Self-centering bearing for aircraft control surfaces

A control surface assembly includes: a control surface member; a shaft attached to the control surface member; a control system connected with the shaft; and a bearing. The shaft has a longitudinal axis defining an axis of rotation for the control surface member. The control system is configured to...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author DONOVAN, NEIL J
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
French
German
Published 11.04.2001
Edition7
Subjects
AEROPLANES
AIRCRAFT
AVIATION
BLASTING
COSMONAUTICS
ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS
GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS
HEATING
HELICOPTERS
LIGHTING
MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
PERFORMING OPERATIONS
SHOCK-ABSORBERS
SPRINGS
THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
TRANSPORTING
WEAPONS
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Summary:A control surface assembly includes: a control surface member; a shaft attached to the control surface member; a control system connected with the shaft; and a bearing. The shaft has a longitudinal axis defining an axis of rotation for the control surface member. The control system is configured to induce rotation in the shaft about the axis of rotation such that the control surface member rotates between a first preselected position and a second rotated position. The bearing includes a first member (12), a second member (16) and a resilient intermediate member (14) positioned between and attached to the first (12) and second members (16). The first member (12) is attached to the shaft (26), and the second member (16) is adapted for non-releasable fixed attachment to the vehicle during operation of the vehicle. In response to rotation induced by the control system during operation, the first member (12), the shaft (26) and the control surface member (16) rotate about the axis of rotation from the preselected to the rotated position, the second member (16) remains fixed relative to the vehicle, and the intermediate member undergoes angular deflection and biases the first member (12), shaft (26) and control surface member (16) to rotate toward the preselected position, such that disabling of the control system causes the control surface member to return to the preselected position.
Bibliography:Application Number: EP20000303568