Flap actuator

Abstract

The invention relates to a flap actuator, in particular to a servo/spoiler actuator, comprising at least one electrohydraulic servo valve and at least one actuator which are hydraulically connected to one another, wherein the actuator comprises at least one actuator housing in and/or at which the at least one channel is arranged by means of which one or more components, preferably likewise arranged in and/or at the actuator housing, are hydraulically connected and wherein no valve block is arranged between the actuator and the servo valve.

Claims

1. A servo/spoiler flap actuator comprising at least one electrohydraulic servo valve and at least one cylinder, the servo valve and the cylinder being hydraulically connected, wherein the cylinder comprises at least one cylinder housing, the cylinder housing including at least one channel configured to hydraulically connect one or more components selected from the group consisting of an advanced blocking valve, a maintenance operator, a thermal relief valve, a check valve and a filter, wherein no valve block is arranged between the cylinder housing and the servo valve, the cylinder comprising a mounting surface to which the servo valve is mounted, wherein the channel is integrated in the cylinder housing, wherein at least part of the cylinder housing has a layer-wise structure, and wherein components contained in a 2nd stage of the servo valve are partly or completely integrated in the cylinder housing and are hydraulically connected.

2. A flap actuator in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one channel extends on the cylinder housing surface.

3. A method of manufacturing an actuator housing of a flap actuator, in particular of a servo/spoiler actuator in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cylinder housing is manufactured partly or overall by a generative process.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the generative process is selected from the group consisting of selective laser melting, direct metal laser sintering, selective laser sintering, rapid manufacturing and electron beam melting.

Description

(1) Further details and advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. There are shown:

(2) FIG. 1: different perspective views of the actuator housing with outwardly disposed lines;

(3) FIG. 2: different sectional views through the actuator housing in accordance with FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3: a further sectional view through the actuator housing in accordance with FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4: a circuit diagram of a spoiler actuator in accordance with the invention; and

(6) FIG. 5: a circuit diagram of a spoiler actuator in accordance with the invention in a further embodiment.

(7) The actuator housing 10, that is the cylinder housing of a servo/spoiler actuator in accordance with the present invention, is shown in different perspective representations in FIG. 1.

(8) The actuator housing shown in FIG. 1 is manufactured, for example, by selective laser melting (SLM).

(9) In this process, the material is applied to a plate in powder form and is completely melted by laser irradiation. It forms a solid material layer after solidification. After the manufacture of a layer, powder is again applied and the process is repeated so that a multilayer structure results.

(10) However, any desired other generative production processes are also covered by the invention. In these production processes, the manufacture of the component generally takes place from shapeless materials such as liquids or powders or from shape-neutral materials such as band-shaped or wire-shaped materials by means of chemical and/or physical processes. No special tools which predefine the finished shape of the component such as molds are required in general for the manufacture of a product.

(11) The actuator housing shown in FIG. 1 is a component of a total actuator assembly which comprises the actual actuator as well as a servo valve and which is arranged in a wing of an aircraft.

(12) The actuator comprises the actuator housing 10 shown in FIG. 1 as well as an element, in particular a piston, which is conducted in the cylinder space 14 of said actuator housing and whose movement is transmitted to the flap to be moved, in particular to the spoiler. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the actuator housing 10 has a surface 12 onto which the servo valve is placed and is fastened thereto by screwing, for example.

(13) Hydraulic channels 16 as well as optionally also channels 16 through which the electrical lines and cables run are integrated in and at the actuator housing 10. Furthermore, the functions and components usually contained in the valve block are contained in the actuator housing. They are, for example, the components such as the advanced blocking valve, the maintenance operator, the thermal relief valve, the check valve and the filter. They are integrated and hydraulically connected in the housing of the actuator shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore, all the line channels, bores and component mounts are provided in the cylinder housing in accordance with FIG. 1. A conventional valve block such as is arranged between the servo valve and the actuator from the prior art is omitted, as are press plugs or closure plugs for sealing hydraulic channels, is dispensed with.

(14) As can be seen from the sectional representations in accordance with FIG. 2, the channels 16 of the actuator housing 10 are partly arranged on the surface of the actuator housing, as can also be seen in FIG. 1, and are partly integrated in the base body of the actuator housing 10. The channels 16 in accordance with the present invention can thus be arranged at or in the actuator housing 10.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a further sectional view through the actuator housing 10 in accordance with FIG. 1 and illustrates the arrangement of the cylinder space 14 in the actuator housing in which a piston, not shown, is arranged movable to and fro. The reference symbol 12 again designates the assembly surface for fixing or placing a servo valve. A valve block between the servo valve and the actuator housing 10 shown is omitted.

(16) FIG. 4 shows a circuit diagram which schematically represents the hydraulic lines in the actuator housing. The region surrounded by the chain-dotted line shows the actuator housing. As can be seen from FIG. 4, valves as well as hydraulic lines are, for example, located in the actuator housing. The reference symbols C1 and C2 designate the two hydraulic lines running to the cylinder chambers and the reference symbols BP and RP designate the inflow line or the return lines which can be arranged in the bearing bolt close to the pivot axis. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the electrohydraulic servo valve (EHSV) with its two stages is placed directly on the cylinder housing or actuator housing 10. It is conceivable likewise to accommodate the power stage, that is the second stage of the electrohydraulic servo valve, in the actuator housing 10, as is shown schematically in FIG. 5. In this case, only the first stage of the electrohydraulic servo valve is placed on the actuator housing 10 or fixed to it.

(17) The servo/spoiler actuator or flap actuator in accordance with the invention is of smaller construction and lighter than is known from the prior art due to the omission of the valve housing. All the fluid-conducting channels, bores and lines are preferably manufactured with an ideal flow and are integrated in a space-saving manner in or at the cylinder housing 10. As stated above, electrical lines and cables can likewise be drawn into the channels. Channels can be realized due to the preferred generative manufacture of the cylinder housing 10 which cannot be manufactured by conventional drilling processes. This not only brings about the advantage of an ideal flow guidance, but also the advantage of the dispensing with press plugs and closure plugs such as are required in the use of conventional valve blocks.