An apparatus and method for providing a torque to an external member to assist in twisting or deforming the external member. In one implementation the apparatus is useful for providing a force to a torque tube to assist in rotating, bending or twisting a wing, an airfoil, or a rotorcraft blade. The
An apparatus and method for providing a torque to an external member to assist in twisting or deforming the external member. In one implementation the apparatus is useful for providing a force to a torque tube to assist in rotating, bending or twisting a wing, an airfoil, or a rotorcraft blade. The apparatus includes at least one biasing member which provides a biasing force to a linkage assembly, where the linkage assembly is pivotally coupled to a torque tube. The torque tube is fixedly coupled to the structure which needs to be bent, twisted or flexed. The energy stored in the biasing member provides the great majority of mechanical force required to rotate the torque tube and bend, twist or deform the structure when the structure is urged back into an unflexed or un-deformed state, the energy stored in the structure is transferred back to the apparatus. Thus, an actuator that would normally be employed for this purpose can be made much smaller, lighter and less expensive due to the significant mechanical energy provided by the apparatus.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for assisting in moving an element between a first position and a second position, said apparatus comprising: a tubular housing; a torque transferring member disposed within said tubular housing and having first and second opposing portions, at least one of said
What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for assisting in moving an element between a first position and a second position, said apparatus comprising: a tubular housing; a torque transferring member disposed within said tubular housing and having first and second opposing portions, at least one of said first and second portions being fixed secured relative to said element; a first biasing member disposed within said tubular housing; a first link operably disposed within said tubular housing and coupling said first biasing member with said first portion of said torque transferring member; a second biasing member disposed within said tubular housing and arranged axially in line with said first biasing member and said torque transferring member, said first and second biasing members further being arranged on opposing sides of said torque transferring member to cooperate to assist in moving said element rotationally; a second link disposed within said tubular housing operably coupling said second biasing member with said second portion of said torque transferring member; said first and second biasing members adapted to store sufficient energy to urge said torque transferring member from said first position to said second position when an external force is applied to at least one of said element and said torque transferring member; and a tensioning adjuster threadably engaged with said tubular housing at one axial end of said tubular housing, said tensioning adjuster including a portion adapted to be engaged by an external tool and rotated by said external tool, and said tensioning adjuster being operably coupled to said first biasing member to apply a predetermined compressive force to said first biasing member by threaded adjustment of said tensioning adjuster relative to said tubular housing, using said external tool. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said links are arranged relative to said torque transferring member to create a point of equilibrium at said first position wherein substantially no torque is applied by said biasing members to said torque transferring member. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said biasing members comprises a Belleville washer. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said biasing members comprises a coil spring. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said links are pivotally supported relative to said torque transferring member. 6. An apparatus for transferring energy to, and receiving energy from, a structure to be deformed, comprising: a housing fixedly supported relative to the structure; first and second biasing components disposed within said housing and supported axially in line with one another within the housing, and on opposing sides of said structure, said biasing components operating to store energy substantially sufficient to deform said structure from a first orientation into a second orientation; a torque member at least partially disposed within said housing and having a first end fixedly secured relative to said structure, and a second end; a pair of link assemblies disposed within said housing, and arranged axially in line with said biasing components and operably coupling said biasing components and said second end of said torque member; and wherein each said biasing component is preloaded during assembly of the apparatus to store sufficient energy to cooperatively cause said torque member to rotate and urge said structure from said first position into said second position, when an external element initiates movement of said torque member, to cause said stored energy in said biasing components to be transferred to said structure; said stored energy imparted to said structure being returned to said biasing components when said structure is urged from said second position back into said first position; a first tensioning adjuster threadably engaged with said housing at a first axial end of said housing, said first tensioning adjuster including a portion adapted to be engaged by an external tool and rotated by said external tool, and said first tensioning adjuster being operably coupled to said first biasing member to apply a predetermined compressive force to said first biasing member by threaded adjustment of said first tensioning adjuster relative to said housing, using said external tool; and a second tensioning adjuster threadably engaged with said housing at a second axial end of said housing, said second tensioning adjuster including a portion adapted to be engaged by said external tool and rotated by said external tool, and said second tensioning adjuster being operably coupled to said second biasing member to apply a predetermined compressive force to said second biasing member by threaded adjustment of said second tensioning adjuster relative to said housing, using said external tool. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least one of said biasing components comprises a Belleville washer. 8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said link assemblies are coupled to rotationally opposite positions on said torque member to provide biasing forces that add and operate to apply a torque to said torque member when said structure is moved from said first position into said second position. 9. An apparatus for assisting in moving an element between a first position and a second position, said apparatus comprising: a tubular housing having first and second axial ends, said first axial end including a first threaded opening and said second axial end including a second threaded opening, said first and second threaded openings further being arranged generally axially in line with an axial center of said tubular housing; a torque transferring assembly disposed within said tubular housing and including a center link fixedly secured relative to said element, a first link pivotally coupled to a first end of said center link and a second link pivotally coupled to a second end of said center link; a first biasing member disposed within said tubular housing adjacent said first axial end; a first shaft extending within said first biasing member and being pivotally coupled to said first link; a second biasing member disposed within said tubular housing and arranged axially in line with said first biasing member and said torque transmitting member, said first and second biasing members further being arranged on opposing sides of said torque transferring assembly; a second shaft extending through said second biasing member and being pivotally coupled to an end of said second link; said tubular housing further housing the first link, the second link and the center link; and said first and second biasing members adapted to store sufficient energy to cooperatively assist in urging said torque transferring assembly from said first position to said second position when an external force is applied to said element that begins to rotate said element; a first tensioning adjuster threadably engaged with said first threaded opening at said first axial end of said tubular housing, said first tensioning adjuster including a portion adapted to be engaged by an external tool and rotated by said external tool, and said first tensioning adjuster being operably coupled to said first biasing member to apply a predetermined compressive force to said first biasing member by threaded adjustment of said first tensioning adjuster relative to said tubular housing, using said external tool; and a second tensioning adjuster threadably engaged with said second threaded opening in said second axial end of said tubular housing, said second tensioning adjuster including a portion adapted to be engaged by said external tool and rotated by said external tool, and said second tensioning adjuster being operably coupled to said second biasing member to apply a predetermined compressive force to said second biasing member by threaded adjustment of said second tensioning adjuster relative to said tubular housing, using said external tool.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (5)
Shin Wan-Sheng (No. 190 Jen Ai Street San Chung City ; Taipei TWX), Cylinder-operated and spring-loaded driving mechanism for a ball valve.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.