초록 ▼

A thrust reverser system includes one or more actuators each having an integrated locking mechanism that prevents unintended actuator movement, and thus unintended thrust reverser movement. Each of the actuators with the integrated locking mechanism includes a housing, a drive shaft, and a lock. The

A thrust reverser system includes one or more actuators each having an integrated locking mechanism that prevents unintended actuator movement, and thus unintended thrust reverser movement. Each of the actuators with the integrated locking mechanism includes a housing, a drive shaft, and a lock. The drive shaft includes an outer surface, is rotationally mounted within the housing, and is operable, in response to the operation of the one or more motors, to rotate in a first rotational direction, to thereby move the thrust reverser to the deploy position, and a second rotational direction, to thereby move the thrust reverser to the stow position. The lock is movably mounted within the housing and is operable to move between at least a first position and a second position, and includes at least a side surface and a bottom surface. One or more gears are provided on the outer surface of the drive shaft, each of which is adapted to mesh with gears that are operably coupled to the thrust reverser. In addition, one or more protrusions extend from the outer surface of the drive shaft. Each of the protrusions includes a stop surface configured to fixedly abut the lock side surface when the lock is in the first position, and a tapered surface configured to slidingly abut the lock bottom surface when the lock is in the first position. Thus, rotation of the drive shaft in the first rotational direction is prevented and rotation of the drive shaft in the second rotational direction is allowed when the lock is in the first position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for moving a thrust reverser, comprising:at least one power source; at least two synchronization mechanisms; and at least two actuators each coupled to at least one of the synchronization mechanisms, at least one of the actuators having: a housing assembly having a first opening, a secon

1. A system for moving a thrust reverser, comprising:at least one power source; at least two synchronization mechanisms; and at least two actuators each coupled to at least one of the synchronization mechanisms, at least one of the actuators having: a housing assembly having a first opening, a second opening, a third opening, and a first inside surface defining a first chamber extending along a first axis between the first and second openings, the third opening being located between the first and second openings; a drive shaft rotationally mounted between the openings within the chamber and in general alignment with the first axis, the drive shaft having a gear portion, a lock portion and a first end adapted to couple to at least one of the synchronization mechanisms, the gear and lock portions being located within the chamber; an actuator extending from the third opening of the housing along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, the actuator having a drive gear mounted to engage the gear portion of the drive shaft; and a lock movably mounted within the chamber in an opposite, generally opposed position to the actuator, the lock having at least a side surface and a bottom surface and selectively operable to move in a plane aligned with the second axis between at least a first position and a second position; wherein 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 is in the first position to prevent the rotation of the drive shaft.