System and method for reducing idle thrust in a translating cowl thrust reverser
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A thrust reverser system for a turbofan engine, comprising:
- a stationary structure configured to be mounted to the turbofan engine;
a transcowl mounted on the stationary structure and comprising a front edge, the transcowl configured for movement between a first position, in which the front edge abuts the stationary structure, and a second position, in which the transcowl is translated aft, thereby creating an aperture having a total deployment distance between the front edge and the stationary structure; and
wherein the stationary structure has a support beam extending aft therefrom, the support beam having a pair of pivot joints providing a respective pair of pivot axes located aft of the total deployment distance from the stationary structure;
a first displaceable blocker door and a second displaceable blocker door, the first and second displaceable blocker doors located aft of the total deployment distance aft of the stationary structure, the first and second displaceable blocker doors pivotally mounted to the support beam at respective one of the pair of pivot joints, the support beam and the first and second displaceable blocker doors being at least partially surrounded by the transcowl, the first and second displaceable blocker doors rotatable about a respective one of the pair of pivot axes and configured for pivoting between a stowed position and an aft-ward converging deployed position, the aft-ward converging deployed position defined as a trailing edge of the first displaceable blocker door and a trailing edge of the second displaceable blocker door closing together on an engine centerline to thereby direct turbofan engine airflow to discharge through the aperture to thereby generate reverse thrust;
an actuation system coupled to the transcowl and the first and second displaceable blocker doors, the actuation system configured to coordinate transcowl movement with pivoting of the first and second displaceable blocker doors, thereby creating(i) a forward position, in which the transcowl is in the first position and the first and second displaceable blocker doors are in the stowed position,(ii) a reverse position, in which (a) the transcowl is in the second position and (b) the first and second displaceable blocker doors are in the aft-ward converging deployed position, and(iii) an intermediate position, in which (a) the transcowl is translated aft a predetermined distance that is less than the total deployment distance thereby creating a reduced aperture through which a portion of engine airflow discharges, and (b) the first and second displaceable blocker doors remain in the stowed position and aft of the total deployment distance aft of the stationary structure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for reducing idle thrust in a translating cowl reverser system is provided. The provided system and method provide a partial deployment, or thrust reverser system intermediate position for a translating cowl thrust reverser system.
-
Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A thrust reverser system for a turbofan engine, comprising:
-
a stationary structure configured to be mounted to the turbofan engine; a transcowl mounted on the stationary structure and comprising a front edge, the transcowl configured for movement between a first position, in which the front edge abuts the stationary structure, and a second position, in which the transcowl is translated aft, thereby creating an aperture having a total deployment distance between the front edge and the stationary structure; and wherein the stationary structure has a support beam extending aft therefrom, the support beam having a pair of pivot joints providing a respective pair of pivot axes located aft of the total deployment distance from the stationary structure; a first displaceable blocker door and a second displaceable blocker door, the first and second displaceable blocker doors located aft of the total deployment distance aft of the stationary structure, the first and second displaceable blocker doors pivotally mounted to the support beam at respective one of the pair of pivot joints, the support beam and the first and second displaceable blocker doors being at least partially surrounded by the transcowl, the first and second displaceable blocker doors rotatable about a respective one of the pair of pivot axes and configured for pivoting between a stowed position and an aft-ward converging deployed position, the aft-ward converging deployed position defined as a trailing edge of the first displaceable blocker door and a trailing edge of the second displaceable blocker door closing together on an engine centerline to thereby direct turbofan engine airflow to discharge through the aperture to thereby generate reverse thrust; an actuation system coupled to the transcowl and the first and second displaceable blocker doors, the actuation system configured to coordinate transcowl movement with pivoting of the first and second displaceable blocker doors, thereby creating (i) a forward position, in which the transcowl is in the first position and the first and second displaceable blocker doors are in the stowed position, (ii) a reverse position, in which (a) the transcowl is in the second position and (b) the first and second displaceable blocker doors are in the aft-ward converging deployed position, and (iii) an intermediate position, in which (a) the transcowl is translated aft a predetermined distance that is less than the total deployment distance thereby creating a reduced aperture through which a portion of engine airflow discharges, and (b) the first and second displaceable blocker doors remain in the stowed position and aft of the total deployment distance aft of the stationary structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for producing a thrust reverser system for a turbofan engine, comprising:
-
mounting a stationary structure to the turbofan engine, the stationary structure having a support beam extending aft of the stationary structure, the support beam having a pair of pivot joints providing a respective pair of pivot axes; mounting a transcowl on the stationary structure, the transcowl configured for movement between a first position, in which a front edge of the transcowl abuts the stationary structure, and a second position, in which the transcowl is translated aft a total deployment distance between the front edge and the stationary structure, thereby creating an aperture; pivotally mounting a first displaceable blocker door and a second displaceable blocker door to a respective one of the pair of pivot joints on the support beam, wherein the first displaceable blocker door and the second displaceable blocker door are located aft of the total deployment distance aft of the stationary structure and rotatable about their respective pivot axes to pivot between a stowed position and an aft-ward converging deployed position, the aft-ward converging deployed position defined as a trailing edge of the first displaceable blocker door and a trailing edge of the second displaceable blocker door closing together on an engine centerline to thereby direct turbofan engine airflow to discharge through the aperture to thereby generate reverse thrust; coupling an actuation system to the transcowl and to the first displaceable blocker door and the second displaceable blocker door; coordinating, by the actuation system, transcowl movement with pivoting of the first and second displaceable blocker doors, thereby creating (i) a forward position, in which the transcowl is abutted with the stationary structure and the first and second displaceable blocker doors are in the stowed position, (ii) a reverse position, in which (a) the transcowl is translated aft the total deployment distance from the stationary structure, creating the aperture, and (b) the first and second displaceable blocker doors are in the aft-ward converging deployed position, (iii) an intermediate position, in which (a) the transcowl is translated aft from the stationary structure by a predetermined distance that is less than the total deployment distance, thereby creating a reduced aperture through which a portion of engine airflow discharges, and (b) the first and second displaceable blocker doors remain in the stowed position and aft of the total deployment distance aft of the stationary structure. - View Dependent Claims (11)
-
Specification