A screw actuator having a screw shaft and a nut arrangement is described herein, the nut arrangement comprising: a primary nut; a first secondary nut having a first thread; a second secondary nut having a second thread; and a first attachment means. The first nut, first secondary nut, and second secondary nut are connected to the first attachment means with a first, initial, axial spacing between the first and second secondary nuts. The first secondary nut is mounted to the first attachment means via bearings that allow the first secondary nut to rotate relative to the first attachment. The first secondary nut is connected to the second secondary nut via a screw thread connection having a pitch lower than a pitch of a screw thread of the screw actuator shaft.

A motor vehicle (100) has four centreless wheels (10) drivable for use on the ground and four propellers (16) rotatable within the open centres of the wheels (10) for use in the air. The wheel-propeller assemblies (10, 16) are carried on mounting units (14) secured to a frame (12). The mounting units (14) are rotatable on the frame (12) and the wheel-propeller assemblies (10, 16) are rotatable on their respective mounting units (14), in each case by means of servomotors, to convert the vehicle (1009) from its ground mode shown in FIG. 1 to its air mode as shown in FIG. 2, and also to turn the wheel-propeller assemblies (10, 16) so as to steer the vehicle (100) when on the ground and to tilt the wheel-propeller assemblies (10, 16) so as to direct the vehicle (100) when in the air.

A motor vehicle (100) has four centreless wheels (10) drivable for use on the ground and four propellers (16) rotatable within the open centres of the wheels (10) for use in the air. The wheel-propeller assemblies (10, 16) are carried on mounting units (14) secured to a frame (12). The mounting units (14) are rotatable on the frame (12) and the wheel-propeller assemblies (10, 16) are rotatable on their respective mounting units (14), in each case by means of servomotors, to convert the vehicle (1009) from its ground mode shown in FIG. 1 to its air mode as shown in FIG. 2, and also to turn the wheel-propeller assemblies (10, 16) so as to steer the vehicle (100) when on the ground and to tilt the wheel-propeller assemblies (10, 16) so as to direct the vehicle (100) when in the air.

An actuation system for an aircraft can include an actuator and a plurality of clutches connected to and structured to be moved by the actuator. The actuation system can include a plurality of control levers connected to the plurality of clutches and structured to be moved by the plurality of clutches when the plurality of clutches are moved by the actuator. The actuation system can include a processor connected to the actuator and to the plurality of clutches. The processor can identify one or more clutches connected to one or more control levers of the plurality of control levers for controlling an operation of the aircraft, and cause the one or more clutches connected to the one or more control levers to be in an engaged stat. The processor can activate the actuator to cause movement of the one or more control levers via the one or more clutches.

An actuation system for an aircraft can include an actuator and a plurality of clutches connected to and structured to be moved by the actuator. The actuation system can include a plurality of control levers connected to the plurality of clutches and structured to be moved by the plurality of clutches when the plurality of clutches are moved by the actuator. The actuation system can include a processor connected to the actuator and to the plurality of clutches. The processor can identify one or more clutches connected to one or more control levers of the plurality of control levers for controlling an operation of the aircraft, and cause the one or more clutches connected to the one or more control levers to be in an engaged stat. The processor can activate the actuator to cause movement of the one or more control levers via the one or more clutches.

A wing for an aircraft is disclosed including a main wing, a leading edge high lift assembly having a leading edge high lift body, and a connection assembly movably connecting the leading edge high lift body to the main wing, wherein the connection assembly includes a drive system that is mounted to the main wing and connected to the leading edge high lift body for driving the leading edge high lift body between the retracted position and the extended position. The drive system includes a first drive unit and a second drive unit, the first drive unit has a first input section coupled to a drive shaft, a first gear unit and a first output section coupled to a first connection element and including a first output wheel. The second drive unit has a second input section coupled to the drive shaft, a second gear unit, and a second output section coupled to a second connection element and including a second output wheel.

A wing for an aircraft is disclosed including a main wing, a leading edge high lift assembly having a leading edge high lift body, and a connection assembly movably connecting the leading edge high lift body to the main wing, wherein the connection assembly includes a drive system that is mounted to the main wing and connected to the leading edge high lift body for driving the leading edge high lift body between the retracted position and the extended position. The drive system includes a first drive unit and a second drive unit, the first drive unit has a first input section coupled to a drive shaft, a first gear unit and a first output section coupled to a first connection element and including a first output wheel. The second drive unit has a second input section coupled to the drive shaft, a second gear unit, and a second output section coupled to a second connection element and including a second output wheel.

Ball screw rotary actuator with ball cage. In one embodiment, a ball screw rotary actuator includes an outer cylinder, a piston, and inner shaft. Outer ball bearings travel in helical groove between the outer cylinder and position to rotate the piston as it translates due to fluid pressure. The inner shaft is situated radially inward of the piston, and straight grooves are disposed between the piston and the inner shaft. Inner ball bearings travel in the straight grooves and rotate the inner shaft as the piston rotates. The ball screw rotary actuator also includes an outer ball cage to position the outer ball bearings in a spaced configuration, an outer indexing gear to control a position of the outer ball cage, an inner ball cage to position the inner ball bearings in a spaced configuration, and an inner indexing gear to control a position of the inner ball cage.

Ball screw rotary actuator with ball cage. In one embodiment, a ball screw rotary actuator includes an outer cylinder, a piston, and inner shaft. Outer ball bearings travel in helical groove between the outer cylinder and position to rotate the piston as it translates due to fluid pressure. The inner shaft is situated radially inward of the piston, and straight grooves are disposed between the piston and the inner shaft. Inner ball bearings travel in the straight grooves and rotate the inner shaft as the piston rotates. The ball screw rotary actuator also includes an outer ball cage to position the outer ball bearings in a spaced configuration, an outer indexing gear to control a position of the outer ball cage, an inner ball cage to position the inner ball bearings in a spaced configuration, and an inner indexing gear to control a position of the inner ball cage.

A hinge-line actuator has: a drive shaft; first and second ground gears spaced apart along the drive shaft, wherein the first and second output gears include first and second contoured outer gear surfaces; and an output gear disposed on the drive shaft and disposed between the first and second ground gears, wherein the output gear includes a third contoured outer gear surface; an actuator housing that includes: contoured first, second and third gear seats that, respectively, seat the first, second and third outer gear surfaces.