Horizontal Stabilizer Actuator With Axial Motor Direct Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trimmable horizontal stabiliser actuators are bulky, heavy, and require complex gear systems due to the use of radial flux motors, leading to increased weight, maintenance time, and costs in the aerospace industry.
Innovation Solution
Replace radial flux motors and gears with axial flux motors, utilizing advances in soft magnetic composite materials to achieve direct torque transmission without the need for gears, reducing the actuator's size, weight, and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If radial flux motors with gear systems are used, then high torque can be achieved, but the actuator becomes bulky, heavy, and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical gear system with an electromagnetic field-based solution. The axial flux motor generates high torque directly through electromagnetic interaction between the stator and rotor, eliminating the need for mechanical gear reductions. This substitution of mechanical transmission with electromagnetic force generation resolves the contradiction by achieving high torque without complex mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters of the motor from radial flux to axial flux configuration. This parameter change allows the motor to generate high torque directly without requiring gear multiplication, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the required force output for moving the flight control surface.
2Force
If radial flux motors with gear systems are used, then high torque can be achieved, but the actuator weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates heavy mechanical gear components by substituting them with an axial flux motor that generates high torque through electromagnetic fields. This substitution removes the weight of gears, gear housings, and associated mechanical transmission elements, directly addressing the weight reduction goal while maintaining sufficient torque for flight control surface movement.
3Force
If radial flux motors with gear systems are used, then high torque can be achieved, but the actuator size and footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the voluminous gear system with a compact axial flux motor. The electromagnetic direct-drive mechanism requires no space for gear trains, gear housings, or mechanical transmission paths, significantly reducing the actuator's overall volume and footprint while maintaining the necessary torque output for flight control applications.
4Force
If radial flux motors with gear systems are used, then high torque can be achieved, but assembly and maintenance time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates multiple mechanical components (gears, gear housings, shafts, bearings) by using a direct-drive axial flux motor. This reduction in component count directly decreases assembly time during manufacturing and reduces maintenance time during operational servicing, while the electromagnetic system maintains the required torque performance for flight control surface actuation.
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 use of axial flux motors results in a more compact, lightweight actuator design with reduced assembly and maintenance time, while maintaining reliability and safety, thus lowering fuel consumption and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a motor to rotate the screw shaft, wherein the motor is an axial flux motor
Data Source
AI summary
A linear actuator. The linear actuator includes a screw shaft. The linear actuator also includes: a nut assembly mounted to the screw shaft to move linearly along the screw shaft as the screw shaft is rotated; and a motor to rotate the screw shaft. The motor is an axial motor.