Apparatus and methods for actuation of flight control surfaces
An exemplary apparatus includes a common movable driving member for actuating a plurality of flight control surfaces; a first power transfer device configured to variably adjust power transfer from the common movable driving member to a first of the plurality of flight control surfaces; and a second power transfer device configured to variably adjust power transfer from the common movable driving member to a second of the plurality of flight control surfaces. The power transferred to the second flight control surface may be adjusted independently of the power transferred to the first flight control surface. Apparatus and methods for actuating flight control surfaces using magneto-rheological fluid or electro-rheological fluid are also disclosed.
1. An apparatus for differentially actuating a plurality of flight control surfaces of a fixed-wing aircraft, the apparatus comprising:
a common movable driving member for actuating the plurality of flight control surfaces;
a first power transfer device configured to variably adjust power transfer from the common movable driving member to a first of the plurality of flight control surfaces;
a second power transfer device configured to, independently of the power transferred to the first flight control surface, variably adjust power transfer from the common movable driving member to a second of the plurality of flight control surfaces;
a linear actuator configured to transfer power from the first power transfer device to the first flight control surface, the linear actuator comprising a nut engaged with a screw; and
a brake for holding the first flight control surface at a desired position, the brake being directly coupled to the nut thereby preventing movement of the screw of the actuator,
wherein at least one of the first power transfer device and the second power transfer device comprises a clutch configured for controllable slippage.
2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first power transfer device and the second power transfer device comprises one of magneto-rheological fluid and electro-rheological fluid.
3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first power transfer device deploys and retracts the first flight control surface through actuation of the movable driving member in a first direction.
4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 , wherein the second power transfer device deploys and retracts the second flight control surface through actuation of the movable driving member in the first direction.
5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein:
the clutch is a first clutch; and
the first power transfer device comprises the first clutch and a second clutch cooperating to permit deployment and retraction of the first flight control surface.
6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first clutch and the second clutch comprises one of magneto-rheological fluid and electro-rheological fluid.
7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first power transfer device adjusts an actuation speed of the first flight control surface through actuation of the movable driving member.
8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the second power transfer device adjusts an actuation speed of the second flight control surface independently of the actuation of the first flight control surface.
9. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the brake is a first brake and the desired position is a first desired position, the apparatus comprising a second brake for holding the second flight control surface at a second desired position.
10. An apparatus for actuating a flight control surface of a fixed-wing aircraft, the apparatus comprising:
a source of power for actuating the flight control surface;
a power transfer device configured to transfer power from the source of power to the flight control surface, the power transfer device comprising one of magneto-rheological fluid and electro-rheological fluid;
a linear actuator configured to transfer power from the power transfer device to the flight control surface, the linear actuator comprising a nut engaged with a screw; and
a brake for holding the flight control surface at a desired position, the brake being directly coupled to the nut thereby preventing movement of the screw of the actuator,
wherein the power transfer device comprises a clutch configured for controllable slippage.
11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 , wherein the source of power comprises a rotatable driving member.
12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 , wherein the power transfer device deploys and retracts the flight control surface through rotation of the rotatable driving member in a first direction.
13. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 , wherein:
the clutch is a first clutch; and
the power transfer device comprises the first clutch and a second clutch cooperating to permit deployment and retraction of the flight control surface.
14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the first clutch and the second clutch comprise one of magneto-rheological fluid and electro-rheological fluid.
15. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 , wherein the power transfer device adjusts an actuation speed of the flight control surface through rotation of the rotatable driving member.
16. A method for differentially actuating a plurality of flight control surfaces of a fixed-wing aircraft using a common movable driving member and linear actuators each comprising a nut engaged with a screw, the method comprising:
variably adjusting the power transferred from the common movable driving member to a first of the plurality of flight control surfaces through a first clutch configured for controllable slippage;
independently of the power transferred to the first flight control surface, variably adjusting the power transferred from the common movable driving member to a second of the plurality of flight control surfaces through a second clutch; and
holding each of first flight control surfaces at a desired position with a brake, the brake being directly coupled to the nut thereby preventing movement of the screw of the actuator.
17. An apparatus for differentially actuating a plurality of actuatable members, the apparatus comprising:
a common movable driving member for actuating the plurality of actuatable members;
a first power transfer device configured to variably adjust power transfer from the common movable driving member to a first of the plurality of actuatable members;
a second power transfer device configured to, independently of the power transferred to the first actuatable member, variably adjust power transfer from the common movable driving member to a second of the plurality of actuatable members;
a linear actuator configured to transfer power from the first power transfer device to the first actuatable member, the linear actuator comprising a nut engaged with a screw; and
a brake for holding the first actuatable member at a desired position, the brake being directly coupled to the nut thereby preventing movement of the screw of the actuator,
wherein at least one of the first power transfer device and the second power transfer device comprises a clutch configured for controllable slippage.
18. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first power transfer device and the second power transfer device comprises one of magneto-rheological fluid and electro-rheological fluid.