AIR FLOW DEFLECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR A THRUST REVERSER SYSTEM FOR REDUCING RE-INGESTION OF REVERSE EFFLUX AIR FLOW AND METHOD FOR THE SAME

• US 20190024609A1
• Filed: 07/21/2017
• Published: 01/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Chuck, Chen, Kim, Suk C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,641,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/18 within, or attached to, wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 29/06 Attaching of nacelles, fairings or cowlings
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 1/72 the aft end of the fan housing being movable to uncover openings in the fan housing for the reversed flow
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 1/763 with actuating systems or actuating devices; Arrangement of actuators for thrust reversers
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/323 for aircraft propulsion, e.g. jet engines
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/14 Casings or housings protecting or supporting assemblies within
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

There is provided an air flow deflector apparatus for a thrust reverser system of an engine of an air vehicle. The air flow deflector apparatus is movable between a stowed non-reversing position and a deployed thrust reversing position, to deflect an air flow out of the engine, and to provide an effective reverse thrust for the thrust reverser system. There is further provided an air flow deflector assembly for a structure. The air flow deflector assembly has the air flow deflector apparatus, an extender member, and a recessed housing disposed in the structure. The air flow deflector assembly has an air flow deflector actuator that moves the air flow deflector apparatus between a stowed position and a deployed position adjacent to a reverse efflux air flow exit portion of the structure. The air flow deflector assembly deflects a reverse efflux air flow away from being re-ingested into the structure.

Claims

1. An air flow deflector apparatus for a thrust reverser system of an engine of an air vehicle, the air flow deflector apparatus movable between a stowed non-reversing position and a deployed thrust reversing position, to deflect an air flow out of the engine, and to provide an effective reverse thrust for the thrust reverser system.

2. The air flow deflector apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air flow deflector apparatus is coupled to an extender member, and further wherein the air flow deflector apparatus and the extender member are configured to be stowed in a recessed housing disposed in a surface of a nacelle of the engine, when the air flow deflector apparatus is in the stowed non-reversing position.

3. The air flow deflector apparatus of claim 2, wherein an air flow deflector actuator is coupled to the extender member and is coupled to the recessed housing, and further wherein the air flow deflector actuator moves the air flow deflector apparatus between the stowed non-reversing position within the recessed housing, and the deployed thrust reversing position adjacent to a reverse efflux air flow exit portion of the engine.

4. The air flow deflector apparatus of claim 3, wherein the air flow deflector actuator comprises one of, a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator, an electrical actuator, a pneumatic actuator, a hydraulic actuator, and a mechanical actuator.

5. The air flow deflector apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air flow comprises a reverse efflux air flow, and upon landing of the air vehicle, the air flow deflector apparatus deflects the reverse efflux air flow in an outward direction away from the engine, to produce a deflected reverse efflux air flow that is away from being re-ingested at an air flow inlet of the engine.

6. The air flow deflector apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air flow deflector apparatus comprises a deflector barrier panel having a substantially rectangular shape.

7. An air flow deflector assembly for a structure, the air flow deflector assembly comprising:

an air flow deflector apparatus movable between a stowed position and a deployed position;

an extender member having a first end coupled to the air flow deflector apparatus;

a recessed housing disposed in a surface of the structure, the recessed housing having an interior opening configured to stow the air flow deflector apparatus and the extender member within the recessed housing in the stowed position; and

an air flow deflector actuator comprising an actuating portion coupled to a second end of the extender member and coupled to the recessed housing, and comprising a fixed handle portion coupled to an interior portion of the structure, the air flow deflector actuator configured to move the air flow deflector apparatus between the stowed position within the recessed housing, and the deployed position adjacent to a reverse efflux air flow exit portion of the structure,

wherein the air flow deflector apparatus, the extender member, the recessed housing, and the air flow deflector actuator are assembled to form the air flow deflector assembly for the structure, and further wherein, the air flow deflector assembly is configured to deflect a reverse efflux air flow away from being re-ingested into the structure.

8. The air flow deflector assembly of claim 7, wherein the structure comprises two air flow deflector assemblies positioned in a circumferentially spaced apart relationship relative to each other.

9. The air flow deflector assembly of claim 7, wherein the air flow deflector apparatus has a length in a range of about 0.1 inch to about 24 inches.

10. The air flow deflector assembly of claim 7, wherein the air flow deflector apparatus deflects the reverse efflux air flow in an outward direction away from the structure, to produce a deflected reverse efflux air flow that is away from being re-ingested into the structure.

11. The air flow deflector assembly of claim 7, wherein the interior opening of the recessed housing comprises an interior channel opening.

12. The air flow deflector assembly of claim 7, wherein the air flow deflector actuator is comprised of a shape memory alloy (SMA) material, and is coupled to a heating element configured to heat the SMA material for actuation.

