Aeronautical Magnetic Torque Limiter for Passive Protection against Overloads

Abstract

Actual aerospace and defense technologies present multiple limitations that need to be overcome in order to evolve to less contaminating and more efficient aircraft solutions. Contactless technologies come with essential advantages such as the absence of wear and friction. This work describes the design, prototype, and performance test according to RTCA-DO-160 of an aeronautical magnetic torque limiter. The results show correct continuous transmission operation (2250 rpm and 24 Nm) from −50 °C to +90 °C. Moreover, overload protection has been demonstrated for more than 200 jamming events without damage or required maintenance to the device.

Keywords

• magnetic torque limiter
• passive overload control
• aeronautical mechanism