초록 ▼

An actuator decoupler for selectively coupling and decoupling a driving part and a driven part of an actuation system is disclosed. The driving part can be coupled to the actuator decoupler, and the actuator decoupler can be coupled to the driven part via at least one coupling pin. In a selectively

An actuator decoupler for selectively coupling and decoupling a driving part and a driven part of an actuation system is disclosed. The driving part can be coupled to the actuator decoupler, and the actuator decoupler can be coupled to the driven part via at least one coupling pin. In a selectively coupled state, the driven part can be at least one of rotationally and longitudinally fixed to the actuator decoupler and, thereby, the driving part. The actuator decoupler can be decoupled from the driven part through the use of a preloaded energy mechanism configured to disengage the at least one coupling pin from the driven part. Thereby, the actuator may be responsive to a jam in the actuation system to selectively decouple the driven part from the actuator decoupler and the driving part so that the driven part has freedom to translate at least one of rotationally and longitudinally.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An actuator decoupler for selectively coupling and decoupling a driven part with a driving part of an actuation system, the actuator decoupler comprising: a sleeve member defining a longitudinal axis and including a first portion configured to couple to the driving part, and a second portion conf

1. An actuator decoupler for selectively coupling and decoupling a driven part with a driving part of an actuation system, the actuator decoupler comprising: a sleeve member defining a longitudinal axis and including a first portion configured to couple to the driving part, and a second portion configured to couple to the driven part to receive at least one of a torque about the longitudinal axis and a force along the longitudinal axis from the driving part;a housing member rotationally and longitudinally fixed to the sleeve member;at least one coupling pin selectively engaged with the second portion of the sleeve member and the driven part when the driven part is coupled to the sleeve member such that the sleeve member and the driven part are at least one of rotationally and longitudinally fixed to one another by the at least one coupling pin;at least one preloaded energy mechanism coupled to the housing member and the at least one coupling pin; andat least one engageable locking member movably coupled to the at least one preloaded energy mechanism and, in a locking position, selectively retaining a preloaded energy of the at least one preloaded energy mechanism and maintaining the engagement of the at least one coupling pin with the sleeve member and the driven part, and, in an unlocking position, selectively releasing the preloaded energy of the at least one preloaded energy mechanism and thereby disengaging the at least one coupling pin from at least the driven part such that the driven part is free to translate at least one of rotationally and longitudinally with respect to the sleeve member and the driving part. 2. The actuator decoupler of claim 1, wherein the at least one preloaded energy mechanism is a preloaded resilient member coupled to a cam disc that is rotatably coupled about the sleeve member. 3. The actuator decoupler of claim 2, wherein the preloaded resilient member is a preloaded torsion spring, and wherein the preloaded energy of the torsion spring is a torque applied to the cam disc that biases the cam disc in a first rotational direction. 4. The actuator decoupler of claim 3, wherein when each coupling pin is selectively engaged with the sleeve member and the driven part, each coupling pin is received within an aperture of the sleeve member and an aperture of the driven part. 5. The actuator decoupler of claim 4, wherein the cam disc includes two longitudinally spaced cam disc members, and wherein the cam disc members include at least one pair of substantially aligned cam slots corresponding to each coupling pin, and wherein each pair of cam slots is movably coupled about a cam pin that is engaged to the corresponding coupling pin that is positioned between the cam disc members. 6. The actuator decoupler of claim 5, wherein each cam slot defines a profile that extends angularly and laterally about the longitudinal axis such that a first slot portion of each cam slot is laterally proximate the longitudinal axis and a second slot portion angularly spaced from the first portion and laterally distal the longitudinal axis. 7. The actuator decoupler of claim 6, wherein each cam pin is positioned within the first slot portion of a corresponding pair of cam slots when the at least one engageable locking member retains the preloaded torque of the torsion spring and maintains the engagement of the at least one coupling pin with the sleeve member and the driven part, and wherein each cam pin is positioned within the second slot portion of a corresponding pair of cam slots to disengage the at least one coupling pin from at least the driven part. 8. The actuator decoupler of claim 7, wherein each cam slot is configured such that when the at least one engageable locking member releases the preload torque of the torsion spring the cam disc rotates in a first direction about the longitudinal axis and such that the position of each cam pin moves with a corresponding pair of cam slots from the first slot portion to the second slot portion. 