13. The air flow deflector assembly of claim 7, wherein the air flow deflector actuator comprises one of, a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator, an electrical actuator, a pneumatic actuator, a hydraulic actuator, and a mechanical actuator.

14. The air flow deflector assembly of claim 7, wherein the structure comprises a nacelle of a thrust reverser system of an engine of an air vehicle.

15. The air flow deflector assembly of claim 7, wherein the air flow deflector assembly reduces a number of unique cascade members needed by the structure.

16. An air vehicle having an air flow deflector assembly for reducing re-ingestion of a reverse efflux air flow, the air vehicle comprising:

a fuselage;

at least one wing connected to the fuselage;

at least one engine coupled to the at least one wing, the at least one engine having a nacelle and having the air flow deflector assembly for a thrust reverser system, the air flow deflector assembly comprising;

an air flow deflector apparatus movable between a stowed non-reversing position and a deployed thrust reversing position;

an extender member having a first end coupled to the air flow deflector apparatus;

a recessed housing disposed in a surface of the nacelle, the recessed housing having an interior channel opening configured to stow the air flow deflector apparatus and the extender member within the recessed housing in the stowed non-reversing position; and

an air flow deflector actuator comprising an actuating portion coupled to a second end of the extender member and coupled to the recessed housing, and comprising a fixed handle portion coupled to an interior portion of the nacelle, the air flow deflector actuator configured to move the air flow deflector apparatus between the stowed non-reversing position within the recessed housing, and the deployed thrust reversing position adjacent to a reverse efflux air flow exit portion of the engine,

wherein when the air flow deflector apparatus is in the deployed thrust reversing position, upon landing of the air vehicle, the air flow deflector apparatus deflects the reverse efflux air flow in an outward direction away from the at least one engine, to produce a deflected reverse efflux air flow, thereby reducing re-ingestion of the reverse efflux air flow at an air flow inlet of the at least one engine.

17. The air vehicle of claim 16, wherein the at least one engine of the air vehicle comprises two air flow deflector assemblies positioned in a circumferentially spaced apart relationship relative to each other.

18. The air vehicle of claim 16, wherein the air flow deflector actuator comprises one of, a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator, an electrical actuator, a pneumatic actuator, a hydraulic actuator, and a mechanical actuator.

19. The air vehicle of claim 16, wherein the air flow deflector assembly is positioned at a location of the nacelle that is forward of a plurality of cascade members of the at least one engine, and that is downstream of a thrust reverser bullnose fairing.

20. The air vehicle of claim 16, wherein the air flow deflector assembly reduces a number of unique cascade members needed by the at least one engine.

21. A method for reducing re-ingestion of a reverse efflux air flow in an engine of an air vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

coupling an air flow deflector assembly, for a thrust reverser system, to a nacelle of the engine, the air flow deflector assembly comprising;

an air flow deflector apparatus movable between a stowed non-reversing position and a deployed thrust reversing position;

an extender member having a first end coupled to the air flow deflector apparatus;

a recessed housing disposed in a surface of the nacelle, the recessed housing having an interior opening configured to stow the air flow deflector apparatus and the extender member within the recessed housing in the stowed non-reversing position; and

an air flow deflector actuator comprising an actuating portion coupled to a second end of the extender member and coupled to the recessed housing, and comprising a fixed handle portion coupled to an interior portion of the nacelle;

using the air flow deflector assembly, upon landing of the air vehicle, and upon deployment of a thrust reverser of the thrust reverser system, to deflect the reverse efflux air flow in an outward direction away from the engine; and

producing a deflected reverse efflux air flow that is away from being re-ingested at an air flow inlet of the engine, and thus reducing re-ingestion of the reverse efflux air flow at the air flow inlet of the engine.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein coupling the air flow deflector assembly to the nacelle further comprises coupling the air flow deflector assembly at a location of the nacelle that is forward of a plurality of cascade members of the engine, and that is downstream of a thrust reverser bullnose fairing.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein coupling the air flow deflector assembly to the nacelle further comprises coupling two air flow deflector assemblies to the nacelle, wherein the two air flow deflector assemblies are positioned in a circumferentially spaced apart relationship relative to each other.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein using the air flow deflector assembly to deflect the reverse efflux air flow further comprises deploying the air flow deflector apparatus with the air flow deflector actuator, to move the air flow deflector apparatus from the stowed non-reversing position within the recessed housing, to the deployed thrust reversing position adjacent to a reverse efflux air flow exit portion of the engine.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein using the air flow deflector assembly to deflect the reverse efflux air flow further comprises deploying the air flow deflector apparatus with the air flow deflector actuator comprising one of, a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator, an electrical actuator, a pneumatic actuator, a hydraulic actuator, and a mechanical actuator.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein using the air flow deflector assembly to deflect the reverse efflux air flow further comprises using the air flow deflector assembly to operate the thrust reverser for an effective time period to obtain a reduced landing distance of the air vehicle, that is reduced by at least 15% (fifteen percent).