ASSEMBLY PROVIDED WITH A DISCONNECTABLE COUPLING SYSTEM HAVING A MECHANICAL FUSE AND A FRICTION BRAKE

Abstract

An assembly comprising a first part and a second part, the assembly comprising a disconnectable coupling system provided with a mechanical fuse for securing the first part and the second part according to an axis of movement up to a breaking threshold. The assembly comprises at least one single-use friction brake interposed between the first part and the second part, the friction brake braking a movement of the first part with respect to the second part after the mechanical fuse has broken.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising a first part and a second part, the assembly comprising a disconnectable coupling system provided with a mechanical fuse for securing the first part and the second part according to an axis of movement up to a breaking threshold, wherein the assembly comprises at least one single-use friction brake interposed between the first part and the second part, the friction brake braking a movement of the first part with respect to the second part after the mechanical fuse has broken, the friction brake comprising a stud that is trapped, when in a rest position, in a housing of the second part before the break, the stud being arranged facing a wall of the first part, the stud and the wall being able to move relative to each other following the break, the wall applying a force to the stud, following the break and the movement, that moves the stud in translation relative to the second part.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the stud is able to move in translation along a translation axis orthogonal to the axis of movement.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the wall comprises two faces arranged to either side of the stud according to an axis orthogonal to a translation axis of the stud.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein each face has a non-zero angle with respect to the axis orthogonal to a translation axis of the stud.

5. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the two faces is a planar face.

6. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the faces is an at least partially skew face.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the at least partially skew face is convex when viewed from the stud.

8. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical fuse comprises a fuse stop secured to the second part and bearing against the stud according to the translation axis.

9. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical fuse comprises a rod that extends into a first hole of the first part and into a second hole of the second part.

10. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the assembly comprises at most three friction brakes.

11. An actuator provided with a motor, wherein the actuator comprises the assembly according to claim 1, the motor being connected by a mechanical link to the second part or to the first part.

12. A vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises the assembly according to claim 1.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the first part or the second part is connected to a motor by a mechanical link, the first part or the second part that is not connected to the mechanical link being connected to a mechanical flight control channel that extends from a flight control that can be operated by a pilot to a control member of the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] The disclosure and its advantages appear in greater detail in the context of the following description of embodiments given by way of illustration and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0061] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle according to the disclosure;

[0062] FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing an example of a rotary assembly having an independent mechanical fuse;

[0063] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the example of an assembly shown in FIG. 2;

[0064] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of an example of a rotary assembly having a mechanical fuse cooperating with a friction brake;

[0065] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an assembly that is able to move in translation having an independent mechanical fuse;

[0066] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an assembly that is able to move in translation having a mechanical fuse cooperating with a friction brake;

[0067] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a wall having two faces that are convex when viewed from the stud;

[0068] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an assembly having a second immobilized part;

[0069] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the breakage of a mechanical fuse of an assembly;

[0070] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the activation of a friction brake following the breakage of a mechanical fuse of an assembly; and

[0071] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an assembly following the breakage of a mechanical fuse of an assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0072] Elements that are present in more than one of the figures are given the same references in each of them.

[0073] FIG. 1 shows an assembly 1 according to the disclosure arranged in a mechanical system, possibly a shock-absorbing system, an engine anticipator system, etc.

[0074] For example, the assembly 1 is arranged in a mechanical system of a vehicle 100 between a control 81 and a control member of the vehicle 100.

[0075] According to the particular example shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 100 is an aircraft that comprises a flight control 81. According to this example, the flight control 81 comprises a stick that can be moved relative to a floor 82. The flight control 81 is used to control a control member 83 such as a blade 84, optionally via a control architecture that comprises an assembly 1 according to the disclosure.

[0076] By way of illustration, the flight control 81 is connected to the control member 83 by a mechanical transmission channel 85. This channel 85 may be a mechanical flight control channel that comprises, for example, at least one connecting rod 86, 89, at least one series actuator 87, and/or at least one bellcrank 88. This channel 85 may lead to a servocontrol 90. Moreover, the servocontrol 90 may be fastened to a non-rotating swashplate of a set 91 of swashplates, the rotating swashplate of this set 91 of swashplates being connected to the blades 84 via respective pitch rods 92. Therefore, the assembly 1 may be used at the output of or in an actuator 70 according to the disclosure, for example in a trim actuator arranged in parallel with the channel 85.

[0077] By way of illustration, such an actuator 70 may comprise a motor 71. FIG. 1 shows a linear motor, but the disclosure can also be applied to a rotary motor.

[0078] A mechanical link 75 then connects the motor 71 to the assembly 1. The mechanical link may comprise a spring box 76, at least one gear 77, etc.

[0079] Moreover, the assembly 1 is connected to the channel 85, either directly or via at least one connecting rod 93.

