US 12,240,592 B2
Actuator
Ashley Bidmead, Bristol (GB); and Florian Becher, Bristol (GB)
Assigned to Airbus Operations Limited, Bristol (GB)
Filed by Airbus Operations Limited, Bristol (GB)
Filed on Mar. 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/702,407.
Claims priority of application No. 2104131 (GB), filed on Mar. 24, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0306287 A1, Sep. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. B64C 25/24 (2006.01); B64C 1/14 (2006.01); B64C 25/26 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 25/24 (2013.01) [B64C 1/1415 (2013.01); B64C 25/26 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electro-mechanical actuator, comprising:
an actuator body, said actuator body is configured to be mounted for movement over a range of motion in a first direction to an end position, the range of motion comprising a first part and a second part, the first part having a range of motion extending between the end position and the second part;
a motor coupled to the actuator body to move the actuator body in the first direction, the actuator body is connected to the motor by a drive mechanism that converts the rotation of the motor into motion of the actuator body in the first direction;
wherein the actuator further comprises one or more sensors configured to measure a speed of the motor or a speed of a part of the drive mechanism;
a controller configured to control a supply of current to drive the motor at a target speed, wherein the sensors are connected to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to vary the supply of current to the motor in dependence on a signal so received to achieve the target speed;
and wherein
the actuator is configured such that a mechanical resistance to movement of the actuator body in the first direction is higher in the first part of the range of motion than in the second part of the range of motion, the mechanical resistance is a force acting against movement of the actuator body in the first direction, said force is provided by a mechanical interaction of elements of the actuator;
wherein the increase in mechanical resistance in the first part of the range of motion gives rise to an additional torque on the motor requiring an additional current to be supplied to the motor if the speed of the motor is to be maintained, and the speed of the actuator body is proportional to the speed of the motor, so that by limiting the additional current supplied to the motor when experiencing the additional torque, the speed of the actuator body is reduced in a region of the end of the range of motion; and
the controller is configured such that any additional current supplied to the motor when the actuator body is in the first part of the range of motion is limited thereby causing the speed of the actuator body to reduce as the actuator body approaches the end position.