9. The actuator decoupler of claim 8, wherein the lateral distance between the first slot portion and the second slot portion of each cam slot is greater than the lateral distance of each pin in the aperture of the driven part when each cam pin is selectively engaged with the driven part. 10. The actuator decoupler of claim 9, wherein each cam slot is configured such that the first slot portion extends for predetermined degree of angulation about the longitudinal axis, and wherein the lateral location of the first slot portion of the each cam slot is constant to allow the cam disc to gain kinetic energy as it rotates in the first direction. 11. The actuator decoupler of claim 1, wherein the at least one engageable locking member is configured to interact with a secondary actuator that is responsive to a jam in the actuation system, and wherein the at least one engageable locking member includes a first arm configured to selectively engage the cam disc in a locking position to selectively rotationally fix the cam disc to selectively retain the preloaded torque of the torsion spring and to maintain the engagement of the at least one coupling pin with the sleeve member and the driven part. 12. The actuator decoupler of claim 11, wherein the at least one engageable locking member includes second and third longitudinally spaced arms configured to receive a portion of the secondary actuator therebetween, and wherein translation of the portion of the secondary actuator in a first longitudinal direction results in the portion interacting with the second arm and thereby repositioning the at least one engageable locking member from the locking position to the unlocking position to selectively disengage the first arm from the cam disc to release the preloaded torque of the torsion spring to disengage the at least one coupling pin from at least the driven part. 13. The actuator decoupler of claim 12, wherein when the portion of the secondary actuator is positioned between the second and third arms of the at least one engageable locking member and the at least one engageable locking member is in the locking position, the third arm is positioned on an opposing longitudinal side of the portion of the secondary actuator as compared to the second arm to prevent the at least one engageable locking member from repositioning from the locking position to the unlocking position without translation of the at least one engageable locking member. 14. The actuator decoupler of claim 1, wherein the at least one preloaded energy mechanism includes at least one preloaded cantilever member extending from the housing member and defining a free end, wherein the at least one coupling pin is provided on a portion of the at least one cantilever member adjacent the free end, and wherein the at least one cantilever member is deformed to preload the at least one cantilever member and position the at least one coupling pin within an aperture of the second portion of the sleeve member and an aperture of the driven part when each coupling pin is selectively engaged with the sleeve member and the driven part. 15. The actuator decoupler of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the sleeve member is configured to couple to the driving part to receive at least a torque from the driving part, and thereby rotate about the longitudinal axis, wherein the sleeve member and the driven part are at least rotationally fixed to one another by the at least one coupling pin when the driven part is coupled to the sleeve member, and wherein the driven part is free to translate at least rotationally with respect to the sleeve member and the driving part when the at least one coupling pin is disengaged from the driven part of the sleeve member. 16. The actuator decoupler of claim 15, wherein the sleeve member and the driven part are longitudinally fixed to one another by the at least one coupling pin when the driven part is coupled to the sleeve member, and wherein the driven part is free to translate longitudinally with respect to the sleeve member and the driving part when the at least one coupling pin is disengaged from the driven part of the sleeve member. 17. The actuator decoupler of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the sleeve member is configured to couple to the driving part to receive at least a force along the longitudinal axis from the driving part, and thereby translate along the longitudinal axis, wherein the sleeve member and the driven part are at least longitudinally fixed to one another by the at least one coupling pin when the driven part is coupled to the sleeve member, and wherein the driven part is free to translate at least longitudinally with respect to the sleeve member and the driving part when the at least one coupling pin is disengaged from the driven part of the sleeve member. 18. An actuator decoupler for selectively coupling and decoupling a driven part including an aperture with a driving part of an actuation system such that when selectively coupled the driven part is at least rotationally fixed to the driving part and when selectively decoupled the driven part is at least one of rotationally and longitudinally free with respect to the driving part, the actuator decoupler including: a sleeve member defining a longitudinal axis and an aperture and configured to receive at least a torque via the driving part and, upon receipt thereof, to rotate about the longitudinal axis;a cam disc rotationally coupled about the sleeve member and including two longitudinally spaced cam members, the cam members including at least one pair of substantially aligned cam slots defining a cam profile;at least one coupling pin carried within the aperture of the sleeve member, and a pair of cam slots of the cam disc and positioned at least partially between the cam members of the cam disc;a housing member rotationally and longitudinally fixed to the sleeve member and including at least one movable locking member for selectively rotationally locking the cam disc to the housing member