FR2811393A1 - Actuating mechanism for use in aircraft electrically-driven seat for moving an offset organ between two positions, has control cable connected to operating arm by a linking mechanism consisting in screw shank sliding in elongated slot - Google Patents

Abstract

-NOVELTY : The actuating mechanism includes a control lever (40) consisting in an operating arm (54) and a control arm (46). A control cable (24) is connected, at one end, to the offset organ and, at another end, to the operating arm using a linking mechanism (42). This linking mechanism includes a sliding system consisting in a screw shank (102) sliding in an elongated slot (100) running along the operating arm. The screw is held in place by a nut. -USE : Actuating mechanism for use in an aircraft seat with electric drive for moving an offset organ between two positions. -ADVANTAGE : Allows manual control during power cut or faulty actuator. The offset organ can be actuated without moving the lever by a large distance, and without accidentally disconnecting the actuator.

Description

The present invention relates to a mechanism for actuating an organ

  offset, movable between two positions, comprising: - a control lever articulated around an axis carried by a fixed support, which lever comprises an operating arm and a control arm, - a remote control control cable, a first end

  of the cable being adapted to stress the remote member and the second end

  mite being connected to said control arm by means of connection suitable for ensuring, during the movement of the lever, the pulling of the cable from a point

lever action on the cable.

  In all installations fitted with electric actuators

  putting the displacement of at least one element of the installation, it is necessary

  the actuators must be fitted with means for disengaging the

  actuator mechanism. These allow manual movement of the

  gane normally controlled by the actuator in the event of a malfunction

  or no power supply to the actuator motor.

  These declutching means comprise for example a dog clutch available

  dried in the drive chain of the actuator, this dog being controlled

diced by a fork.

  In many installations there is a mechanism provided

  putting to actuate the clutch shift of the actuator.

  Indeed, this range is not always easily accessible. This is the case for example in vehicle seats having movable parts

  controlled by electric actuators.

  In this case, the control end of the decab fork

  tage is connected to a cable, the other end of which is connected to a control lever suitable for being actuated manually. Cable is mounted

mobile in a sheath.

  In practice, the forks allowing the disengagement of the action-

  nors have very short travel strokes. However, during modifications

  the curvature of the sheath containing the cable, the end of the cable

  licit the clutch shift can be caused to exert traction on the fork, leading to involuntary clutch declutching

actuator drive.

  To avoid such a risk of accidental declutching, it is known to provide a functional clearance along the length of the cable. This play allows that, during the deformation of the sheath, the fork is not immediately

  solicited to cause declutching.

  The presence of this functional clearance requires that the user moving the control lever first compensates for the functional clearance before actuating

the clutch shift fork.

  Thus, the control lever must be able to be moved over a large amplitude stroke. The travel of the control lever

  to compensate for the functional play is at the origin of an unpleasant feeling

  ble for the user since, over this displacement range, the

  control can be operated with only low force.

  The invention aims to provide a solution to the problem mentioned above and in particular to provide a mechanism for actuating a remote member allowing the actuation of this member without the

  lever is moved over a large clearance, while preventing the action-

  neur is not accidentally unbuckled.

  To this end, the invention relates to a mechanism for actuating a remote member of the aforementioned type, characterized in that said means for

  connection of the cable to the control arm include displacement means

  cement with respect to the axis of articulation, of the point of action of the lever on the

  cable, along the length of the control arm under the action of the movement

lever.

  According to particular embodiments, the action mechanism-

  one or more of the following features: said displacement means are adapted to cause a

  bringing the lever action point on the cable closer to the articulation axis

  tion of the lever, when the lever moves tending to cause pulling

  tion on the cable; - It comprises a cable traction member, integral with the second end of the cable, which traction member is provided with a rod forming said point of action of the lever on the cable, and the control arm present at

  minus an oblong slot in which the rod is movable to slide-

  ment under the action of the movement of the lever;

  - said fixed support relative to which the control lever is articulated

  abutment comprises at least one oblong guide lumen in which the rod is slidingly movable; - Said traction member comprises a traction head provided with at least one oblong guide light in which the rod is movable by sliding; - it has a sheath inside which the cable is movable

  sliding under the action of the lever movement, the sheath being main-

  held at a first end in abutment on a stop secured to the fixed support, the sheath being further maintained at its second end in abutment on a stop secured to a fixed structure with respect to which said member

  offset must be activated, and a low-profile play take-up spring

  aunt of stiffness is interposed between one end of the sheath and the associated stop, the stiffness of the play take-up spring being such that the force necessary for the compression of the spring is less than the force necessary for the actuation of the offset member ; and - it has a sheath inside which the cable is movable

  sliding under the action of the lever movement, the sheath being main-

  held at a first end supported on a stop secured to the fixed support, the sheath being further maintained at its second end supported on a stop secured to a fixed structure with respect to which said offset member must be actuated, and a spring of protection of the organ deported to

  command is interposed between one end of the sheath and the associated stop

  ciée, the stiffness constant of the protective spring being sufficiently high for a crushing of the protective spring to occur only for a force exerted on the lever greater than the normal force necessary for the actuation of the deported member, but less than the effort required to

damage the deported organ.

