Wing Spindle Retention With Drive Ring to Minimize Free Play
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuator mechanisms in tiltrotor aircraft for converting between flight modes suffer from inefficiencies in rotational and axial free play, leading to suboptimal performance and reliability in wing conversion systems.
Innovation Solution
A wing conversion system featuring a spindle rotatably supported for rotation with the engine and wing section, utilizing a drive ring and holding element with complementary tapered surfaces to ensure secure engagement between the spindle and output shaft, and a retention nut to maintain this engagement, minimizing free play through intermeshed splines and drive dogs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing actuator mechanisms are used for wing conversion, then the system can convert between flight modes, but rotational and axial free play occurs leading to suboptimal performance and reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The drive ring is divided into multiple segments that can be independently positioned and secured to the spindle. This segmentation allows for precise alignment and elimination of free play between the actuator output shaft and the wing conversion mechanism, while maintaining the overall function of mode conversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive ring acts as an intermediary element between the actuator output shaft and the wing conversion mechanism. It transmits torque while eliminating free play through its splined engagement with both components, improving reliability without requiring direct connection between the actuator and wing mechanism.
2Productivity
If existing actuator mechanisms are used for wing conversion, then the system can convert between flight modes, but rotational and axial free play occurs leading to suboptimal performance
Solution Approach 1:
The drive ring is divided into multiple segments that can be independently positioned and secured to the spindle. This segmentation allows for precise alignment and elimination of free play between the actuator output shaft and the wing conversion mechanism, while maintaining the overall function of mode conversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The splined engagement mechanism changes the physical parameters of the connection between the drive ring and the spindle, transforming from a loose fit with free play to a precise fit that eliminates rotational and axial play, thereby improving conversion performance.
3Reliability
If a secure engagement mechanism is implemented to minimize free play, then reliability and performance improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive ring serves multiple functions: it transmits torque from the actuator to the wing conversion mechanism, eliminates free play through splined engagement, and provides a mounting interface for securing the segments to the spindle. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented drive ring segments are nested around the actuator output shaft, with each segment independently secured to the spindle. This nested arrangement allows for compact integration of the engagement mechanism within the existing actuator housing, minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
Data Source
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Figure 2B
AI summary
A wing conversion system (106) is configured to rotate an engine of a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (100) relative to a wing section (110, 112) between flight modes. The wing conversion system includes a spindle (130), a conversion actuator (136), a drive ring (162), and a holding element. The spindle is rotatably supported for rotation with the engine (104) and relative to the wing section about a spindle axis. The drive ring is drivingly engaged between the spindle and the output shaft (142), with the output shaft and spindle being rotatable with each other about the spindle axis. The holding element engages the drive ring and urges the drive ring into engagement with the output shaft and spindle.