Actuation system for a lift assisting device and lined track rollers used therein

Abstract

An actuation system for deploying and retracting a lift assisting device of a leading edge of a wing of an aircraft including a track pivotally coupled to the lift assisting device. The track has first and second outer surfaces and side surfaces. The actuation system includes a shaft rotationally coupled within the wing of the aircraft and operable, in response to flight control signals, to deploy or retract the lift assisting device. The actuation system includes an actuator for actuating the lift assisting device, coupled to the shaft, between a retracted position to a deployed position along an arcuate path. The actuation system includes a plurality of track roller bearings rotatably contacting the first and second outer surfaces of the track to guide the track along the arcuate path. The plurality of track roller bearings includes one or more lined track roller assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An actuation system for deploying and retracting a lift assisting device of a leading edge of a wing of an aircraft, the actuation system comprising:
 a track pivotally coupled to the lift assisting device, the track having first and second outer surfaces and side surfaces;   a shaft rotationally coupled within the wing of the aircraft and operable, in response to flight control signals, to deploy or retract the lift assisting device;   means for actuating the lift assisting device, coupled to the shaft, between a retracted position and a deployed position along an arcuate path; and   a plurality of track roller bearings rotatably contacting the first and second outer surfaces of the track to guide the track along the arcuate path,   wherein each of the track roller bearings comprises a self lubricating liner secured to at least one of an outer bearing surface and an inner bearing surface.   
     
     
         2 . The actuation system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of track roller bearings is in rotational contact with an upper surface of the track and at least one of the track roller bearings is in rotational contact with a lower surface of the track. 
     
     
         3 . The actuation system of  claim 1 , wherein the means for actuating is comprised of:
 an actuator arm coupled to the track; and   an actuator lever coupled to the shaft and to the actuator arm;   wherein when the shaft rotates in a first direction the actuator lever drives the actuator arm to move the track and the lift assisting device from the retracted to the deployed position along the arcuate path, and when the shaft rotates in a second direction the actuator lever drives the actuator arm to move the track and the lift assisting device from the deployed position to the retracted position along the arcuate path.   
     
     
         4 . The actuation system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuation system further includes a mounting web enclosing at least a portion of the track and wherein the plurality of track roller bearings are coupled to the mounting web. 
     
     
         5 . The actuation system of  claim 4 , wherein the track roller bearings are coupled to the mounting web with opposing bushings, a mounting pin and a nut. 
     
     
         6 . The actuation system of  claim 5 , wherein the opposing bushings are comprised of eccentric bushings and the nut is comprised of a castellated nut to allow adjustment to the track at fit-up. 
     
     
         7 . The actuation system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of side roller bearings rotatably contacting at least one side of the track to guide the track along the arcuate path. 
     
     
         8 . The actuation system of  claim 7  wherein each of the plurality of the side roller bearings comprise an inner ring having an outer bearing surface and an outer ring having an inner bearing surface, the inner ring being disposed at least partially in the outer ring at least one of the side roller bearings has one of the self lubricating liners secured to at least one of the outer bearing surface and the inner bearing surface. 
     
     
         9 . An actuation system for deploying and retracting a lift assisting device of a leading edge of a wing of an aircraft, the actuation system comprising:
 a track pivotally coupled to the lift assisting device, the track having first and second outer surfaces and side surfaces;   a shaft rotationally coupled within the wing of the aircraft and operable, in response to flight control signals, to deploy or retract the lift assisting device;   means for actuating the lift assisting device, coupled to the shaft, between a retracted position to a deployed position along an arcuate path; and   a plurality of track roller bearings rotatably contacting the first and second outer surfaces of the track to guide the track along the arcuate path,   wherein each of the track roller bearings comprises an inner split ring having a first portion with a first outer bearing surface and a second portion with a second outer bearing surface and an outer ring having an inner bearing surface, the inner split ring being disposed at least partially in the outer ring and at least one of the track roller bearings has a self lubricating liner secured to at least one of: the first outer bearing surface; the second outer bearing surface; and the inner bearing surface.   
     
     
         10 . The actuation system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of track roller bearings is in rotational contact with an upper surface of the track and at least one of the track roller bearings is in rotational contact with a lower surface of the track. 
     
