IP Library Granted Patent US 9,663,221
Granted Patent B2
US 9,663,221 · App. 14/105,763 · Granted May 30, 2017

Actuator device for flight control surface, flight control surface of aircraft, and aircraft

Inventor: Kenya Ishihara (Aichi, JP)
Assignee: MITSUBISHI AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
B64C13/36B64C9/02B64C2009/005
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,663,221
App. No.
14/105,763
Granted
May 30, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

To provide an actuator device for a flight control surface which can reduce a stress applied to the flight control surface when one of two actuators is operated. The present invention relates to a hydraulically-operated actuator device 30 which drives a flight control surface of an aircraft 1 , including a first actuator 31 A that is provided with a first piston rod 39 A, and drives an aileron body 11 ; a second actuator 31 B that is provided with a second piston rod 39 B, and drives the aileron body 11 when the function of the first actuator 31 A is lost or reduced; and a single second connection fitting 41 to which the first piston rod 39 A and the second piston rod 39 B are both connected, wherein the first actuator 31 A and the second actuator 31 B are connected to the aileron body 11 via the second connection fitting 41.

Claims (42)

1. An actuator device for a flight control surface which drives a flight control surface of an aircraft, the actuator device comprising:

a first actuator that comprises a first output section, and drives the flight control surface;

a second actuator that comprises a second output section, and drives the flight control surface instead of the first actuator; and

a connection fitting to which each of the first output section and the second output section is connected,

wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are connected to the flight control surface via the connection fitting,

a first link member, one end of which is rotatably supported on the first actuator and another end of which is rotatably connected to the connection fitting about a rotational axis of the control surface, and

a second link member, one end of which is rotatably supported on the second actuator and another end of which is rotatably connected to the connection fitting about the rotational axis of the control surface,

wherein in the first actuator, the first output section is rotatably connected to the connection fitting about an axis offset from the rotational axis of the control surface where the first link member and the second link member are rotatably connected, and

in the second actuator, the second output section is rotatably connected to the connection fitting about the axis offset from the rotational axis of the control surface,

wherein actuation of the first actuator or the second actuator causes the connection fitting to pivot about the rotational axis of the control surface.

2. The actuator device for a flight control surface according to claim 1 ,

wherein each of the first actuator and the second actuator comprises a hydraulic cylinder as a main constituent element.

3. The actuator device for a flight control surface according to claim 2 ,

wherein the hydraulic cylinder of the first actuator comprises a piston rod as the first output section, and the hydraulic cylinder of the second actuator comprises a piston rod as the second output section.

4. The actuator device for a flight control surface according to claim 2 ,

wherein each of the first link member and the second link member has a Y shape,

a distal end on a bifurcated side of each of the first link member and the second link member is rotatably supported on an end portion of the hydraulic cylinder, and a distal end on the opposite side of each of the first link member and the second link member is rotatably supported on the connection fitting.

5. The actuator device for a flight control surface according to claim 1 ,

wherein hydraulic oil is supplied to the first actuator and the second actuator from separate hydraulic systems.

6. The actuator device for a flight control surface according to claim 1 ,

wherein the flight control surface is an aileron.

7. The actuator device for a flight control surface according to claim 1 ,

wherein both of the first actuator and the second actuator are provided on the same flight control surface and are located in a longitudinal direction of the flight control surface.

8. The actuator device for a flight control surface according to claim 7 ,

wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are located near the center of the flight control surface.

9. The actuator device for a flight control surface according to claim 1 ,

wherein hinges are provided on the flight control surface so as to be located near the first actuator and the second actuator and in a longitudinal direction of the flight control surface.

10. A flight control surface of an aircraft which is driven by the actuator device according to claim 1 .

11. An aircraft comprising a flight control surface driven by the actuator device according to claim 1 .

12. The aircraft according to claim 11 ,

wherein the flight control surface is an aileron.

13. The actuator device for a flight control surface according to claim 1 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are separately hinged to the connection fitting.

14. An actuator device for a flight control surface which drives a flight control surface of an aircraft, the actuator device comprising:

a first actuator that comprises a first output section, and drives the flight control surface;

a second actuator that comprises a second output section, and drives the flight control surface instead of the first actuator; and

a connection fitting to which the first output section and the second output section are both connected,

wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are connected to the flight control surface via the connection fitting,

wherein each of the first actuator and the second actuator comprises a hydraulic cylinder as a main constituent element,

wherein the hydraulic cylinder of the first actuator comprises a piston rod as the first output section, and the hydraulic cylinder of the second actuator comprises a piston rod as the second output section, and

wherein the connection fitting has a substantially C-shaped section, and comprises supporting members,

one of the supporting members supports the another end of the first link member and one end of the piston rod as the first output section,

another of the supporting members supports the another end of the second link member and one end of the piston rod as the second output section.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded May 22, 2024
From: MSJ ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY
To: MSJ ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY
Reel/Frame 067488/0058 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded May 22, 2024
From: MSJ ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY
To: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 067488/0099 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 22, 2024
From: MITSUBISHI AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
To: MSJ ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY
Reel/Frame 067489/0244 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2014
From: ISHIHARA, KENYA
To: MITSUBISHI AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032217/0351 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2012-282530 · Dec 26, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140175216A1 · Jun 26, 2014