US 11,987,380 B2
Control surface element skew and/or loss detection system
Glynn Thomas, Wolverhampton (GB)
Assigned to Moog Wolverhampton Limited, Wolverhampton (GB)
Appl. No. 16/973,883
Filed by Moog Wolverhampton Limited, Wolverhampton (GB)
PCT Filed May 30, 2019, PCT No. PCT/GB2019/051473
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 10, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/239103, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 19, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 1809573 (GB), filed on Jun. 11, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0261269 A1, Aug. 26, 2021
Int. Cl. B64D 45/00 (2006.01); G01L 5/10 (2020.01)
CPC B64D 45/0005 (2013.01) [G01L 5/10 (2013.01); B64D 2045/001 (2013.01)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aircraft control surface skew and/or loss detection system, comprising:
an aircraft wing structure having a fixed part and at least two control surface elements wherein the at least two control surface elements are configured to be moveable relative to the fixed part;
a cable operably connected to each of the at least two control surface elements such that a tensile force is applied to the cable upon skew and/or loss of one of the control surface elements;
a sensor assembly having a first part and a second part, wherein one of the first and second parts has a sensor and wherein the cable is coupled to the other of the first and second parts such that skew and/or loss of one of the control surface elements causes movement of the second part relative to the first part;
the sensor being configured to detect a first relative position of the first and second parts indicative of the wing structure supporting a load;
the sensor being configured to detect a second relative position of the first and second parts indicative of the wing structure being supported;
wherein the sensor includes a first sensor configured to detect when the first and second parts are within a first range of relative positions; and
wherein the sensor includes a second sensor configured to detect when the first and second parts are within a second range of relative positions.