     
         11 . The actuation system of  claim 9 , wherein the means for actuating is comprised of:
 an actuator arm coupled to the track; and   an actuator lever coupled to the shaft and to the actuator arm;   wherein when the shaft rotates in a first direction the actuator lever drives the actuator arm to move the track and the lift assisting device from the retracted to the deployed position along the arcuate path, and when the shaft rotates in a second direction the actuator lever drives the actuator arm to move the track and the lift assisting device from the deployed position to the retracted position along the arcuate path.   
     
     
         12 . The actuation system of  claim 9 , wherein the actuation system further includes a mounting web enclosing at least a portion of the track and wherein the plurality of track roller bearings are coupled to the mounting web. 
     
     
         13 . The actuation system of  claim 12 , wherein the track roller bearings are coupled to the mounting web with opposing bushings, a mounting pin and a nut. 
     
     
         14 . The actuation system of  claim 13 , wherein the opposing bushings are comprised of eccentric bushings and the nut is comprised of a castellated nut to allow adjustment to the track at fit-up. 
     
     
         15 . The actuation system of  claim 9  further comprising a plurality of side roller bearings rotatably contacting at least one side of the track to guide the track along the arcuate path. 
     
     
         16 . The actuation system of  claim 15  wherein each of the plurality of the side roller bearings comprise an inner ring having an outer bearing surface and an outer ring having an inner bearing surface, the inner ring being disposed at least partially in the outer ring at least one of the side roller bearings has one of the self lubricating liners secured to at least one of the outer bearing surface and the inner bearing surface. 
     
     
         17 . An actuation system for deploying and retracting a lift assisting device of a leading edge of a wing of an aircraft, the actuation system comprising:
 a track pivotally coupled to the lift assisting device, the track having first and second outer surfaces and side surfaces;   means for actuating the lift assisting device, between a retracted position and a deployed position along an arcuate path; and   a plurality of track roller bearings rotatably contacting the first and second outer surfaces of the track to guide the track along the arcuate path,   wherein each of the track roller bearings comprises a self lubricating liner secured to at least one of an outer bearing surface and an inner bearing surface.   
     
     
         18 . The actuation system of  claim 17 , further comprising a shaft rotationally coupled within the wing of the aircraft and operable, in response to flight control signals, to deploy or retract the lift assisting device. 
     
     
         19 . The actuation system of  claim 18 , wherein the means for actuating comprises:
 an actuator arm coupled to the track; and   an actuator lever coupled to the shaft and to the actuator arm,   wherein when the shaft rotates in a first direction the actuator lever drives the actuator arm to move the track and the lift assisting device from the retracted to the deployed position along the arcuate path, and when the shaft rotates in a second direction the actuator lever drives the actuator arm to move the track and the lift assisting device from the deployed position to the retracted position along the arcuate path.   
     
     
         20 . The actuation system of  claim 18 , wherein the means for actuation comprises:
 a gear track coupled to the track; and   a pinion gear coupled to the shaft,   wherein when the shaft rotates in a first direction the pinion gear engages the gear track to move the track and the lift assisting device from the retracted to the deployed position along the arcuate path, and when the shaft rotates in a second direction the pinion hear engages the gear track to move the track and the lift assisting device from the deployed position to the retracted position along the arcuate path.   
     
     
         21 . An actuation system for deploying and retracting a lift assisting device of a leading edge of a wing of an aircraft, the actuation system comprising:
 a track coupled to the lift assisting device, the track having a first outer surface and a second outer surface;   a deploying and retracting means coupled to the track, the deploying and retracting means, in response to flight control signals, extends or retracts the lift assisting device along an arcuate path of the track; and   guiding means rotatably contacting at least one of the first outer surface and the second outer surface of the track to guide the track along the arcuate path.   
     
     
         22 . The actuation system of  claim 21 , wherein the guiding means comprises a plurality of track roller bearing rotatably contacting the first and second outer surfaces of the track. 
     
     
         23 . The actuation system of  claim 22 , wherein each of the track roller bearings comprises an inner ring disposed at least partially in an outer ring. 
     
     
         24 . The actuation system of  claim 23 , wherein the inner ring is flexible and configured to accommodate deflection. 
     
     
         25 . The actuation system of  claim 23 , wherein each of the track roller bearings comprises lubrication means secured to one of an outer bearing surface and an inner bearing surface.