US 12,459,635 B2
Aircraft control surface deployment system with cam body and actuator movable in first direction and second direction
Denys Custance, Bristol (GB); and Marc Lopezboix, Bristol (GB)
Assigned to Airbus Operations Limited, Bristol (GB)
Filed by Airbus Operations Limited, Bristol (GB)
Filed on Nov. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/514,075.
Claims priority of application No. 2217698 (GB), filed on Nov. 25, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0174350 A1, May 30, 2024
Int. Cl. B64C 13/32 (2006.01); B64C 9/32 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 13/32 (2013.01) [B64C 9/323 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aircraft control surface deployment system comprising:
a cam body for raising an aircraft control surface;
an actuator for moving the cam body, the actuator being moveable in a first direction, for raising the aircraft control surface, and in a second direction, for lowering the aircraft control surface, the second direction being opposite to the first direction, the actuator being positioned adjacent to the cam body such that the actuator is offset from the cam body in a direction transverse to the first direction; and
a coupling mechanism comprising:
a first portion connected to the cam body; and
a second portion connected to the actuator;
wherein the coupling mechanism comprises first and second contact points, at which the first portion and the second portion meet;
wherein the cam body, the actuator, and the coupling mechanism are arranged such that:
the coupling mechanism permits relative movement between the first portion and the second portion, in a direction that is transverse to the first direction;
when the actuator moves in the first direction, a force transmitted via the first contact point of the coupling mechanism causes the cam body to move in a direction along, and parallel to, the first direction, such that the cam body causes the aircraft control surface to rise;
when the actuator moves in the second direction, a force transmitted via the second contact point of the coupling mechanism causes the cam body to move in a direction along, and parallel to, the second direction, such that the cam body causes the aircraft control surface to lower; and
wherein non-parallel movement of the actuator and the cam body, when the actuator moves in the first direction or the second direction, is accommodated by the relative movement between the first portion and the second portion that is permitted by the coupling mechanism.