Transparent Calibrated Moisture Boot for UH-60 Pitch Trim Actuator

Abstract

The UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter Pitch Trim Actuator manufactured by MOOG Inc. Aircraft Group currently utilizes a black opaque dust and moisture boot for protecting a rotating shaft and seal. During normal operation, hydraulic fluid can seep past the seal and collect in the boot. Currently, there is no way to determine the amount of fluid that has collected in the boot. This fluid will continue to collect in the boot until a sufficient quantity is accumulated to detach the boot from its seat on the Pitch Trim Actuator end cap, ultimately spilling hydraulic fluid on the upper flight deck. Once the hydraulic fluid is detected on the flight deck, the Pitch Trim Actuator is assumed to be unserviceable and consequently turned in for repair. It is estimated that 20% of the Pitch Trim Actuators turned in for this reason are still serviceable. The National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), working together with Alliance Partner Polymer Technologies Incorporated (PTI), set out to develop a transparent calibrated moisture boot for the Pitch Trim Actuator. This calibrated boot will allow for a visual inspection to measure the fluid seepage as a function of flight hours to determine Pitch Trim Actuator serviceability.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 07, 2007
Accession Number
ADA481928

Entities

Organizations

  • National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Actuators
  • Aircrafts
  • Alliances
  • Flight Decks
  • Fluids
  • Helicopters
  • Hydraulic Fluids
  • Information Operations
  • Inspection
  • Manufacturing
  • Moisture
  • Ship Decks
  • Teamwork
  • Technology Transfer
  • Visual Inspection

Readers

  • Aviation Science / Aeronautics.
  • Materials Science
  • Robotics and Automation.