Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation

Borg-warner Automotive Gmbh

Darrell E Ankney

Nicholas Wlaznik

Michael C Harke

Victor Barger

Erik Harrington

Christian Miller

Timothy Michael Mayer

Adam M Finney

Yuniya S Bishop

Eugene W Dolfi

Artemio Pérez

Joel F Klein

Curtis William Fisher

Jason Michael Kluga

Adam Crandall

Stephanie Gaspers

Jerold L Blackmer

Ryan Sievert

Andrei Arevalo

Paul Gilmore

A hydraulic drag brake is provided for use with a driveline. The hydraulic drag brake includes a fluid circuit including first and second loops, a first valve disposed along the first loop to allow a flow of fluid through the first loop in a first direction and to prevent a flow of the fluid through the first loop in a second direction, a second valve disposed along the second loop and a pump coupled to the driveline and configured to pump the fluid through the fluid circuit in the first direction and across the first valve with the driveline occupying a retracted position or engaging in an extend motion and in the second direction and over the second valve with the driveline occupying an extended position.

Hydraulic drag brake

A control system performs a method of controlling a wing of an airplane. The control system includes an optical fiber, a bending device and a processor. The optical fiber is configured to receive light having an input optical phase. The bending device applies an external force on the optical fiber. The external force causes the light exiting the optical fiber to have an output optical phase. a processor determines a phase shift between the input optical phase and the output optical phase and controls the wing based on the phase shift.

Fiber optic slat flap system and control lever

An apparatus and a method of determining a state of an actuator in an airplane. The apparatus includes a mirror coupled to the actuator, wherein a location of the mirror is dependent on the state of the actuator, a shaft for moving the mirror upon a change in the state of the actuator, and a processor. Incident light is reflected off of the mirror to create a reflected light. The processor receives the reflected light from the mirror, detects a change in a parameter of the reflected light generated by moving of the mirror, and determines the state of the actuator based on the change in the parameter.

Fiber optic actuator overload trip sensor

Aerostructure actuator systems include first and second shaft portions having respective first and second mandrels and a clutch assembly arranged within the first mandrel and connecting the shaft portions. The clutch assembly includes a post with a post extension fixedly connected to the second mandrel. A first bearing is installed on the post extension to frictionally engage with a portion of the post. A second bearing is installed on the post. A spacer is arranged between the bearings and is fixedly attach to the first mandrel. A load setting nut is configured to engage with the post extension and apply a compressive force to the bearings and spacer against the post. The compressive force defines a coupling limit between the shaft portions. The clutch assembly is configured to rotationally decouple the shaft portions from each other if a relative rotational speed between the shaft portions exceeds the coupling limit.

Aerostructure actuation system

Disclosed is an actuator level detection system of an aircraft. The system includes an actuator containing fluid that defines a resistivity and including a first contact point and a second contact point. The system includes a first contactor disposed about the actuator cooperating with the first contact point to define a first contact resistance that includes the resistivity. The system includes sensor circuitry includes a conductive path defining a conductive path resistance, between the first contact point and the second contact point. The sensor circuitry has a total resistance that includes the first contact resistance and the conductive path resistance.

Aircraft actuator fluid level detection

An electronic controller is provided and includes a printed wiring board (PWB) on which electronics are operably disposed, a power supply configured to supply power to the electronics, a heat sink and one or more thermal conductors anchored to the PWB to assume and move between first and second connection states in first and second thermal conditions, respectively. The first connection states are characterized in that the one or more thermal conductors are thermally attached to the PWB and the power supply and thermally disconnected from the heat sink. The second connection states are characterized in that the one or more thermal conductors are thermally attached to the PWB and the power supply and to the heat sink.

Thermal active heat sink

A proportional braking system is provided for use with a movable surface which is movable relative to a housing. The proportional braking system includes a variable displacement brake which is configured for displacement toward or away from braking engagement with the movable surface in proportion to an input command and a brake driver which is receptive of data reflective of movements of the movable surface relative to the housing and which issues the input command to the variable displacement brake in accordance with the data.

Proportional control brake

A control surface disconnect detection system includes a mechanical disconnect detection device that includes: a first contact element; a second contact element; and a mechanical fuse that includes a conduction path. In a normal operational state the conduction path creates an electrical pathway between the first contact element and second contact element and when in a control surface disconnected state the conduction path does not create an electrical pathway between the first contact element and the second contact element. The system also includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag connected to the first contact element and the second contact element such that when the mechanical disconnect detection device is in the normal operation state the RFID tag does not transmit information, and when the mechanical disconnect detection device is in the control surface disconnected state the RFID tag does transmit information.

