US 12,330,771 B2
Differential lock actuator systems and methods for moving flight control surface
Antonin Skarolek, Brno (CZ); Tomas Ripel, Brno (CZ); and Michal Nozka, Brno (CZ)
Assigned to HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC., Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC., Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Oct. 22, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/923,114.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/594,572, filed on Oct. 31, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2025/0136270 A1, May 1, 2025
Int. Cl. F16H 63/34 (2006.01); B64C 13/34 (2006.01); F16H 57/10 (2006.01); F16H 1/28 (2006.01); F16H 3/46 (2006.01); F16H 48/10 (2012.01)
CPC B64C 13/34 (2013.01) [F16H 57/10 (2013.01); F16H 63/34 (2013.01); F16H 1/2854 (2013.01); F16H 3/46 (2013.01); F16H 48/10 (2013.01); F16H 2048/104 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A differential actuator system for controlling a flight control surface, the system comprising:
a first control lane subsystem including a first motor for rotating a first drive shaft;
a second control lane subsystem including a second motor for rotating a second drive shaft;
a differential subsystem including:
a first gear set having a first input gear driven by the first drive shaft, a first output gear configured to control the flight control surface, and a first gear train operably coupling the first input gear to the first output gear, wherein the first gear set forms a first load path from the first control lane to the flight control surface;
a second gear set having a second input gear driven by the second drive shaft, a second output gear configured to control the flight control surface, and a second gear train operably coupling the second input gear to the second output gear, wherein the second gear set forms a second load path, separate from the first load path, from the second control lane to the flight control surface;
a differential lock subsystem operably coupled to the first gear set and the second gear set, wherein the differential lock subsystem is switchable between a locked state to couple the first and second gear sets in a torque-summing mode for moving the flight control surface and an unlocked state to couple the first and second gear sets in a velocity-summing mode for moving the flight control surface; and
a controller configured to send control signals to the first and second control lane subsystems and the differential lock subassembly for operating the differential actuator system.