US 12,377,974 B2
Pylon tracking systems for tiltrotor aircraft
Jacob Eugene Augustyn, Grapevine, TX (US); Evan Butler Bennett, Greenfield, WI (US); Charles Eric Covington, Colleyville, TX (US); and Thomas Earl Johnson, Jr., Dallas, TX (US)
Assigned to Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed by Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed on Dec. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/541,906.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/138,741, filed on Jan. 18, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0267025 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
Int. Cl. B64D 45/00 (2006.01); B64C 13/38 (2006.01); B64C 29/00 (2006.01); B64D 27/40 (2024.01)
CPC B64D 45/0005 (2013.01) [B64C 13/38 (2013.01); B64C 29/00 (2013.01); B64C 29/0033 (2013.01); B64D 27/40 (2024.01); B64D 45/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pylon tracking system for a tiltrotor aircraft including first and second pylons each having a pylon conversion actuator with a telescoping ball screw including a nut and a screw, a primary drive system and a backup drive system, the pylon tracking system comprising:
a plurality of rotary position sensors including a first rotary position sensor coupled to the primary drive system of the first pylon, a second rotary position sensor coupled to the backup drive system of the first pylon, a third rotary position sensor coupled to the primary drive system of the second pylon and a fourth rotary position sensor coupled to the backup drive system of the second pylon; and
a flight control computer in communication with the plurality of rotary position sensors and configured to process feedback therefrom to identify a differential pylon angle between the first and second pylons during pylon conversion operations;
wherein, for each pylon, the primary drive system is coupled to one of the nut or the screw of the telescoping ball screw and the backup drive system is coupled to the other of the nut or the screw of the telescoping ball screw.