PIVOT FAIRING THRUST REVERSER

• US 20020184874A1
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Nordam Group LLC (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nordam Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Modglin, Rodger L., Peters, Frederick H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,487,845 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/226.1
• 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 1/625 the aft end of the engine cowling being movable to uncover openings for the reversed flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A thrust reverser includes a pair of doors covering corresponding portals in an exhaust duct between an inlet and outlet nozzle at opposite ends thereof. The duct also includes a pair of side beams having actuators mounted thereon, and operatively joined to the doors for selective rotation thereof about corresponding pivots. Blister fairings are disposed inside the duct and sealingly join the doors to the beams around respective ones of the pivots.

Claims

1. An aircraft engine thrust reverser comprising:

an exhaust duct having an inlet at one of end for receiving exhaust from said engine, an outlet nozzle at an opposite end for discharging said exhaust, a pair of opposite side beams extending between said inlet and nozzle, and a pair of opposite portals disposed circumferentially between said beams forward of said nozzle;

a pair of thrust reverser doors disposed in respective ones of said portals, and rotatably mounted to said beams at corresponding pivots;

a pair of actuators mounted on respective ones of said beams and operatively joined to said doors for selective rotation thereof about said pivots; and

two pairs of blister fairings disposed inside said duct and sealingly joining said doors to said beams around respective ones of said pivots.

2. A thrust reverser according to claim 1 wherein said fairings are fixedly joined to said doors for rotation therewith around said pivots.

3. A thrust reverser according to claim 2 wherein each of said fairings includes a proximal border fixedly joined to a respective door, and an arcuate distal border overlapping a respective beam, and having a center of curvature corresponding with a respective pivot for rotation thereabout.

4. A thrust reverser according to claim 3 further comprising an arcuate fairing seal fixedly mounted to said side beams around each of said pivots in sliding sealing abutment with said arcuate distal borders of corresponding ones of said fairings.

5. A thrust reverser according to claim 4 wherein said fairing seals are mounted on flat inner surfaces of said side beams.

6. A thrust reverser according to claim 5 wherein said side beams include recesses disposed forward of respective fairings for mounting said fairings substantially flush therein, and recessing said fairing seals below said fairings.

7. A thrust reverser according to claim 5 wherein:

each of said doors includes an inside forward perimeter disposed forward of said fairings, and an outside aft perimeter disposed aft of said fairings;

said duct further includes a forward seal surrounding each of said portals forward of said fairings for sealing said door forward perimeter when stowed; and

said duct further includes an aft seal surrounding each of said portals aft of said fairings for sealing said door aft perimeter when stowed.

8. A thrust reverser according to claim 7 wherein said forward and aft seals adjoin opposite ends of said fairing seals to provide full perimeter sealing of said doors when stowed.

9. A thrust reverser according to claim 5 further comprising two pairs of actuator links pivotally joined at opposite ends to respective ones of said doors forward of said pivots thereof, and to said actuators for selectively rotating open and closed said doors around said pivots.

10. A thrust reverser according to claim 9 further comprising:

a pair of outer hooks fixedly mounted to each of said doors at forward ends thereof; and

a plurality of inner latches joined to said side beams for selectively latching said outer hooks to prevent deployment of said doors.

11. A thrust reverser according to claim 5 wherein said exhaust nozzle has a coplanar trailing edge.

12. A thrust reverser according to claim 11 wherein said nozzle is annular at said trailing edge thereof, and blends forward therefrom with said flat inner surfaces of said side beams at said blister fairings.

13. A thrust reverser according to claim 12 wherein said blister fairings blend from said flat inner surfaces of said side beams to arcuate inner surfaces of said doors at said proximal borders of said fairings.

14. A thrust reverser according to claim 13 wherein each of said pivots comprises:

an inner support arm fixedly joined to a respective side beam;

an outer support arm fixedly joined to a respective door; and

a fastener pivotally joining together respective pairs of said inner and outer arms; and

each of said blister fairings is sized and configured to cover respective ones of said pivots.

