Patent ID: 11873092
Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  F | IPC B  F

Claim 0:
1. A trim actuator for a horizontal stabilizer of an aircraft, the trim actuator comprising:
a power screw;
a flange, concentric with the power screw and fixed to the power screw so that the flange rotates with the power screw;
a rotary actuator, configured to rotate the power screw;
a nut, configured to translate along the power screw when the power screw is rotated by the rotary actuator;
an anti-back-drive mechanism, configured to prevent the power screw from rotating in a first rotational direction when a first force is applied to the nut in a first axial direction along the power screw and also configured to prevent the power screw from rotating in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction, when a second force is applied to the nut in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction;
a sensor, configured to measure internal loading of the anti-back-drive mechanism when the first force is applied to the nut in the first axial direction along the power screw or when the second force is applied to the nut in the second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction; and
a lock, configured to selectively prevent rotation of the power screw in the first rotational direction and in the second rotational direction, wherein the lock comprises:
a plurality of locking teeth, located circumferentially on the flange; and
a locking lever, configured to prevent the power screw from rotating in the first rotational direction and in the second rotational direction when the locking lever engages the plurality of locking teeth.