초록 ▼

A thrust reverser system that includes one or more power drive units operable to supply a drive force. The power drive unit includes a motor and at least two output sections, each operably coupled to transmit the drive force to the thrust reverser movable components. Each of the output sections is o

A thrust reverser system that includes one or more power drive units operable to supply a drive force. The power drive unit includes a motor and at least two output sections, each operably coupled to transmit the drive force to the thrust reverser movable components. Each of the output sections is operable to decouple the motor from associated thrust reverser movable components upon a torque magnitude being reached in the output section. A deadband coupler is provided to couple the first and second output sections together a time period after the torque magnitude is reached in one of the output sections.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A thrust reverser control system, comprising:a power drive unit operable to supply a drive force;at least two drive mechanisms each coupled to receive the drive force; andat least two actuator assemblies, each actuator assembly coupled to at least one of the drive mechanisms and operable to move,

1. A thrust reverser control system, comprising:a power drive unit operable to supply a drive force;at least two drive mechanisms each coupled to receive the drive force; andat least two actuator assemblies, each actuator assembly coupled to at least one of the drive mechanisms and operable to move, upon receipt of the drive force, between a stowed position and a deployed position;wherein the power drive unit includesa motor having a shaft with at least a first output and a second output, the motor operable to supply rotational power to a first and a second load, respectively,a first output section coupled to the first motor output and operable to decouple the motor from the first load upon a torque magnitude being reached in the first output section,a second output section coupled to the second motor output and operable to decouple the motor from the second load upon a torque magnitude being reached in the second output section, anda deadband coupler coupled to the first and second output sections and operable to selectively couple the first and second output sections together a time period after the first and second output sections have unequal rotational speeds. 2. The system unit of claim 1, wherein the first and second output sections comprise, respectively:a first torque decoupler having an input section coupled to the first motor output and an output section coupled to the first load and operable to decouple its input section from its output section upon a torque magnitude being reached therebetween; anda second torque decoupler having an input section coupled to the second motor output and an output section coupled to the second load and operable to decouple its input section from its output section upon a torque magnitude being reached therebetween. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first and second torque decoupler output sections are selectively coupled together upon one of the torque magnitudes being reached in one of the first and the second torque decouplers. 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the deadband coupler includes an engagement mechanism with two input shaft assemblies, each shaft assembly coupled to rotate from the drive force from one of the output sections, the shaft assemblies further each having engagement surfaces located to contact the engagement surface of the other shaft assembly after an amount of differential rotation between the shaft assemblies. 5. The system of claim 2, wherein the deadband coupler comprises:a quill shaft extending through the motor shaft and having a first end coupled to one of the first and second torque decoupler output sections and a second end rotationally mounted within the other of the first and second torque decoupler output sections;at least two deadband stops mounted on at least one of the first and second torque decoupler output sections,wherein the quill shaft contacts the deadband stops proximate its second end after the time period. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the deadbands stops are spaced apart from one another and the spacing thereof sets the time period. 7. The system of claim 2, wherein the deadband coupler comprises:a first quill shaft extending at least partially through the motor shaft, the first quill shaft having a first end coupled to the first torque decoupler output section and a second end including having at least one contact surface proximate thereof;a second quill shaft extending at least partially through the motor shaft, the second quill shaft having a first end coupled to the second torque decoupler output section and a second end including at least one contact surface proximate thereof,wherein the first quill shaft contact surface and the second quill shaft contact surface contact one another after the time period. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first quill shaft and the second quill shaft contact surfaces are spaced apart from one another, and the spacing thereof sets the time period. 9. The system of claim 2, further com prising:a first gimbal spring coupling the first torque decoupler input section to the motor shaft first output; anda second gimbal spring coupling the second torque decoupler input section to the motor shaft second output. 10. The system of claim 2, further comprising:a first spring positioned between the first torque decoupler input section and the motor and configured to bias the first torque decoupler input section toward the first torque decoupler output section; anda second spring positioned between the second torque decoupler input section and the motor and configured to bias the second torque decoupler input section toward the second torque decoupler output section. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the motor is an electric motor. 12. A power drive unit, comprising:a motor having a shaft with at least a first output and a second output, the motor operable to supply rotational power to a first and a second load, respectively;a first output section coupled to the first motor output and operable to decouple the motor from the first load upon a torque magnitude being reached in the first output section;a second output section coupled to the second motor output and operable to decouple the motor from the second load upon a torque magnitude being reached in the second output section; anda deadband coupler coupled to the first and second output sections and operable to selectively couple the first and second output sections together a time period after the first and second output sections have unequal rotational speeds. 