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 edged 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;   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; and   the plurality of track roller bearings including at least one lined track roller assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The actuation system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of track roller bearings includes at least one track roller assembly in rotational contact with an upper surface of the track and at least one track roller assembly in rotational contact with a lower surface of the track. 
     
     
         3 . The actuation system of  claim 1 , wherein the all of the plurality of track roller bearings are the lined track roller assembly. 
     
     
         4 . 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.   
     
     
         5 . 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. 
     
     
         6 . The actuation system of  claim 5 , wherein the track roller bearings are coupled to the mounting web with opposing bushings, a mounting pin and a nut. 
     
     
         7 . The actuation system of  claim 6 , 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. 
     
     
         8 . The actuation system of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of side roller bearings rotatably contacting at least one side of the track to guide the track along the arcuate path. 
     
     
         9 . The actuation system of  claim 8  wherein at least one of the side roller bearings is a lined track roller assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The actuation system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one lined track roller assemblies comprises 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 and a self lubricating liner is disposed on at least one of the outer bearing surface and the inner bearing surface.