Prospects of using electromechanical drives based on roller screw mechanisms in aerospace hardware

Abstract

This paper considers an alternative to hydraulic drives – electromechanical drives based on roller screw mechanisms. We consider the ball screw and roller screw mechanism, compare their characteristics, and prove the reasonability of equipping electromechanical drives with planetary roller screw mechanisms. In the western countries ball screw mechanisms have been used in many high-tech applications since the project on developing, testing, manufacturing and operating the supersonic “Concord” passenger airplanes. The Soviet Union also understood the prospects of roller screw mechanisms and planned to create a center for studying, testing and manufacturing roller screw mechanisms in Vladimir in collaboration with scientists of the local Polytechnical Institute (currently Vladimir State University). However, this plan was not implemented due to the economic turmoil of the 1990s; the research on roller screw mechanisms was limited to Vladimir State University. The second center for research on roller screw mechanisms is located in Bauman Moscow State Technical University. These scientists have to catch up with the western producers of roller screw mechanisms. Lately, these scientists have joined their efforts with the leading producers of roller screw mechanisms in Russia: Group of Companies “Diakont”, LLC «Arzamas Instrument Design Bureau», JSC «Arzamas Instrument Plant named after P.I. Plandin», FSUE Production Association «Sever», Group of Companies «Progressive Technologies» and other organizations.