A driving apparatus according to an embodiment includes an arm, an operation target, and a brake unit. The arm has one end supported by a support mechanism, and includes an electric driving source. The operation target is attached to the other end of the arm, the other end being an end on the opposite side of the one end, and is enabled to be pivoted by the driving source about one rotational axis intersecting with a direction from the one end to the other end. The brake unit secures immobility of a target gear that is a gear disposed in the arm, and that is a gear being rotated as the operation target is pivoted, when the power supply to the driving source stops.

An actuator includes a screw mounted on a body to pivot, a nut connected to an element for moving, and that is engaged on the screw to be moved between an over-retracted first position and a deployed second position on either side of a retracted third position that is spaced apart from the over-retracted position by a distance corresponding to the screw rotating through a first angular sector and an anti-extension device comprising a friction disk having at least one smooth surface and an obstacle both for co-operating with at least one pawl, thereby defining both at least one second angular sector of free rotation for the friction disk and also a position for blocking the friction disk.

A lifter device includes: a pinion gear; a rotation control device including: a rotation shaft rotating in synchronization with the pinion gear; a support member supporting the rotation shaft; a rotation drive mechanism configured to rotate the rotation shaft; and a lock mechanism configured to lock rotation of the rotation shaft when an operation handle is in an operation-released state and including: a first tooth; and a second tooth configured to selectively mesh with the first tooth to lock relative rotation of the rotation shaft and the support member; and a speed increasing mechanism provided closer to the rotation shaft than a meshing portion of the first tooth and the second tooth in a rotation transmission path, configured to transmit the rotation of the rotation shaft to one of the first tooth and the second tooth, and configured to speed up the transmitted rotation of the rotation shaft.

A system includes an electrically-actuated clutch arranged to selectively connect a shaft to a motor shaft. Ratchets brake the shaft against rotation in either direction when the output is not within either of the predetermined ranges. Thus, when the motor shaft is connected, via the clutch, to the shaft, the ratchets may act as a brake on the motor shaft.

A system and method for preventing back-drive in a braking system for a rotary actuator. The braking system comprises a housing and split cam design. A driving cam located within the housing is associated with an upstream side of the braking system. The driving cam is configured to rotate when a torque is applied to the upstream side. The braking system has a wedging cam and a plurality of cylindrical rollers. The wedging cam located within the housing and is associated with a downstream side of the braking system. The wedging cam is configured to react and prevent back-drive motion when torque is applied to the downstream side. The plurality of cylindrical rollers is positioned between the wedging cam and the housing. The plurality of cylindrical rollers is configured to wedge between a surface of the wedging cam and the housing when the torque is applied to the downstream side.

A system and method of measuring torque generated by a drive train like that used in a rotating equipment drive. A drive motor is mounted to a rotatable brake assembly which, in turn, is coupled to a gear drive which, in turn, transmits rotational power. The brake assembly is coupled to a fixed cover of the gear drive by a gearbox torque sensor that prevents rotation between the brake assembly and the housing. The sensor can be a load cell or its equivalent. A control module may be configured to adjust operation of the rotating equipment drive in response to the torque signal. All input torque from the drive motor to the gearbox is measured when the brake is disengaged through the load cell. All input torque at the gearbox output shaft, through back-driving, is measured when the brake is engaged through the load cell.

Methods and systems according to one or more examples are provided for reducing chatter in a no-back brake during aiding load operations. In one example, an apparatus comprises a no-back brake, disposed within an actuator coupled to an aircraft, including a shaft, and a ball ramp plate, coupled to the shaft, to receive a force comprising an air loading force and is displaced responsive to the force. The apparatus further comprises a brake, coupled to the shaft and coupled to the ball ramp plate, and displaced by the ball ramp plate corresponding to a distance the ball ramp plate is displaced. The apparatus further comprises a modulating spring, coupled to the shaft and coupled to the brake, configured to compress in response to the brake being displaced, and the modulating spring is configured to apply a selective compressive force at the brake corresponding to a distance the brake is displaced.

The present invention is directed to a self-locking non-backdrivable gear system. The gear system may comprise a primary motor input and self-lubricating gear box. The primary motor input is for rotation of the gearbox about the axis of a drive shaft. The gearbox may comprise an input ring gear, one or more planet locking gears, fixed spur gear, and output spur gear. In operation, rotation of the primary motor input causes rotation of the ring gear which causes rotation of the planet locking gear which causes rotation of the output spur gear which causes rotation of the drive shaft. However, in the absence of rotation of the ring gear, a rotational force applied to the output spur gear causes the gear teeth on the fixed and output spur gears to lock the planet gear in place.

A lifter device includes: an output shaft; a support member supporting the output shaft; an input member coupled to an operation handle; a feed portion transmitting forward and reverse rotation of the input member to the output shaft; a lock portion locking the rotation of the output shaft; and a friction generating portion applying a frictional force to the rotation of the output shaft. A rotating cam of the friction generating portion is a switching structure of switching to: a friction-suppression state when the operation handle is in a neutral position and when the operation handle is turned from the neutral position in a direction of raising the seat; and a friction-on state when the operation handle is turned from the neutral position in a direction of lowering the seat.

Methods and systems are provided for an actuation system for a parking mechanism in a transmission system of a vehicle. In one example, a system may include an actuator coupled to a lever arm via one or more parallel axis gears, and a shaft connecting the lever arm to a pawl of the parking mechanism, the lever arm non-back drivable at each of a first state and a second state of the actuation system.