  The invention also relates to an installation comprising an ac-

  actuator provided with declutching means controlled by a control member and a remote actuation mechanism of the

command as defined above.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the description which will

  follow, given only as an example and made with reference to the

  sins, in which: - Figure 1 is an elevational view of the actuating mechanism according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the control handle of the mechanism of Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a partial end view of the handle of Figure 2 taken along arrow III and showing the means for connecting the cable to the lever of the control handle; - Figure 4 is a sectional view of the end of the sheath opposite the control handle; - Figure 5 is a curve representing the displacement of the outlet

  of the actuation mechanism as a function of the tilt angle of the

use the joystick; and

  - Figure 6 is a curve representing the force applied by the mechanism

  actuation mechanism depending on the tilt angle of the lever of the

control lever.

  In Figure 1 is shown a control mechanism 10 whose

  output is connected to a declutching fork 12 of an electric actuator

  as 14, the latter being shown schematically. The range of

  dog clutch 12 is articulated around a shaft 16 carried by a body 18 of

Actuator.

  The actuator 14 further comprises a rod 20 displaceable in transla-

  tion. During normal operating periods, the rod 20 is moved

  under the control of the electric motor contained in the body of the action-

  coach. Outside normal operating periods, the rod 20 can

  be moved freely relative to the body after the engine has been declutched.

  The fork 12 is movable between a dog clutch position in

  which the rod 20 is driven by the motor and a decrabo-

  stage in which the rod 20 is uncoupled from the motor. These positions

  are shown in solid lines and in broken lines respectively on the figure

gure 1.

  The mechanism 10 and the actuator 14 are for example integrated in an electrically controlled seat intended to be used in a passenger transport vehicle such as an airplane. The actuator is then intended to assu-

  the relative movement of two parts of the seat.

  The mechanism 10 for actuating the declutching fork 12 comprises a control lever 22 to which a cable 24 is connected. This cable is slidably mounted in a sheath 25 consisting essentially of

  its length of a flexible sheath 26. The cable comprises, at its end as-

  associated with the fork 12, an overmolded sphere 27 forming a stop now

  exposed by the tension of the cable against the fork 12.

  The handle 22, shown on a larger scale in Figure 2, comprises a housing 30 having two parallel side faces 32 connected

  at their upper end by a plate 34. The two walls 32 are re-

  linked at their lower end by a bottom 36 of the housing. The plate 34 com-

  has holes 37 suitable for fixing it, for example under the coupling

to say of an armchair.

  The lever 22 further comprises, inside the housing 30, a control lever 40 and means 42 for connecting one end of the cable 24 to

  one of the arms of the control lever.

  The control lever 40 is articulated around a shaft 44 carried in

  be the two side walls 32. The shaft 44 extends perpendicular to

these walls.

  The lever 40 includes a first arm 46 forming a control arm.

  noeuvre. This operating arm crosses the plate 34 through a lu-

  die 48, the edges of this light, noted 50, 52, defining stops

  limiting the angular movement of the operating arm 46. This arm is des-

  designed to be operated manually.

  On the other side of the shaft 44 relative to the maneuvering arm 46, the lever 40 includes a second arm 54 forming a cable control arm 24. In the embodiment shown, the two arms extend

  substantially perpendicular to each other.

  The control arm 54 has the shape of a fork and defines along its length a yoke 56 delimited by two parallel branches 58

visible in Figure 3.

  The end, denoted 60, of the cable controlled by the lever 40 is provided with an overmolded sphere 62 forming a stop. This sphere is received in a transverse cylindrical housing 64 delimited in a body 66 for pulling the cable. Housing 64 opens on the underside of the traction body

  66 by a narrow channel 68 allowing the passage of the cable.

