Energy recovery apparatus and method
US7510150B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 28, 2005 |
| Grant date | Mar 31, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 18, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64C9/02
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An energy recovery and storage apparatus especially well adapted for use with flight control surfaces on airborne mobile platforms, such as aircraft. In one form the apparatus includes a ram-like element coupled to a portion of a flight control surface. An accumulator holds a flexible container having a compressible medium contained within the flexible container. The accumulator is in fluid communication with a housing of the ram-like element. When the flight control surface is moved from a deployed to a retracted position, the energy acting on the surface is recovered and stored in the compressible medium as the ram-like element forces fluid from its housing into the accumulator. When the flight control surface is to be deployed again in a subsequent cycle, the stored energy in the compressible medium is used to urge the ram-like element into an extended position, thus assisting in deploying the flight control surface. The various preferred embodiments all enable lower power, smaller and less expensive actuators to be used to control a flight control surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.