The Boeing Company

Boeing North American, Inc.

David E Blanding

Jeffrey Charles Coffman

James L Peck, Jr

Jimmy Manansala Quiambao

Neal Van Huynh

James Joseph Sheahan, Jr

Charles Eugene Morris

Arun Muley

Michael F Stoia

Julie Fatemeh Asfia

Jim L Peck

Suzanna Wijaya

Jimmy L Schmidt

James L Sheahan, Jr

Atsuo J Watanabe

Chalres E Morris

Niharika Singh

Doug Van Affelen

Samuel Kim

Jarrett R Datcher

Jarett R Datcher

A method for monitoring remaining useful life (RUL) of an actuation system in a vehicle that includes receiving position data of the actuation system from a position sensor, maintaining a total distance traveled for the actuation system, and calculating the RUL of the actuation system. The calculating includes estimating force data using an output variable estimator, determining motor torque, weighing the estimated force data using a confidence level, predicting a total life of the actuation system based on the weighted force data, and comparing the predicted total life with the total distance traveled to determine the remaining useful life.

System and method for monitoring the remaining useful life of a ball screw in actuation system

A cooling system for removing heat generated by electrical components onboard aerospace vehicles flows coolant between an evaporator that removes heat from the component, and a condenser within the skin of the vehicle. The skin is formed from facesheets comprising multiple layers of polymer resin reinforced with meshes of single and double wall nanotubes. The nanotubes conduct the heat directionally so as to both distribute the heat over the skin and direct the heat to the outer surface of the skin where the heat can be carried away by air flowing over the skin. The skin may also include conductive carbon foam surrounding the condenser to reduce thermal resistance between the condenser and the facesheets.

Cooling system for aerospace vehicle components

In general, certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electro-hydrostatic actuator comprising a piston assembly and a hydraulic cylinder. The piston assembly, having a piston head and a piston rod extending from the piston head, is located and movable within the hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder includes a hydraulic fluid chamber region including a piston side chamber and a rod side chamber, a reservoir for storing hydraulic fluid located within the hydraulic cylinder which is in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid chamber region. The electro-hydrostatic actuator includes a hydraulic pump system for moving hydraulic fluid in the reservoir and the hydraulic fluid chamber region, the hydraulic pump system in fluid communication with a flow control network in a hydraulic cylinder boss for controlling a direction and flow magnitude of hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic fluid chamber region, and an electric motor for driving the hydraulic pump system.

Low profile electro-hydrostatic actuator

A dual-independent hybrid actuator system includes an actuator body defining a hydraulic chamber. The actuator system includes a hydraulic piston assembly, including a hydraulic piston disposed within the hydraulic chamber and dividing the hydraulic chamber into a first hydraulic sub-chamber in fluid communication with a first hydraulic fluid passage and a second hydraulic sub-chamber in fluid communication with a second hydraulic fluid passage. The actuator system further includes a piston rod mounted to the hydraulic piston that passes through the second hydraulic sub-chamber with a distal end that projects outward from the actuator body. The actuator system further includes an electric motor mounted to the actuator body, and a threaded axle mechanically coupled to a motor shaft of the electric motor. The threaded axle passes through the first hydraulic sub-chamber and engages with a threaded port formed in the hydraulic piston assembly.

Dual-independent hybrid actuator system

Systems for compensating for force fighting in multi-actuator systems are provided. A drive controller unit comprises a first feedforward controller in communication with a first actuator and configured to receive a drive command signal. A first feedback regulator is configured to output a first feedback input into the first feedforward controller, and to receive as input a first actuator position and a first actuator force. The drive controller unit further comprises a second feedforward controller in communication with a second actuator and configured to receive the drive command signal. A second feedback regulator is configured to output a second feedback input into the second feedforward controller, and to receive as input a second actuator position and a second actuator force. The drive controller unit utilizes both feedforward controllers and both feedback regulators to minimize force fighting while driving a common aileron.

Adaptive feedback control of force fighting in hybrid actuation systems

Disclosed embodiments include a structurally integrated thermal management system that uses the structure of an aerospace vehicle as part of the heat dissipation system. In this system, structural elements of the aerospace vehicle function as a thermal bus, and are thermally connected with heat-generating electrical components, so that heat from those components is directed away from the component by the structure of the vehicle itself, into lower temperature surfaces of the vehicle.

Structurally integrated thermal management system for aerospace vehicles

Provided are mechanisms and processes for a pneumatic shaft positioning system. According to various examples, the pneumatic shaft positioning system includes a pyrotechnic valve that is configured to control the flow of gas from a pressurized gas source into a pressure chamber. The pressure chamber includes a first piston that is slidably coupled to the pressure chamber. When gas from the pressurized gas source fills the pressure chamber, the piston is configured to slide through the pressure chamber and force a shaft into a predetermined position.

Pneumatic positioning system

Provided is a shaft positioning system for an electromechanical actuator. According to various examples, the positioning system includes a shaft coupled to an electromechanical actuator. The shaft moves along a linear axis and the electromechanical actuator is free to translate during normal operation. An electromagnetic coil positioned around at least a portion of the shaft. The electromagnetic coil produces a magnetic field when electrical current is applied. A metal housing surrounds at least a portion of the electromagnetic coil. The shaft is placed in a predetermined position when the metal housing is in contact with a first magnet and translational motion of the electromechanical actuator is restricted when the shaft is placed in the predetermined position.

Positioning system for an electromechanical actuator

An electromechanical actuator incorporates a drive housing connected to a motor for rotational motion. A screw is employed with an actuating nut having protruding engagement bosses and a drive coupling is concentrically received within the drive housing having segments equal to the number of engagement bosses. Each segment has a cavity to receive a respective one of the engagement bosses and the segments are cooperatively positionable from an active position radially compressed to engage the bosses within the cavities to a released position radially expanded to disengage the bosses from the cavities.

Fault tolerant electro-mechanical acutator

A de-icing system and method. An electromechanical actuator heat sink is operable to receive heat from an electromechanical actuator, and a heat distribution element is operable to distribute heat to a surface. A heat transportation device is operable to transport heat from the electromechanical actuator heat sink to the heat distribution element.

Electromechanical actuator (EMA) heat sink integrated de-icing system

Fault tolerant electro-mechanical actuator

A method for forming an electromechanical actuator that involves using at least one motor module engageable with an output ram for controllably translating the output ram along a linear axis of the output ram. A torque sensing adaptive control (TSAC) system is used for monitoring motor module torque within the motor module and generating a disengagement command signal. The disengagement command signal is used to initiate disengagement of the motor module from the output ram when the torque within the motor module is outside an allowable motor module torque range.

Fault-tolerant electromechanical actuator having a torque sensing control system

An electromechanical actuator (EMA) is provided. The EMA includes a threaded output ram connectable to a mechanical component and at least one motor module engageable with the output ram for controllably translating the output ram along a linear axis of the output ram. The actuator further includes a torque sensing adaptive control (TSAC) system for monitoring torque within the motor module. The TSAC generates a disengagement command signal when the TSAC system determines torque within the motor module is outside an allowable motor module torque range. The disengagement command signal initiates disengagement of the motor module from the output ram.

An electrical actuator comprises two or more electrical motors to drive a threaded screw ram. Each motor has an armature that drives a threaded roller screw that is engaged to the threaded screw ram. Each armature of each motor is independently engageable and/or dis-engageable with the ram. The motor armatures are engageable and disengageable by way of threaded roller screws, the ends of which are tapered to enable them to be lifted away from or lowered into engagement with the threaded ram.

Growing community of inventors

Hawthorne, CA, United States of America

David E Blanding