초록 ▼

A flight control surface actuator includes a mechanism that enables the actuator translation member to be selectively decoupled from the actuator rotating member. The actuator includes an actuation member, a translation member, an extension member, and a locking member. The actuation member is adapt

A flight control surface actuator includes a mechanism that enables the actuator translation member to be selectively decoupled from the actuator rotating member. The actuator includes an actuation member, a translation member, an extension member, and a locking member. The actuation member is adapted to receive a drive force and is configured, in response to the drive force, to rotate and cause the translation member to translate. The extension member surrounds at least a portion of the translation member and is configured to be selectively coupled to, and decoupled from, the translation member. The locking member surrounds at least a portion of the extension tube and is movable between a lock position, in which the locking member couples the extension member to the translation member, and a release position, in which the locking member decouples the extension member from the translation member.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. An actuator assembly, comprising: an actuation member adapted to receive a drive force and configured, upon receipt thereof, to rotate; a translation member disposed adjacent the actuation member and configured, upon rotation of the actuation member, to translate; two or more translati

We claim: 1. An actuator assembly, comprising: an actuation member adapted to receive a drive force and configured, upon receipt thereof, to rotate; a translation member disposed adjacent the actuation member and configured, upon rotation of the actuation member, to translate; two or more translation member lock pin openings extending at least partially through the translation member; an extension member configured to couple to a flight control surface, the extension member surrounding at least a portion of the translation member and configured to be selectively coupled to, and decoupled from, the translation member; two or more extension member lock pin openings extending through the extension member; two or more lock pins, each lock pin disposed within one of the extension member lock pin openings and movable between an engage position, in which each lock pin is further disposed within one of the translation member openings, and a disengage position, in which each lock pin is not further disposed within one of the translation member openings; two or more lock pin bias springs, each lock pin bias spring disposed within one of the extension member lock pin openings and configured to bias the lock pin toward the disengage position; and a locking member surrounding at least a portion of the extension member and rotatable between a lock position, in which the locking member moves the lock pins into the engage position, and a release position, in which the locking member allows the lock pin bias springs to move the lock pins into the disengage position. 2. The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein: each lock pin further includes a first end and a second end; each lock pin first end extends from the extension member lock pin opening and engages the locking member; and each lock pin second end is disposed within one of the translation member lock pin openings when the lock pin is in the engage position and is removed from the translation member lock pin openings when the lock pin is in the disengage position. 3. The actuator assembly of claim 2, wherein: the locking member comprises an inner surface having two or more lock lands and two or more release valleys formed therein; when the locking member is in the lock position, the lock lands engage each of the lock pin first ends and move the lock pins into the engage position; and when the locking member is in the release position, the release valleys engage the lock pin first ends and allow the lock pin bias springs to move the lock pins to the disengage position. 4. The actuator assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a torsion spring coupled to the locking member and configured to supply a bias torque that biases the locking member toward the release position; and one or more locking member actuators configured to selectively engage and disengage the locking member, each locking member actuator, when engaging the locking member, operable to hold the locking member in the lock position against the bias torque of the torsion spring. 5. The actuator assembly of claim 4, wherein each locking member actuator comprises a solenoid adapted to be selectively energized and deenergized to thereby selectively disengage and engage the locking member, respectively. 6. The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein: the actuation member comprises a ballscrew; the translation member comprises a ballnut mounted against rotation on the ballscrew and configured, upon rotation of the ballscrew, to translate; and the extension member comprises an extension tube having a rod end coupled thereto that is configured to couple to the flight control surface. 7. The actuator assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a motor coupled to the actuation member and adapted to receive drive power, the motor configured, upon receipt of the drive power, to supply the drive force to the actuation member. 