16. A thrust reverser according to claim 15 wherein:

said exhaust nozzle has a coplanar circular trailing edge;

said side beams have flat inner surfaces blending to said circular nozzle trailing edge;

said blister fairings are fixedly joined to said doors for pivotal movement therewith; and

said sealing means further include an arcuate fairing seal fixedly joined to said side beam in sliding sealing abutment with respective ones of said fairings.

17. A thrust reverser according to claim 16 wherein each of said fairings includes a proximal border fixedly joined to a respective door, and an arcuate distal border overlapping a respective beam concentrically with said arcuate fairing seal, and having a center of curvature corresponding with a respective pivot for rotation thereabout.

18. A thrust reverser according to claim 17 wherein:

each of said doors includes an inside forward perimeter disposed forward of said fairings, and an outside aft perimeter disposed aft of said fairings;

said sealing means further include a forward seal surrounding each of said portals forward of said fairings for sealing said door forward perimeter when stowed; and

said sealing means further include an aft seal surrounding each of said portals aft of said fairings for sealing said door aft perimeter when stowed.

19. A thrust reverser according to claim 18 wherein said forward and aft seals adjoin opposite ends of said fairing seals to provide full perimeter sealing of said doors when stowed.

20. A thrust reverser according to claim 19 further comprising means for selectively latching closed said doors, and unlatching said doors only after said doors are overstowed.

15. An aircraft engine thrust reverser comprising:

an exhaust duct having an inlet and outlet nozzle at opposite ends, a pair of side beams extending therebetween, and a pair of diametrically opposite portals disposed forward of said nozzle;

a pair of thrust reverser doors disposed in said portals and rotatably mounted to said side beams at corresponding pivots;

means for selectively deploying open and retracting closed said doors around said pivots; and

means including a plurality of blister fairings covering said pivots for sealing closed each of said doors around said portals.

21. An aircraft engine thrust reverser comprising:

an exhaust duct having an inlet and outlet nozzle at opposite ends, a pair of side beams extending therebetween, and a pair of diametrically opposite portals disposed forward of said nozzle;

a pair of thrust reverser doors disposed in said portals and rotatably mounted to said side beams at corresponding pivots;

means mounted on said side beams for selectively deploying open and stowing closed said doors around said pivots;

means for sealing closed each of said doors around said portals; and

means for selectively latching closed said doors, and unlatching said doors only after said doors are overstowed.

22. A thrust reverser according to claim 21 wherein:

said exhaust nozzle has a coplanar trailing edge;

said side beams have inner surfaces blending to said nozzle trailing edge; and

said sealing means include a plurality of blister fairings sealingly joined between said side beam inner surfaces and doors at respective ones of said pivots.

23. A thrust reverser according to claim 22 wherein:

said blister fairings are fixedly joined to said doors for pivotal movement therewith; and

said sealing means further include an arcuate fairing seal fixedly joined to said side beam in sliding sealing abutment with respective ones of said fairings.

24. A thrust reverser according to claim 23 wherein each of said fairings includes a proximal border fixedly joined to a respective door, and an arcuate distal border overlapping a respective beam concentrically with said arcuate fairing seal, and having a center of curvature corresponding with a respective pivot for rotation thereabout.

25. A thrust reverser according to claim 24 wherein:

each of said doors includes an inside forward perimeter disposed forward of said fairings, and an outside aft perimeter disposed aft of said fairings;

said sealing means further include a forward seal surrounding each of said portals forward of said fairings for sealing said door forward perimeter when stowed; and

said sealing means further include an aft seal surrounding each of said portals aft of said fairings for sealing said door aft perimeter when stowed.

26. A thrust reverser according to claim 25 wherein said forward and aft seals adjoin opposite ends of said fairing seals to provide full perimeter sealing of said doors when stowed.

27. A thrust reverser according to claim 26 wherein said nozzle trailing edge is circular, and said side beam inner surfaces are flat along said fairing proximal borders.