Compact Strain Wave Gear Flight Actuator Reducing Weight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic flight servo systems for aircraft are too large and heavy for medium and smaller aircraft, posing mechanical challenges due to vibration resonances and requiring additional structural stability analysis, especially when integrating actuators into primary flight control linkages.
Innovation Solution
A compact automatic flight control actuator system utilizing a strain wave gear mechanism with a first and second circular spline and flex spline, along with motors and sensors, to efficiently transfer input to output linkages, allowing for lighter and more stable flight control without complex mechanical linkages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional actuators and mechanical couplings are used to meet federal requirements and perform requested operations, then the automatic flight servo system can achieve reliable flight control, but the system becomes too large and heavy for medium and smaller aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing the strain wave gear mechanism inside the actuator housing, with the flex spline and circular spline components nested within each other. The wave generator is positioned centrally within the flex spline, creating a compact nested structure that reduces overall system size and weight while maintaining full flight control functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated actuator assembly that combines the motor, strain wave gear mechanism, and flight control linkage into one unified structure. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate actuators and mechanical couplings, reducing both weight and complexity while preserving reliability
2Adaptability or versatility
If series actuators are integrated into primary flight control linkages, then flight control functionality is enhanced, but challenging mechanical requirements arise due to vibration resonances and additional structural stability analysis is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical linkage systems with a strain wave gear mechanism that uses elastic deformation of the flex spline to transmit motion. This substitution eliminates the need for traditional mechanical couplings and linkages, reducing vibration resonances and structural complexity while maintaining enhanced flight control functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical parameters by using a flexible spline instead of rigid mechanical linkages. The flex spline's elastic properties allow for smooth motion transmission with reduced vibration and resonance, eliminating the need for additional structural stability analysis while preserving flight control versatility
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 system provides a lighter, more compact flight control solution that maintains structural stability and reduces vibration resonances, enabling efficient control of flight surfaces in smaller aircraft without the need for extensive mechanical linkages.
Implementation Method 1
a first strain wave gear having a first circular spline coupled to the input linkage and a first flex spline rotatably coupled to the first circular spline
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic actuator system is provided. The automatic actuator system includes an input linkage that receives an input and an output linkage adapted to control a flight surface actuator. The automatic actuator system includes a first strain wave gear having a first circular spline coupled to the input linkage and a first flex spline rotatably coupled to the first circular spline. The automatic actuator system includes a second strain wave gear having a second circular spline coupled to the first flex spline. The second strain wave gear includes a second flex spline, and the second flex spline is coupled to the output linkage such that at least a portion of the input from the input linkage is transferred to the output linkage via the first strain wave gear and the second strain wave gear.