  The body 66 is slidably mounted in a socket 70 engaged through an orifice 72 formed in the bottom 36 of the housing. The sleeve 70 has, at its end received in the housing, a collar 73 forming a shoulder 74. This shoulder bears, inside the housing, on the bottom 36. The outer surface of the sleeve 70, in front of the 'shoulder 74,

  is generally cylindrical and has a thread 78 allowing the screw-

  wise with a nut 80 resting on the outer surface of the bottom 36 assu-

  rant thus securing the socket 70 and the housing 30.

  Alternatively, the socket 70 and the nut 80 can be omitted.

  The traction body 66 has, at its upper end, a head 90 engaged between the two branches 58 of the control arm. The head 90 has extensions defining bearing surfaces 92 on the

  collar 73 formed at the end of the socket 70.

  According to the invention, the means 42 for connecting the cable 24 to the arm of

  control 54 of the lever comprises displacement means, relative

  port to the hinge pin, from the point of action of the lever on the cable, this displacement

  cement taking place along the length of the control arm 54, when

movement of the lever.

  More precisely, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, the control arm

  strip 54 has, arranged in each branch 58, an oblong light

  gue 100 in which a screw rod 102 is received transversely

  Smoothing. The screw 102 is retained by a nut 103. The screw head and the nut

  each apply on either side of the side walls 32 by means of

diary of washers 103A.

  The rod of screw 102 forms the point of action of the lever on the cable. It is capable of ensuring the traction of the body 66 during the displacement of the arm of

command 54.

  The light 100 of oblong shape has its axis generally oriented along the length of the arm 54. In the envisaged embodiment, the

  mière is rectilinear and its axis is concurrent with the axis of articulation of the lever.

  The rod of the screw 102 is received in its middle part through

  a light 104 formed in the head 90 of the traction body. This lu-

  oblong material extends perpendicular to the direction of travel

  of the body 66 along the axis of the socket 70.

  Finally, two identical slots 106 are arranged opposite one another in the side walls 32 of the housing. These lights 106 are from

  generally oblong shape and have, in the embodiment shown

  felt, a rectilinear axis. The end regions of the screw rod 102 are

  slidingly movable mounted in each of the lights 106.

  As a variant, the lights 106 have a different orientation and / or a

  different shape to define another kinematics. In particular, the lights

  res 106 may have a bean shape.

  At its end associated with the handle 22, the sheath 25 containing the cable is held in indirect support against the bottom 36 of the housing,

  the latter forming a stop for the sheath 26.

  The sheath 25 essentially comprises from the lever 22 up to

  than with the declutching fork 12, first the sheath 26 then a tensioner

and finally a bevel gear 111.

  At its end associated with the handle 22, the sheath 26 is mounted

  movable to slide inside a sleeve 112 visible in FIG. 2.

  The sleeve 112 defines a cylindrical chamber 113 in which the end denoted 114 of the sheath is received. This end is covered with a

  protective tip 116. The chamber 113 is closed opposite the former

  end of the sheath by a bottom 120 in the center of which is formed a step

  sage 122 for cable 24. This passage 122 is extended outside the

  chamber 113 by a collar 124 received inside the sleeve 70 at its end

  mite opposite to that receiving the traction body 66.

281 1393

  The bottom 120 defines, on the outer surface of the sleeve 110, a

  bearing surface on the front end of the socket 70.

  A spring 130 with a low stiffness constant is arranged in the

room 112 around cable 24.

  This spring 130 is supported at one of its ends on the bottom 120 and at

  its other end on the endpiece 116 secured to the end of the sheath 26.

  A first functional clearance is thus defined between the end of the sheath

  26 and the housing 30 relative to which the lever 40 is articulated.

  The stiffness of the spring 130 is such that the force necessary for the

  spring pressure is less than the force required to actuate

the declutching fork 12.

  In order to retain the end of the sheath 26 in the chamber 113, the circumference of the wall of the sleeve at the end where the sheath 26 is engaged is sheathed, for example by crimping, in order to form a reentrant lip

  confining the end piece 116 integral with the sheath inside the chamber 113.

  The other end, denoted 150, of the sheath is visible in FIG. 5.

  It is also equipped with a protective tip 151.

  The end 150 of the sheath rests axially on a shoulder of a sleeve 152 engaged around the cable, which sleeve rests on a

very stiff spring 153.

  The spring is confined in a tube 154 which extends the tensioner 110 and is integral with it. Thus, the spring is supported, at one end, on the

  sleeve 152 and, at its other end, on a member of the sleeve 25 solidly

  the body of the actuator. The sleeve 152 partially protrudes out

  of the tube 154. It is retained against the action of the spring 153 by an em-

  end 155 having an internal thread allowing its screwing on the external threaded surface of the tube 154 at its end receiving the end

sheath.

