Finalist: Messier-Bugatti
Location Velizy, France
Achievement Development of a miniature pump to allow decentralisation of aircraft hydraulic systems. Messier-Bugatti set itself the goal developing a miniature pump for electro-hydraulic actuator (EHA) units, which are sufficiently small and light to be sited alongside flight-control equipment, so allowing designers freedom, in pursuit of fly-by-wire, to move away from expensive centralised hydraulic generation systems.
The result is a universal miniature piston pump, which weighs less than 1kg and measures no more than around 50mm long, but is capable of handling speeds up to 24,000rpm and pressures to 500 bar (7,250lb/in2). Prototype pumps are being evaluated by Lucas Aerospace in a servo-control EHA for an Airbus A340 inboard aileron and by Belgium's SABCA in a similar unit for an A320 outboard aileron. Aerospatiale is also investigating future braking-system applications.
The use of such standalone EHA units will allow lighter, less-complex electrical wiring to replace the kilometres of piping used in centralised aircraft hydraulic systems.
Source: Flight International