RFID control surface disconnect detection system

A method for braking a motor in a high lift system of an aircraft, the high lift system comprising a central power drive unit for moving high lift surfaces arranged at a wing through providing rotational power by means of a transmission shaft to a plurality of drive stations operably coupled with the high lift surfaces; which power drive unit is operatively coupled to a controller and comprises at least one electric motor coupled therewith. The method includes determining a braking requirement for the at least one electric motor, measuring at least one of a current command to the motor and a current speed and direction of the at least one electric motor, based on the braking requirement, applying a braking command to the at least one electric motor, and reducing the braking command as the at least one electric motor comes to rest.

Flight control system regenerative braking

An over torque detection system includes a mechanical torque sensor and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The mechanical torque sensor includes first and second contact elements and a moveable element coupled to the first contact element. In a normal operational state the moveable element is in contact with the second contact element and creates an electrical pathway between the first and second contact elements and when in over torque operational state the movable element moves such that it does not contact the second contact element. The RFID tag is connected to the first contact element and the second contact element such that when the mechanical torque sensor is in the normal operation state the RFID tag does not transmit information, and when the mechanical torque sensor is in the over torque operation state the RFID tag does transmit information.

RFID actuator over-torque indicator

A proportional brake is provided and includes first and second bodies, a spring element, a coil and a booster coil. The first body includes brake plates and the second body includes thrust plates. The second body is disposed such that the thrust plates are interleaved with the brake plates and is rotatable and movable with respect to the first body. The spring element urges the second body to move toward the first body such that the thrust plates are urged toward braking engagements with the brake plates. The coil is provided at a first side of the brake plates and, when energized, generates a first flux moment on the second body in opposition to the spring element. The booster coil is provided at a second side of the brake plates and, when energized, generates a second flux moment on the second body in support of the spring element.

A torque tube sensor to measure torque on a torque tube or shaft includes: a sensor body including at least a first body section and a second body section; one or more strain gauges including a first strain gauge disposed in the first body section; at least one transmitter; and strain gauge circuitry connected to the first strain gauge and at least three other resistive elements in a Wheatstone bridge configuration including two arms, the transmitter being connected between the two arms. The sensor also includes at least one receiver configured to receive signals generated by the at least one transmitter; and an armature carried by the first body section that interacts with a permanent magnet stator, the armature being in electrical contact with the strain gauge circuitry and providing power to the strain gauge circuitry and the receiver. The sensor can be part of an assembly.

Torque tube strain gauge with power generator

A system for positional monitoring of a slat flap lever control assembly including multiple radio frequency identification device (RFID) tags operatively coupled to a movable portion of the control assembly, the movable portion operatively coupled to a lever. Also included is a RFID reader operatively coupled to a stationary portion of the control assembly and in operative communication with the RFID tags. Further included is a processor operatively connected to the RFID reader. The processor is configured to transmit a carrier signal via the RFID reader to the RFID tags. The processor is also configured to receive, via the RFID reader, reflected signals from the RFID tags, each of the reflected signals comprising a different carrier frequency. The processor is further configured to determine, based on the reflected signal from the RFID tags, an angular position of the movable portion of the lever assembly relative to the stationary portion.

Position detection system for a slat flap lever control

A retainer assembly is adapted to secure a removable electronic unit within an avionics equipment mounting tray. The retainer assembly includes a latch having a base portion and a handle portion. The base portion is pivotally coupled to one of the removable electronic unit and the avionics equipment mounting tray. The handle portion projects outward from the base portion. The base portion includes a cam surface adapted to releasably contact the other of the removable electronic unit and the avionics equipment mounting tray.

Avionics cam retainer assembly

A magnetic latching solenoid assembly comprises a bobbin having a central aperture formed therethrough along a central axis and having a solenoid coil wrapped therearound, and a metal polepiece secured at least partially within the bobbin. An at least partially metal armature is slidably movable within the central aperture. The polepiece includes a depression formed therein with a first flat formed at the bottom of the depression. The depression has a first wall formed at a first angle with respect to the central axis. The armature has a protruding portion for cooperation with the depression, the protruding portion having a second flat formed thereon for metal-to-metal engagement with the first flat, and having a second wall formed at a second angle greater than the first angle so that the first and second walls do not contact each other when the first and second flats are in contact.

Growing community of inventors

Dixon, IL, United States of America

Darrell E Ankney