8. An actuator assembly, comprising: an electric motor adapted to receive electrical drive power and configured, upon receipt thereof, to supply a drive force; a ballscrew coupled to receive the drive force from the motor and configured, upon receipt thereof, to rotate; a ballnut disposed adjacent the ballscrew and configured, upon rotation of the ballscrew, to translate; two or more ballnut lock pin openings extending at least partially through the ballnut; an extension tube configured to couple to a flight control surface, the extension tube surrounding at least a portion of the ballnut and configured to be selectively coupled to, and decoupled from, the ballnut; two or more extension tube lock pin openings extending through the extension tube; two or more lock pins, each lock pin disposed within one of the extension tube lock pin openings and movable between an engaged position, in which each lock pin is further disposed within one of the ballnut openings, and a disengaged position, in which each lock pin is not farther disposed within one of the ballnut openings; two or more lock pin bias springs, each lock pin bias spring disposed within one of the extension tube lock pin openings and configured to bias the lock pin toward the disengage position; and a locking tube surrounding at least a portion of the extension tube and rotatable between a lock position, in which the locking tube moves the lock pins into the engage position, and a release position, in which the locking tube allows the lock pin bias springs to move the lock pins into the disengage position. 9. The actuator assembly of claim 8, wherein: each lock pin further includes a first end and a second end; each lock pin first end extends from the extension tube lock pin opening and engages the locking tube; and each lock pin second end is disposed within one of the ballnut lock pin openings when the lock pin is in the engage position and is removed from the ballnut lock pin openings when the lock pin is in the disengage position. 10. The actuator assembly of claim 9, wherein: the locking tube comprises an inner surface having two or more lock lands and two or more release valleys formed therein; when the locking tube is in the lock position, the lock lands engage each of the lock pin first ends and move the lock pins into the engage position; and when the locking tube is in the release position, the release valleys engage the lock pin first ends and allow the lock pin bias springs to move the lock pins to the disengage position. 11. The actuator assembly of claim 8, further comprising: a torsion spring coupled to the locking tube and configured to supply a bias torque that biases the locking tube toward the release position; and one or more locking tube actuators configured to selectively engage and disengage the locking tube, each locking tube actuator, when engaging the locking tube, operable to hold the locking tube in the lock position against the bias torque of the torsion spring, each locking tube actuator including a solenoid adapted to be selectively energized and deenergized to thereby selectively disengage and engage the locking tube, respectively. 12. An actuator assembly, comprising: an actuation member adapted to receive a drive force and configured, upon receipt thereof, to rotate; a translation member disposed adjacent the actuation member and configured, upon rotation of the actuation member, to translate; an extension member configured to couple to a flight control surface, the extension member surrounding at least a portion of the translation member and configured to be selectively coupled to, and decoupled from, the translation member; a locking member surrounding at least a portion of the extension member and rotatable between a lock position, in which the locking member couples the extension member to the translation member, and a release position, in which the locking member decouples the extension member from the translation member; a torsion spring coupled to the locking member and configured to supply a bias torque that rotationally biases the locking member toward the release position; and one or more locking member actuators configured to selectively engage and disengage the locking member, each locking member actuator, when engaging the locking member, operable to hold the locking member in the lock position against the bias torque of the torsion spring. 13. The actuator assembly of claim 12, further comprising: two or more translation member lock pin openings extending at least partially through the translation member; two or more extension member lock pin openings extending through the extension member; two or more lock pins, each lock pin disposed within one of the extension member lock pin openings and having at least a first end and a second end, each lock pin first end extending from the extension member lock pin opening and engaging the locking member, each lock pin movable between an engage position, in which each lock pin second end is disposed within one of the translation member lock pin openings, and a disengage position, in which each lock pin second end is not disposed within one of the translation member openings; and two or more lock pin bias springs, each lock pin bias spring disposed within one of the extension member lock pin openings and configured to bias the lock pin toward the disengage position, wherein the lock pins are in the engage and disengage position when the locking member is in the lock and release position, respectively. 14. The actuator assembly of claim 13, wherein: the locking member comprises an inner surface having two or more lock lands and two or more release valleys formed therein; when the locking member is in the lock position, the lock lands engage each of the lock pin first ends and move the lock pins into the engage position; and when the locking member is in the release position, the release valleys engage the lock pin first ends and allow the lock pin bias springs to move the lock pins to the disengage position. 15. The actuator assembly of claim 12, wherein: each locking member actuator comprises a solenoid adapted to be selectively energized and deenergized to thereby selectively disengage and engage the locking member, respectively.