13. The power drive unit of claim 12, wherein the first and second output sections comprise, respectively:a first torque decoupler having an input section coupled to the first motor output and an output section coupled to the first load and operable to decouple its input section from its output section upon a torque magnitude being reached therebetween; anda second torque decoupler having an input section coupled to the second motor output and an output section coupled to the second load and operable to decouple its input section from its output section upon a torque magnitude being reached therebetween. 14. The power drive unit of claim 13, wherein the first and second torque decoupler output sections are selectively coupled together upon one of the torque magnitudes being reached in one of the first and the second torque decouplers. 15. The power drive unit of claim 13, wherein the deadband coupler includes an engagement mechanism with two input shaft assemblies, each shaft assembly coupled to rotate from the drive force from one of the output sections, the shaft assemblies further each having engagement surfaces located to contact the engagement surface of the other shaft assembly after an amount of differential rotation between the shaft assemblies. 16. The power drive unit of claim 13, wherein the deadband coupler comprises:a quill shaft extending through the motor shaft and having a first end coupled to one of the first and second torque decoupler output sections and a second end rotationally mounted within the other of the first and second torque decoupler output sections;at least two deadband stops mounted on at least one of the first and second torque decoupler output sections,wherein the quill shaft contacts the deadband stops proximate its second end after the time period. 17. The power drive unit of claim 16, wherein the deadbands stops are spaced apart from one another and the spacing thereof sets the time period. 18. The power drive unit of claim 13, wherein the deadband coupler comprises:a first quill shaft extending at least partially through the motor shaft, the first quill shaft having a first end coupled to the first torque decoupler output section and a second end including having at least one contact surface proximate thereof;a second quill shaft extending at least partially through the motor shaft, the second quill shaft having a first end coupled to the second torque decoupler output se ction and a second end including at least one contact surface proximate thereof,wherein the first quill shaft contact surface and the second quill shaft contact surface contact one another after the time period. 19. The power drive unit of claim 18, wherein the first quill shaft and the second quill shaft contact surfaces are spaced apart from one another, and the spacing thereof sets the time period. 20. The power drive unit of claim 13, further comprising:a first gimbal spring coupling the first torque decoupler input section to the motor shaft first output; anda second gimbal spring coupling the second torque decoupler input section to the motor shaft second output. 21. The power drive unit of claim 13, further comprising:a first spring positioned between the first torque decoupler input section and the motor and configured to bias the first torque decoupler input section toward the first torque decoupler output section; anda second spring positioned between the second torque decoupler input section and the motor and configured to bias the second torque decoupler input section toward the second torque decoupler output section. 22. The power drive unit of claim 12, wherein the motor is an electric motor. 23. In a thrust reverser control system including a power drive unit having at least two output sections each coupled to at least one thrust reverser movable component, a method of operating the system, comprising:rotating the power drive unit first and second output sections to move the thrust reverser movable components between a stow and a deploy position;decoupling one of the power drive unit output section from its associated thrust reverser movable component upon a first torque magnitude being reached therebetween; andthereafter decoupling the other of the power drive unit output section from its associated thrust reverser movable component a first time period after the power drive unit output sections have unequal rotational speeds. 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:operably coupling the other power drive unit output section to the thrust reverser movable component that was initially coupled to the decoupled output section a second time period after the one output section is decoupled from its thrust reverser movable component. 25. The method of claim 23, wherein:the other of the power drive unit output sections is decoupled from its associated thrust reverser movable component upon a second torque magnitude being reached therebetween; andthe first and second torque magnitudes are substantially equal. 26. In a power drive unit including a motor having at least a first and a second output coupled to at least a first and a second power drive unit output section, respectively, a method of operating the power drive unit, comprising:rotating the first and second motor outputs to thereby rotate the power drive unit first and second output sections;decoupling one of the power drive unit output sections from its respective motor output upon a first torque magnitude being reached therebetween; anddecoupling the other power drive unit output sections from its respective motor output a first time period after the power drive unit output sections have unequal rotational speeds. 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:operably coupling the first and second power drive unit output sections together a second time period after the one output section is decoupled from its respective motor output. 28. The method of claim 26, wherein:the other of the power drive unit output sections is decoupled from its associated thrust reverser movable component upon a second torque magnitude being reached therebetween; andthe first and second torque magnitudes are substantially equal.