Thrust reverser actuator with an automatic relock and lock drop prevention mechanism

• US 6,786,039 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Chakkera, Kevin K., Christensen, Donald J., Johnson, Andrew T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ted
• Application Number:
  US10/233,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20030066284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 602/262, 602/30, 244/110.B, 239/265.19, 239/265.25, 239/265.27, 239/265.29, 239/265.31
• US Class Current: 60/226.2
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 1/766 with blocking systems or locking devices; Arrangement of locking devices for thrust reversers
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/22 for releasing a normally applied brake
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 63/006 Positive locking brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/2454 Brakes; Rotational locks

Abstract

A thrust reverser system includes one or more actuators each having a locking mechanism that prevents unintended actuator movement, and thus unintended thrust reverser movement. Each of the actuators additionally includes a lock inhibitor assembly that engages the lock and prevents it from moving to its locked position until the actuator is moved into a stow position. Upon movement to the stow position, the lock inhibitor assembly disengages the lock, and the lock automatically moves into its locked position.

Claims

1. A system for moving a thrust reverser, comprising:

at least one power source operable to supply a drive force;

at least two drive mechanisms each coupled to receive the drive force; and

at least two actuator assemblies, each actuator assembly coupled to at least one of the drive mechanisms and operable to move, upon receipt of the driving force, between a stowed position and a deployed position, at least one of the actuator assemblies having

a housing,

a drive shaft rotationally mounted within the housing, the drive shaft having a gear portion, a lock portion, and a first end adapted to couple to at least one of the drive mechanisms,

an actuator extending from the housing and having a drive gear mounted to engage the gear portion of the drive shaft,

a lock assembly movably mounted on the housing and selectively operable to move between a locked and an unlocked position, whereby the lock assembly engages and disengages the drive shaft lock portion in the locked and unlocked position, respectively, to thereby prevent and allow rotation thereof, respectively, and

a lock inhibitor assembly mounted on the housing and selectively operable to move between an engaged and a disengaged position, whereby the lock inhibitor engages the lock assembly in the engaged position to thereby prevent movement thereof to the locked position.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the lock inhibitor assembly disengages the lock assembly in the disengaged position to thereby allow movement thereof from the unlocked to the locked position.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a lock spring coupled to the lock assembly and configured to bias the lock assembly toward the locked position.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

lock inhibitor spring coupled to the lock inhibitor assembly and configured to bias the lock inhibitor assembly toward the engaged position.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a push rod movably mounted within the actuator and selectively operable to move between a first position and a second position, whereby the push rod engages and disengages the lock inhibitor assembly in the first and second position, respectively, to thereby move the lock inhibitor assembly between the engaged and disengaged position, respectively.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a push rod spring coupled to the push rod and configured to bias the push rod toward the second position.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the push rod includes at least a first end and a second end, and wherein the push rod further comprises:

a slot formed in the push rod proximate the second end; and

a pin coupled to the actuator and extending through the slot.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the actuator includes a coupling end configured to couple to the thrust reverser; and

the actuator coupling end contacts the push rod second end, thereby moving the push rod from the second position to the first position.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the lock assembly has at least a side surface and a bottom surface; and

the lock portion of the drive shaft has at least one protrusion extending radially outwardly, each protrusion having a stop surface positioned to engage the lock side surface when the lock assembly is in the locked position to prevent rotation of the drive shaft.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the stop surface of each protrusion is positioned to not engage the lock side surface when the lock assembly is in the second position to allow rotation of the drive shaft.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein each power source is an electric motor.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an electromechanical operating mechanism coupled to the lock assembly to move the lock assembly from the locked position to the unlocked position in response to receiving an electrical signal.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a position sensor coupled to the housing and operable to sense the position of the lock assembly.

14. A thrust reverser actuator assembly for use in a system having at least one drive mechanism for moving a thrust reverser between deployed and stowed positions, the actuator assembly comprising:

a housing;

a drive shaft rotationally mounted within the housing, the drive shaft having a gear portion, a lock portion, and a first end adapted to couple to at least one of the drive mechanisms;

an actuator extending from the housing and having a drive gear mounted to engage the gear portion of the drive shaft;

a lock assembly movably mounted on the housing and selectively operable to move between a locked and an unlocked position, whereby the lock assembly engages and disengages the drive shaft lock portion in the locked and unlocked position, respectively, to thereby prevent and allow rotation thereof, respectively; and

a lock inhibitor assembly mounted on the housing and selectively operable to move between an engaged and a disengaged position, whereby the lock inhibitor engages the lock assembly in the engaged position to thereby prevent movement thereof to the locked position.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the lock inhibitor assembly disengages the lock assembly in the disengaged position to thereby allow movement thereof from the unlocked to the locked position.

16. The actuator assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

a lock spring coupled to the lock assembly and configured to bias the lock assembly toward the locked position.

17. The actuator assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

lock inhibitor spring coupled to the lock inhibitor assembly and configured to bias the lock inhibitor assembly toward the engaged position.

18. The actuator assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

a push rod movably mounted within the actuator and selectively operable to move between a first position and a second position, whereby the push rod engages and disengages the lock inhibitor assembly in the first and second position, respectively, to thereby move the lock inhibitor assembly between the engaged and disengaged position, respectively.

19. The actuator assembly of claim 18, further comprising:

a push rod spring coupled to the push rod and configured to bias the push rod toward the second position.

20. The actuator assembly of claim 19, wherein the push rod includes at least a first end and a second end, and wherein the push rod further comprises:

a slot formed in the push rod proximate the second end; and

a pin coupled to the actuator and extending through the slot.

21. The actuator assembly of claim 20, wherein:

the actuator includes a coupling end configured to couple to the thrust reverser; and

the actuator coupling end contacts the push rod second end, thereby moving the push rod from the second position to the first position.

22. The actuator assembly of claim 14, wherein:

the lock has at least a side surface and a bottom surface; and

the lock portion of the drive shall has at least one protrusion extending radially outwardly, each protrusion having a stop surface positioned to engage the lock side surface when the lock is in the locked position to prevent rotation of the drive shaft.

23. The actuator assembly of claim 22, wherein the stop surface of each protrusion is positioned to not engage the lock side surface when the lock is in the second position to allow rotation of the drive shaft.

24. The actuator assembly of claim 14, wherein each power source is an electric motor.

25. The actuator assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

an electromechanical operating mechanism coupled to the lock assembly to move the lock assembly from the locked position to the unlocked position in response to receiving an electrical signal.

26. The actuator assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

a position sensor coupled to the housing and operable to sense the position of the lock assembly.