Electromechanical actuator assembly with mechanical override feature

Abstract

An electromechanical actuator assembly (EMA) for use with a reclinable passenger seat. The EMA includes a housing, an electric motor, and an epicyclic gearbox including first and second ring gears. In the event of power loss, the second ring gear can be decoupled from the first ring gear to permit relative rotation, for instance to manually return the reclined seat to upright, by a mechanical override mechanism including first and second spring-loaded shoot bolts coupled to the first ring gear, a displaceable plate engaging one end of the first and second spring-loaded shoot bolts, and a manual release pin coupled to the displaceable plate. In use, the manual release pin is moveable axially to a position in which the displaceable plate displaces toward the first ring gear to decouple the first and second ring gears.