  The tip 155 has an annular surface 156 for the support of the

  sleeve 152. The end 150 of the sheath is engaged axially through the

  towards the nozzle and this end is retained there by a central deformation

  fart 157 of the tip adapted to cooperate with the protective tip

  151 carried by the end of the sheath.

  We can see that a second functional clearance is defined between the body 18

  of the actuator and the associated end of the sheath.

  The screwing of the end piece 155 around the tube 154 makes it possible to modify the

  stiffness of spring 153 by partially compressing it.

  In addition, it is understood that, under the action of the penetration of the sheath

  26 inside the tube 154, the spring 153 is compressed during insertion.

  darkening of the sleeve 152 in the tube.

  The stiffness of the spring 153 is adjusted so that the force required

  to compress the spring over a distance corresponding to the range

  of travel of the declutching fork 12 of the actuator is less than

  higher than the force causing the clutch shifting fork to break.

  However, the stiffness of the spring is sufficient for the spring to undergo only a slight deformation during the normal movement of the fork under the control of the cable 24, in the absence of an obstacle on its course and during a

  normal operation of the declutching means of the actuator.

  For this purpose, the stiffness constant of the spring is high enough to cause the spring to be crushed only for a force exerted on the

  lever greater than the normal force required to actuate the body

door.

  The tensioner 110 is of any suitable type and includes a retaining nut.

  glage 160 making it possible to ensure a satisfactory tension of the cable, in modi

  trusting the total length of the sheath 25 in which the cable is guided.

  The bevel gear 111 extending the tensioner 112 consists of a bent tube inside which the cable 24 flows. The free end of the elbow is fixed by two nuts 164 to a support tab 166 secured to the body

actuator 14.

  The actuation mechanism according to the invention operates in the same way

next.

  During normal operation of the actuator 14, the fork 12 is

  in its dog clutch position and the lever arm 46 of the lever applies

  that then on the edge 52 of the opening made in the plate 34.

  In order to trigger the clutch, the user causes the toggle-

  ment of the lever by exerting traction on the following operating arm 46

  the direction of the arrow F1 visible in FIG. 2.

  Initially, and as illustrated in this figure, the rod of the screw 102 is disposed at the end of the lumen 100 furthest from the axis of articulation.

  tion of the lever. Thus, the distance between the rod of the screw 102 and this articulation axis

lation is maximum.

  When the lever is tilted, the traction body 66 is located

  dragged by the rod of the screw 102. The end 62 of the cable is thus displaced

  created in the direction of arrow F2.

  The other end 27 of the cable being kept in abutment on the furnace

  chette 12, the traction exerted on the cable by the body 66 causes the com-

  spring pressure 130 of low stiffness constant under the action of the

  sheath end placement 26.

  After compression of the spring 130, the end of the sheath bears on the bottom 120 of the sleeve, thus eliminating the pre-existing play between

the sheath and the housing 30.

  During the movement of the body 66 to compensate for the pre-existing play, the point of action of the lever on the cable, constituted by the rod of the screw 102, is maintained essentially at the end furthest from the light

  of the control arm 54. Thus, the play can be compensated by a loss

  reduced angular placement of the lever 54, since the point of action of the lever

  on the cable is located at a great distance from the axis of articulation of the lever.

  When the lever continues to tilt in the direction of arrow F1, the end of the cable resting on the clutch lever

  found displaced, which causes the movement of the decra-

botage.

  During this phase of shifting the decrabo range-

  tage, the rod of the screw 102 is gradually brought by being guided by the light 106 to move towards the axis of articulation of the lever thus reducing

  the distance between the articulation axis and the point of action of the lever on the cable.

  Thus, a significant angular displacement of the operating arm is necessary

  to obtain a reduced displacement of the end of the cable causing

the clutch shift fork.

  The presence of light 104 in the head of the traction body per-

  puts the displacement of the rod of the screw 102, the movement of which is imposed by the sides of the light 106 forming cam surfaces. Thus, it is understood that the means of displacement of the point of action of the lever on the cable during actuation of the lever make it possible to obtain a different amplitude of movement for the same movement of the lever.

  depending on the current position of the lever.

  Thus, and as illustrated in Figure 5, in the first phase of the

* placement of the lever, a large displacement of the cable can be obtained. On the other hand, in the second phase, a more reduced displacement of the cable is

  obtained for the same lever travel.

