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In accordance with one embodiment of the present application, an actuation system is configured for actuation of an airfoil member with a flap mechanism. The actuation system can include an upper drive tape and a lower drive tape, each partially wrapped around a first bearing and second bearing. An

In accordance with one embodiment of the present application, an actuation system is configured for actuation of an airfoil member with a flap mechanism. The actuation system can include an upper drive tape and a lower drive tape, each partially wrapped around a first bearing and second bearing. An inboard frame can be actuated by at least one linear actuator. Similarly, an outboard frame can be actuated by at least one linear actuator. The inboard frame is coupled to the upper drive tape, while the outboard frame is coupled to the lower drive tape. An actuation of the inboard frame and outboard frame in a reciprocal manner acts move a flap input lever reciprocally upward and downward. A flap mechanism is configured to convert the movement of the flap input lever into rotational movements of the airfoil member.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An actuation system configured for actuating a moveable airfoil surface on a rotor blade, the actuation system comprising: a first bearing and a second bearing;an upper drive tape and a lower drive tape each coupled to the second bearing, the upper drive tape being elastically deformable and at l

1. An actuation system configured for actuating a moveable airfoil surface on a rotor blade, the actuation system comprising: a first bearing and a second bearing;an upper drive tape and a lower drive tape each coupled to the second bearing, the upper drive tape being elastically deformable and at least partially in contact with the first bearing and the second bearing, the lower drive tape being elastically deformable and at least partially in contact with the first bearing and the second bearing;a first linear actuator and a second linear actuator;an inboard frame operably associated with the first linear actuator, the inboard frame being coupled to the upper drive tape;an outboard frame operably associated with the second linear actuator, the outboard frame being coupled to the lower drive tape; andan input lever coupled to the upper drive tape and the lower drive tape;wherein a reciprocal translation of the inboard frame and the outboard frame results in a movement of the input lever. 2. The actuation system according to claim 1, further comprising: a coupler configured to couple the input lever to the upper drive tape and the lower drive tape. 3. The actuation system according to claim 1, wherein the first linear actuator is an electric actuator having a stator and a forcer, the stator being fixed relative to the rotor blade while the forcer is fixed relative to the inboard frame. 4. The actuation system according to claim 3, further comprising: a heat pipe configured for removing heat from the stator. 5. The actuation system according to claim 1, wherein the first bearing and the second bearing are cylindrically shaped bearings. 6. The actuation system according to claim 1, wherein the upper drive tape is a flexible metal tape. 7. The actuation system according to claim 1, wherein the input lever is configured to provide a rotational input to the moveable airfoil surface. 8. The actuation system according to claim 1, wherein the moveable airfoil surface is a trailing edge flap. 9. The actuation system according to claim 1, further comprising: a linear bearing located between the linear actuator and the inboard frame, the linear bearing allowing relative movement between the inboard frame and a fixed portion of the linear bearing. 10. The actuation system according to claim 1, further comprising: a control system for commanding the first linear actuator and second linear actuator to translate the inboard frame and the outboard frame in opposite reciprocating directions. 11. The actuation system according to claim 1, further comprising: a third linear actuator operably associated with the inboard frame; anda fourth linear actuator operably associated with the outboard frame. 12. A rotor blade for a rotorcraft, the rotor blade having an actuation system configured for actuating a moveable airfoil surface on the rotor blade, the actuation system comprising: a first bearing and a second bearing;an upper drive tape and a lower drive tape each coupled to the second bearing, the upper drive tape being elastically deformable and at least partially wrapped around an upper surface of the first bearing and the second bearing, the lower drive tape being elastically deformable and at least partially wrapped around a lower surface of the first bearing and the second bearing;a first linear actuator and a second linear actuator;an inboard frame operably driven by the first linear actuator, the inboard frame being coupled to the upper drive tape;an outboard frame operably driven by the second linear actuator, the outboard frame being coupled to the lower drive tape; andan input lever coupled to the upper drive tape and the lower drive tape;wherein a reciprocal translation of the inboard frame and the outboard frame results in a movement of the input lever. 13. The rotor blade according to claim 12, further comprising: a coupler member configured for coupling the upper drive tape and the lower drive tape to the input lever. 14. The rotor blade according to claim 13, wherein the coupler member is adjacent the first bearing. 15. The rotor blade according to claim 13, wherein the coupler member has a radial portion for which the upper drive tape and the lower drive tape at least partially wrap around. 16. A method of actuating a moveable airfoil surface on a rotor blade, the method comprising: providing a frame member coupled to a drive tape, the drive tape being operably associated with a first bearing and a second bearing, the drive tape being elastically deformable and at least partially wrapped around a first arcuate surface of the first bearing and a second arcuate surface of the second bearing;providing an input lever coupled to the drive tape;reciprocally actuating the frame member in a chordwise direction with a linear actuator so that the drive tape also translates in the chordwise direction, which thereby actuates the input lever in an upward and a downward direction. 17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: using a control system to selectively dictate a frequency and a displacement of the actuating of the frame member with the linear actuator. 18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: actuating a second frame member associated with a second linear actuator and a second drive tape, the second frame member being actuated in an opposite direction from the frame member.