Safety maintenance panel for a thrust reverser

• US 10,640,223 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ROHR Incorporated (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: ROHR Incorporated (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Lacko, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Nicholas E
• Application Number:
  US15/683,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20190061967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 244129
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 29/06 Attaching of nacelles, fairings or cowlings
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 29/08 Inspection panels for power plants
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/40 Maintaining or repairing aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/24 Casings modified for heating or cooling F01D25/14; Casing parts, e.g. diaphragms, casing fastenings casings for rotary machines or engines in general F16M ; special arrangements in stators dealing with breaking-off of part of rotor F01D21/045
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 1/60 by blocking the rearward discharge by means of pivoted eyelids or clamshells, e.g. target-type reversers
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 1/766 with blocking systems or locking devices; Arrangement of locking devices for thrust reversers
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2230/80 Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/30 Retaining components in desired mutual position
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/36 by a form fit connection, e.g. by interlocking

Abstract

A safety maintenance panel for a thrust reverser is provided. The thrust reverser may comprise one or more doors configured to actuate from a closed position to a deployed position. The safety maintenance panel may be located on the thrust reverser. The safety maintenance panel may comprise a safety pin configured to engage the door in the deployed position to at least partially limit movement of the door from the deployed position. In that respect, the safety pin may be inserted into a panel pin hole through the maintenance panel and a door pin hole through the door to lock the door into the deployed position.

Claims

1. A maintenance panel for a thrust reverser, comprising:

a panel recess;

a panel pin hole defining a void through the panel recess;

a safety pin removably coupled to the panel recess, wherein the safety pin is configured to insert within the panel pin hole and align with a door pin hole of the thrust reverser; and

a pin holder coupled to the panel recess, wherein the safety pin is configured to removably couple to the panel recess via the pin holder, and wherein the pin holder is configured to restrain the safety pin.

2. The maintenance panel of claim 1, further comprising a panel door having an interior surface opposite an exterior surface, wherein the panel door is rotatably coupled to the panel recess, and wherein the panel door is configured to rotate from a closed position to an open position to allow access to the maintenance panel.

3. The maintenance panel of claim 2, wherein the interior surface of the panel door comprises a color including at least one of red, yellow, orange, and green.

4. The maintenance panel of claim 2, wherein the panel door is rotatably coupled to the panel recess with a spring-loaded hinge.

5. The maintenance panel of claim 1, further comprising a safety retainer coupled to the panel recess, wherein in response to the safety pin being inserted within the panel pin hole the safety retainer is configured to engage the safety pin.

6. The maintenance panel of claim 5, wherein the safety pin comprises a pin retaining body configured to engage the safety retainer.

7. The maintenance panel of claim 1, further comprising a safety pin tether coupled at a first end to the panel recess and at a second end to the safety pin, wherein the safety pin tether is configured to secure the safety pin.

8. The maintenance panel of claim 1, wherein the safety pin comprises a pin handle.

9. A thrust reverser, comprising:

a fixed beam;

a door pivotally coupled to the fixed beam and configured to pivot from a closed position to a deployed position, wherein the door comprises a door pin hole defining a first void through an outer surface of the door; and

a maintenance panel defining a panel recess on the fixed beam, the maintenance panel comprising;

a panel pin hole defining a second void through the panel recess, wherein the panel pin hole and the door pin hole are configured to align in response to the door being in the deployed position;

a safety pin removably coupled to the panel recess, wherein the safety pin is configured to align with the door pin hole and insert through the panel pin hole and the door pin hole to prevent movement of the door from the deployed position; and

a pin holder coupled to the panel recess, wherein the safety pin is configured to removably couple to the panel recess via the pin holder.

10. The thrust reverser of claim 9, further comprising a panel door having an interior surface opposite an exterior surface, wherein the panel door is rotatably coupled to the panel recess, and wherein the panel door is configured to rotate from a closed panel position to an open panel position to allow access to the maintenance panel.

11. The thrust reverser of claim 10, wherein the interior surface of the panel door comprises color including at least one of red, yellow, orange, and green.

12. The thrust reverser of claim 10, wherein the panel door is rotatably coupled to the panel recess with a spring-loaded hinge.

13. The thrust reverser of claim 9, further comprising a safety retainer coupled to the panel recess, wherein in response to the safety pin being inserted within the panel pin hole the safety retainer is configured to engage the safety pin.

14. The thrust reverser of claim 13, wherein the safety pin comprises a pin retaining body configured to engage the safety retainer.

15. The thrust reverser of claim 9, further comprising a safety pin tether coupled at a first end to the panel recess and at a second end to the safety pin, wherein the safety pin tether is configured to secure the safety pin.

16. A method of locking a door on a thrust reverser into a deployed position, comprising:

removing a safety pin from a pin holder of a maintenance panel, wherein the maintenance panel defines a panel recess on an outer surface of the thrust reverser, and wherein the pin holder is disposed within the panel recess; and

inserting the safety pin through a panel pin hole and a door pin hole, wherein the panel pin hole defines a first void through the panel recess and the door pin hole defines a second void through the door, and wherein in response to the safety pin being inserted through the panel pin hole and the door pin hole, movement of the door from the deployed position is limited; and

rotating the safety pin to engage a safety retainer, wherein the safety retainer is coupled to the panel recess.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising accessing the maintenance panel by opening a panel door pivotally coupled to the panel recess.