[0080] Although FIG. 1 shows an actuator provided with an assembly 1 according to the disclosure, such an assembly 1 can be arranged in various systems without going beyond the ambit of the disclosure. For example, such an assembly 1 may be arranged in another type of vehicle, in an assembly line, a factory, a shock-absorbing system, an engine anticipator system and, more generally, in any system requiring a system that disconnects when a breaking threshold is passed.

[0081] Irrespective of the arrangement of an assembly 1 according to the disclosure, FIGS. 2 to 7 show various variants of this assembly 1. FIGS. 8 and 11 show the operation of such an assembly 1.

[0082] Irrespective of the embodiment, and with reference to FIG. 2, for example, the assembly 1 comprises a first part 10 and a second part 20 that are connected up to a breaking threshold. The second part 20 may comprise a second support 21 and the first part 10 may comprise a first support 11. In the context of an actuator 15, the second support 21 may be connected to the mechanical link 75 and the first support 11 may be connected to the channel 85. The reverse is also possible.

[0083] Furthermore, the support connected to the channel 85, the first support 11 according to FIG. 2, may comprise a lever 110. The other support, the second support 21 according to FIG. 2, may comprise a flange 210 constrained to rotate, if applicable, with a connecting shaft 78 of the mechanical link 75. In particular, a nut 79 may be screwed to one end of the connecting shaft 78 in order to couple the first part 10 to the second part 20. A flexible washer 69 may be arranged between the nut 79 and the first part 10, the flange 210 of the second part 20 being pressed against a shoulder of the connecting shaft 78.

[0084] Irrespective of this aspect, the assembly 1 comprises a coupling system 30 which secures the first part 10 and the second part 20 along/about the axis of movement AX1, up to a breaking threshold. According to FIGS. 2 to 4, the first part 10 and the second part 20 may be constrained to rotate with each other about the axis of movement AX1. According to the examples of FIGS. 5 to 7, the first part 10 and the second part 20 may be secured in translation along the axis of movement AX1.

[0085] In all cases, this coupling system 30 comprises at least one mechanical fuse 35. The mechanical fuse 35 is dimensioned to break in predetermined conditions, for example in the presence of a predetermined mechanical torque or a predetermined force between the first part 10 and the second part 20.

[0086] Moreover, the coupling system 30 comprises one or more friction brakes 40, possibly up to three friction brakes. The term “each” is used hereinafter irrespective of the number of friction brakes, both when a single friction brake is provided and when several friction brakes are provided.

[0087] Irrespective of the variant of the disclosure, the breaking of the mechanical fuse 35 causes stress to be applied to each friction brake 40. Each friction brake 40 then automatically brakes the movement of the first part 10 relative to the second part 20. This braking has the result of preventing the first part 10 or the second part 20 from moving in an undesirable manner, following the breaking of the mechanical fuse 35.

[0088] Each friction brake 40 may comprise a stud 45 that is trapped, when in a rest position, in a housing 22 of the second part 20. For this purpose, a portion of the second part 20 has a partition delimiting a hole forming the housing 22. For example, the housings 22 and the studs are rectangular in shape.

[0089] Following the breaking of the mechanical fuse 35, the stud 45 can move in translation relative to the housing 22, along a translation axis AX2, rubbing against the partition of the housing 22. The translation axis AX2 may be substantially orthogonal to the axis of movement AX1.

[0090] Furthermore, the stud 45 extends along the translation axis AX2 from a foot 47 to a head 46.

[0091] The foot 47 may comprise a shoulder 48 that abuts, when in a rest position, against the second part 20. The head 46 may be in various shapes, for example a frustoconical shape extended by a rounded end, according to the example shown in FIG. 3. The stud 45 therefore passes all the way through the portion of the second part 20 having the housing 22, the head 46 extending out of the housing 22.

[0092] In order to move a stud 45 relative to the respective housing 22, the friction brake 40 comprises a wall 50 of the first part 10 that is suitable for moving the stud 45 by shape interference.

[0093] In particular, the wall 50 is arranged facing the head of the stud 45 according to the translation axis AX2. In addition, the wall 50 is arranged to either side of the head 46 of the stud 45 according to an axis orthogonal to the translation axis AX2. For example, this wall 50 may comprise two faces 51, 52 arranged respectively to either side of the stud 45 according to an axis AX3 orthogonal to the translation axis AX2 of the stud 45. The head 46 of the stud 45 is thus arranged between the two faces 51, 52.

[0094] Optionally, each face 51, 52 has a non-zero angle ANG relative to the axis AX3.

