US 12,269,582 B1
Electromechanical aircraft spoiler
Joseph Thomas Kopecek, Santa Clarita, CA (US)
Assigned to Woodward, Inc., Fort Collins, CO (US)
Filed by Woodward, Inc., Fort Collins, CO (US)
Filed on Oct. 5, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/481,738.
Int. Cl. F16H 1/28 (2006.01); B64C 13/50 (2006.01); B64F 5/60 (2017.01); B64C 9/32 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 13/50 (2013.01) [B64F 5/60 (2017.01); F16H 1/28 (2013.01); B64C 9/323 (2013.01); F16H 2001/2872 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An actuator for rotating a spoiler of an aircraft between a stowed position and a deployed position, the actuator comprising:
a frame;
an electric motor having an output;
an epicyclic gear having a sun gear, planetary gears coupled to a carrier, and a ring gear, the sun gear being operably coupled to the output of the motor, the carrier operably couplable to the spoiler such that rotation of the carrier in a first direction corresponds to transitioning the spoiler from the stowed position toward the deployed position and rotation of the carrier in an opposite second direction corresponds to transitioning the spoiler from the deployed position toward the stowed position;
a power-off brake operably coupled to the sun gear to ground the sun gear to the frame when deenergized;
a power-on brake operably coupled to the ring gear to ground the ring gear to the frame when energized; and
a unidirectional bearing connecting the ring gear to the frame, when the power-on brake is deenergized, the unidirectional bearing permits the ring gear to rotate in the second direction relative to the frame and prevents the ring gear from rotating in the first direction relative to the frame.