US 11,987,344 B2
Rudder system architecture for electrical actuators
Marcelo Galvão, São José dos Campos-SP (BR); Daniel Paulo de Tarso Ferreira, São José dos Campos-SP (BR); and Marcos Vinicius Campos, São José dos Campos-SP (BR)
Assigned to Embraer S.A., São José dos Campos-SP (BR)
Filed by EMBRAER S.A., São José dos Campos-SP (BR)
Filed on Jul. 13, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/927,692.
Prior Publication US 2022/0009616 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. B64C 13/50 (2006.01); B64C 13/04 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 13/503 (2013.01) [B64C 13/04 (2013.01); B64C 13/505 (2018.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dual channel rudder system architecture comprising:
first and second electronic controllers configured to provide rudder control with plural channel redundancy to first and second corresponding independently-controllable electromechanical actuators for rudder control, the first and second electronic controllers respectively interfacing signals to the first and second electromechanical actuators with independent control signals;
cross-channel intercommunication connections between the first and second electronic controllers, the cross-channel intercommunication connections including a redundant data communication bus and/or usage of discrete communications configured to coordinate dynamic operation of system discrete communications introducing a dissimilar method for a channel in control dynamic coordination; and
a distribution of aircraft and cockpit sensors through the first and second electronic controllers to meet minimum required safety standards in case of loss of input data;
the first and second electromechanical actuators each independently driving a common rudder control surface arranged in independent and redundant load paths,
at least the first electromechanical actuator connected to selectively alternately operate in a drive mode and a damping mode, in the drive mode the first electromechanical actuator being supplied with electrical current to drive the rudder to a position the first electronic controller specifies, in the damping mode the first electromechanical actuator providing back electromotive force (EMF) to dampen movement of the common rudder control surface imparted by wind gusts, thereby making an additional wind gust locking or damping device external to the first and second actuators unnecessary.