[0095] The faces 51, 52 may be in shapes determined in order to obtain the desired braking profile. For example, at least one face 51, 52 may be a planar face, as shown in FIG. 3. According to FIG. 7, at least one face 51, 52 is an at least partially skew face. FIG. 7 shows faces that are convex when viewed from the stud 45. According to another example, one face may comprise at least two planar facets having two different angles with respect to the axis AX3.

[0096] As indicated above, FIGS. 2-3, 4, 5 and 6 show various variants.

[0097] According to a first embodiment shown by the variants of FIGS. 2-4, the first part 10 and the second part 20 are able to rotate relative to each other.

[0098] Consequently, each stud 45 is able to move according to a translation axis AX2 that is radial to the axis of movement AX1. In addition, the wall 50 may be located radially between the respective stud 45 and the axis of movement AX1. Each stud 45 is also located, in azimuth with respect to the axis of movement AX1, between the two faces 51, 52 of the respective wall 50.

[0099] Optionally, each wall 50 may be provided at a periphery of a first ring 12. This first ring 12 is centered on the axis of movement AX1 and is secured to the first support 11. Similarly, each housing 22 may be arranged in a second ring 23 centered on the axis of movement AX1. This second ring 23 is secured to the second support 21. Each housing 22 can pass through the second ring 23 radially, in relation to the axis of movement AX1.

[0100] According to the first variant of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the mechanical fuse 35 is separate from the friction brake or brakes 40. The mechanical fuse 35 may then comprise a rod 36 that extends into a first hole 37 of the first part 10 and into a second hole 38 of the second part 20. Consequently, the head 46 of a stud 45 may or may not touch the respective wall 50 when in a rest position, i.e., when the mechanical fuse 35 is not broken.

[0101] In normal conditions, the first part 10 and the second part 20 are constrained to rotate with each other, about the axis of movement AX1, by the mechanical fuse 35. Each stud 45 is then inactive or can help constrain the first part 10 and the second part 20 in rotation.

[0102] According to the second variant of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the mechanical fuse 35 cooperates with a stud 45 of a friction brake 40. The mechanical fuse 35 comprises a fuse stop 39 secured to the second part 20. This fuse stop 39 bears against the stud 45 according to the translation axis AX2, this stud 45 also bearing against the wall 50. In other words, the stud 45 is immobilized in translation, along the translation axis AX2, between a wall 50 and the fuse stop 39. For example, the fuse stop 39 is in the form of a tab, which may be elastic in order to push the stud, secured to the second support 21 and delimiting the associated housing 22. According to another example, the fuse stop may be in the form of a band.

[0103] In normal conditions, the first part 10 and the second part 20 are constrained to rotate with each other, about the axis of movement AX1, by the stud 45.

[0104] According to a second embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first part 10 and the second part 20 are able to move in translation relative to each other. As in the first embodiment, the mechanical fuse 35 may be separate, as shown in FIG. 5, or may cooperate with a stud 45, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0105] FIGS. 8 to 11 show the operation of an assembly 1 according to the disclosure. In order to facilitate understanding, the method is shown with an assembly 1 according to FIG. 5. However, the other variants of the assembly 1 function in an identical manner.

[0106] According to FIG. 8, in normal conditions, the mechanical fuse 35 constrains the first part 10 and the second part 20 to move in unison with respect to the axis of movement AX1. According to the variants of FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the mechanical fuse 35 as such links the first part 10 and the second part 20. According to the variants of FIGS. 4 and 6, the mechanical fuse 35 immobilizes a stud 45 which constrains the first part 10 and the second part 20 to move in unison.

[0107] According to FIG. 9, when a breaking threshold of the mechanical fuse 35 is reached, the mechanical fuse 35 breaks.

[0108] In a vehicle 100 according to FIG. 1, such a situation may occur if the motor 71 or the mechanical link 75 connected to the assembly 1 has seized. In such a situation, the assembly 1 is immobilized. A pilot can then operate the flight control 81 connected to the assembly 1 in order to break the mechanical fuse 35 and release this flight control 81.

[0109] According to FIG. 10, the first part 10 then moves relative to the second part 20. Each wall 50 then applies a force to the respective stud 45. This stud 45 moves in the respective housing 22 in the direction shown by the arrow F. The friction of the stud 45 against the edges of the respective housing 22 helps dissipate energy and brake the relative movement of the first part 10 and the second part 20. According to the above example, this dissipation helps prevent the flight control from moving in an undesirable manner.

[0110] According to FIG. 11, at the end of this movement, the stud 45 becomes inactive. The first part 10 is then able to move relative to the second part 20. According to the above example, the pilot can operate the flight control freely.

[0111] Naturally, the present disclosure is subject to numerous variations as regards its implementation. Although several embodiments are described above, it should readily be understood that it is not conceivable to identify exhaustively all the possible embodiments. It is naturally possible to envisage replacing any of the means described by equivalent means without going beyond the ambit of the present disclosure as claimed.