The Boeing Company

Randall Eugene Anderson

Lior Ungar

Wilfredo Alvizures

Sergey N Skobyak

Systems and methods for actuating a control surface which is pivotably coupled to a trailing edge of an aircraft wing. The control surface actuation system has a compact footprint and high capability. The control surface actuation system includes a rotatable torque shaft that is coupled (by means of meshed surfaces) to the control surface so that rotation of the torque shaft by a deflection angle causes the control surface to pivot by an equal deflection angle. Rotation of the torque shaft is actuated by a pair of redundant mutually opposing actuation mechanisms. The redundant actuation mechanisms are situated inside of the fuselage, while the torque shaft is disposed partly inside the fuselage and partly inside the control surface.

Compact and redundant method for powering flight control surface from within fuselage

An apparatus for detecting skew in a slat of an aircraft wing includes an elongated track moveably supported in the wing for longitudinal movement toward and away from a leading edge of the wing. The slat is coupled to a forward end of the track for conjoint movement therewith. An actuator is configured to selectably drive the track and slat between retracted and extended positions relative to the leading edge of the wing. A pinion gear is rotatably mounted in the wing and disposed in rolling engagement with a rack gear disposed on the track, and a sensor is coupled to the pinion gear and configured to sense the longitudinal position of the slat as a function of a rotational position of the pinion gear.

Aircraft wing slat skew detection systems and methods

A secondary actuation mechanism for arresting movement of a control surface may include a secondary actuator, a drive link coupled to the secondary actuator, and a secondary connecting rod coupled between the drive link and the control surface, wherein the control surface is movable to a default position in response to actuation of the secondary actuator, and the secondary actuator retains the control surface at the default position.

Growing community of inventors

Stanwood, WA, United States of America

Randall Eugene Anderson