuator to remain securely mounted while accommodating relative deflection and thermal expansion through the compliant mechanism, preventing harmful forces from being transmitted directly to the actuator.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the wing structure is reinforced to reduce deflection during flight, then the relative deflection between fixed and movable parts is reduced, but the size and weight of the structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than reinforcing the wing structure to reduce deflection, the patent introduces a compliant attachment component as a mediator that accommodates the existing deflection. This approach avoids adding structural reinforcement while still protecting the actuator from harmful deflection forces, thereby avoiding the weight penalty that would result from reinforcing the wing.
3Device complexity
If the actuator is directly attached to the wing without compliant elements, then the attachment is simple and robust, but thermal expansion differences between wing materials and actuator materials cause operational problems
Solution Approach 1:
The compliant attachment component serves as a mediator between the wing structure and the actuator, specifically addressing thermal expansion issues. The ball bearing and socket mechanism allows for relative movement that accommodates differential thermal expansion between the wing materials and actuator materials, preventing operational problems while maintaining a relatively simple attachment system.
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 compliant attachment system effectively isolates the actuator from structural deflections and thermal expansion, ensuring secure mounting while preventing damage and maintaining operational precision.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the first and the second end is in the form of a ball bearing arranged to be received in a complementary socket on the actuator and/or the first movable part
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary actuator mounting system configured to attach a rotary actuator to and between two relatively moveable parts, the rotary actuator being attached to a first of the two relatively moveable parts and to a second of the relatively moveable parts such that operation of the actuator causes one of the first and second relatively movable parts to rotate relative to the other of the first and second relatively movable parts about an axis of the rotary actuator. The system includes a compliant attachment component connecting the actuator to the first relatively moveable part, the compliant attachment component having a first end attached to the first movable part and a second end attached to the actuator, and wherein at least one of the first and the second end is in the form of a ball bearing arranged to be received in a complementary socket on the actuator and/or the first movable part.