and, thereby, the sleeve member; andno more than one energy mechanism coupled to the housing member and the cam disc and configured to deform and thereby produce a preload torque to the cam disc in a first direction upon rotation of the cam disc about the sleeve member in a second direction that substantially opposes the first direction,wherein the cam profile is configured such that at a second angular position of the cam disc each cam slot, and thereby each coupling pin carried therein, is spaced laterally further from the longitudinal axis as compared to a first angular position,wherein when the aperture of the sleeve member is aligned with the aperture of the driven part, the cam disc can be rotated about the sleeve member in the second direction to the first angular position and selectively locked by the at least one movable locking member to preload the torsion spring and bias the cam disc in the first direction, and to position each coupling pin at least partially within the aperture of the driven part to selectively couple the driven part with the driving part via the actuator decoupler, andwherein the at least one movable locking member is configured to be translatable by a secondary actuator to disengage from the cam disc and release the preload torque of the energy mechanism and thereby rotate the cam disc in the first direction to the second angular position to laterally translate each coupling pin away from the longitudinal axis such that each coupling pin is removed from the aperture of the driven part to selectively decouple the driven part with the driving part via the actuator decoupler. 19. The actuator decoupler of claim 18, wherein the at least one coupling pin includes at least one cam pin member, and the at least one cam pin member is carried within a pair of cam slots. 20. The actuator decoupler of claim 18, wherein the cam members include an even number of pairs of substantially aligned cam slots symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis, wherein a coupling pin is carried within each pair of cam slots and the aperture of the sleeve member, and wherein the housing member includes at least two locking members symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal axis. 21. The actuator decoupler of claim 18, wherein the cam disc includes slots about the periphery of at least one cam member, wherein the at least one locking member includes a first arm including a protrusion configured to engage a slot of the cam disc, and wherein the at least one locking member further includes second and third arms longitudinally spaced from one another and configured to receive a secondary actuator therebetween. 22. The actuator decoupler of claim 18, wherein when the driving part and the driven part are selectively decoupled, the driven part is at least rotationally and longitudinally free to translate with respect to the driving part. 23. An actuator decoupler for selectively coupling to an actuation system such that at least a first component of the actuation system is at least rotationally fixed to the actuator decoupler when the actuation system is functioning properly, and for selectively decoupling from at least the first component when a jam occurs in the actuation system such that the first component is capable of rotationally and longitudinally translating with respect to the actuator decoupler, the actuator decoupler including: a sleeve member configured to engage the first component of the actuation system such that at least one aperture of the sleeve member is aligned with at least one aperture of the first component;a housing member rotationally and longitudinally fixed to the sleeve member;at least one coupling pin configured to translate into, and out of, engagement within the at least one aperture of the sleeve member and the at least one aperture of the first component when the first component is engaged with the sleeve member to selectively couple the actuator decoupler to the first component to at least rotationally fix at least the first component of the actuation system to the actuator decoupler;a biasing member configured to bias the at least one coupling pin out of engagement within the at least one aperture of the first component when the actuator decoupler is selectively coupled to the actuation system; andan engageable locking member rotatably coupled to the housing member and, selectively preventing the biasing member from translating the at least one coupling pin out of engagement within the at least one aperture of the first component when the actuator decoupler is coupled to the actuation system and the actuation system is properly functioning, and selectively releasing the biasing member to translate the at least one coupling pin out of engagement within the at least one aperture of the first component when the actuator decoupler is coupled to the actuation system and a jam occurs in the actuation system to decouple the first component from the actuator decoupler such that at least the first component is capable of rotationally and longitudinally translating with respect to the actuator decoupler. 24. The actuator decoupler of claim 23, wherein the locking member is configured to be responsive to longitudinal movement of a secondary actuator to translate between a first orientation in which the locking member prevents the biasing member from translating the at least one coupling pin and a second orientation in which the biasing member biases the at least one coupling pin and, in response thereto, translates the at least one coupling pin, and wherein the locking member is configured such that translation of the locking member between the first orientation and the second orientation is prevented in any manner other than longitudinal translation of the secondary actuator.