US 11926408 B2 / Mar 12, 2024

Failsafe valve for geared rotary actuator

A failsafe vale provides “Hole-In-The-Wall” failsafe functionality for thin-wing aircraft control surface actuation systems having a geared rotary actuator powered by a hydraulic rotary motor. The failsafe valve is associated with the hydraulic rotary motor and mechanically connected to the control surface, and enables the flight control surface to return to an aerodynamically neutral failsafe position if electrical control and/or hydraulic pressure is lost. When the failsafe valve receives a normal command pressure from the hydraulic system, the valve is inactive and the actuation system operates normally. However, if there is a loss of electrical command capacity to control hydraulic valves and/or a loss of hydraulic pressure, the failsafe valve is activated and connects one of the motor hydraulic control lines to the case return line for the motor if the control surface is away from its failsafe position. Consequently, the control surface will be hydraulically powered or aerodynamically ratcheted to its failsafe position in the failure event.