  We see for example in this figure that, halfway down the

  of the lever, two-thirds of the total travel of the cable has

already been obtained.

  On the other hand, and as illustrated in FIG. 6, the force exerted on the cable for a constant force of 100 Newtons applied at one point of the control lever creates a progressively increasing force of 70

  Newtons to nearly 200 Newtons at the end of the lever stroke.

  The presence of spring 153 of high stiffness avoids breaking

  unwinding of the declutching fork 12 in the event of an accidental blockage

  such as this while an operator operates the lever 50. In fact, in the event of blocking of the fork 12, the force exerted on the lever is transmitted to the cable 24. The cable being retained at its end associated with the fork 12 blocked, the sheath 26 is stressed, which causes compression

progressive spring 153.

  The stiffness of the spring 153 being such that the force necessary for its compression until the control arm comes to bear on the stop 48 is less than the force necessary for the rupture of the fork 12,

  any risk of deterioration of this range is eliminated.

  In addition, the presence of this spring allows the force applied to the clutch lever 12, during normal operation thereof, to be imposed by the compression of the spring 153 and not by the force exerted.

  by the user on the operating arm 46 of the lever.

  According to another embodiment, the springs 130 and 153 are

  reversed, the actuation mechanism then operating in an ana-

  logue. One of the springs 130, 153 or both springs could also

be deleted.

Claims (8)

  1.- Mechanism (10) for actuating a deported member (12) displaced   cable between two positions, of the type comprising: - a control lever (40) articulated around an axis carried by a fixed support (30), which lever (40) comprises an operating arm (46) and a control arm (54), - a cable (24) for controlling the remote member (12), a first end of the cable being adapted to urge the remote member (12) and the second end being connected to said control arm (54) by connecting means (42) suitable for ensuring, during the movement of the lever (40), the pulling of the cable from an action point (102) of the lever (40) on the cable (24), characterized in that said means (42) for connecting the cable (24) to the control arm (54) comprise means of displacement relative to the articulation axis, of the point of action (102) of the lever (40) on the cable (24), along the length of the control arm (54) under the action of displacement lever (40).   2.- Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said displacement means are adapted to bring the point of action (102) of the lever on the cable closer to the axis of articulation of the lever, during a movement of the lever (40) tending to cause traction on the cable (24).   3.- Mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it   comprises a member (66) for pulling the cable, integral with the second ex-   end of the cable, which traction member (66) is provided with a rod (102) forming said point of action of the lever (40) on the cable (24), and in that the control arm (54) has at least one oblong opening (100) in which the rod (102) is movable by sliding under the action of the movement of the lever (40).   4.- Mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that said fixed support (30) relative to which the control lever (40) is articulated comprises at least one oblong guide light (106) in which the   rod (102) is movable by sliding.   5.- Mechanism according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said traction member (66) comprises a traction head (90) provided with at least one oblong light (104) for guiding in which the rod (102) East sliding sliding.   6.- Mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims.   tes, characterized in that it comprises a sheath (26) inside which the cable (24) is movable by sliding under the action of the movement of the lever (40), the sheath (26) being maintained at a first end in abutment on a stop (36) integral with the fixed support (30), the sheath (26) being further maintained at its second end in abutment on a stop (160) integral with a fixed structure (166) relative to which said offset member (12) must be actuated, and in that a spring (130) for taking up play of low stiffness constant is interposed between one end of the sheath (26) and the associated stop (36), the stiffness of the play take-up spring (130) being such that the force required to compress the spring (130) is less   to the force necessary for actuation of the deported member (12).   7.- Mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims.   tes, characterized in that it comprises a sheath (26) inside which the cable (24) is movable by sliding under the action of the movement of the lever (40), the sheath (26) being maintained at a first end in abutment on a stop (36) integral with the fixed support (30), the sheath (26) being further maintained at its second end in abutment on a stop (160) integral with a fixed structure (166) relative to which said remote member (12) must be actuated, and in that a spring (153) for protecting the remote member (12) to be controlled is interposed between one end of the sheath (26) and the stop (160 ) associated, the stiffness constant of the protective spring (153) being sufficiently high for a crushing of the protective spring   (153) occurs only for a force exerted on the lever greater than the ef-   very normal necessary for the actuation of the deported member (12), but inferior   laughing at the effort required to damage the deported member (12).   8.- Installation comprising, on the one hand, an actuator (14) provided with   declutching means controlled by a displaceable control member (12)   çable between a clutch position and a disengage position and, further   On the other hand, a mechanism (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.   , for remote actuation of said control member (12).