A thrust reverser includes: a thrust-reversing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position; at least one hydraulic actuator operably coupled to move the thrust-reversing element between the stowed and deployed positions; at least one hydraulic primary lock configured to transit
A thrust reverser includes: a thrust-reversing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position; at least one hydraulic actuator operably coupled to move the thrust-reversing element between the stowed and deployed positions; at least one hydraulic primary lock configured to transition, in response to a first activation pressure, between an engaged state, where movement of the thrust-reversing element is inhibited, and a released state, where movement of the thrust-reversing element is uninhibited; and a directional control unit fluidly coupled to the hydraulic actuator and the hydraulic primary lock, the directional control unit configured to transition from a first stage to a second stage in response to a second activation pressure that is greater than the first activation pressure, and where a transition from the first stage to the second stage by the directional control unit causes the hydraulic actuator to move the thrust-reversing element to the deployed position.
대표청구항▼
1. An engine assembly, comprising: a nacelle configured to at least partially surround a turbine engine;a thrust reverser coupled to the nacelle, the thrust reverser comprising:a thrust-reversing element movable relative to the nacelle between a stowed position and a deployed position;at least one h
1. An engine assembly, comprising: a nacelle configured to at least partially surround a turbine engine;a thrust reverser coupled to the nacelle, the thrust reverser comprising:a thrust-reversing element movable relative to the nacelle between a stowed position and a deployed position;at least one hydraulic actuator operably coupled to move the thrust-reversing element between the stowed position and the deployed position;at least one hydraulic primary lock configured to transition, in response to a first activation pressure, between an engaged state, where movement of the thrust-reversing element is inhibited, and a released state, where movement of the thrust-reversing element is uninhibited; anda directional control unit fluidly coupled to the at least one hydraulic actuator and the at least one hydraulic primary lock, the directional control unit configured to transition from a first stage to a second stage in response to a second activation pressure that is greater than the first activation pressure, and where a transition from the first stage to the second stage by the directional control unit causes the at least one hydraulic actuator to move the thrust-reversing element to the deployed position. 2. The engine assembly of claim 1, wherein the thrust-reversing element comprises a pivotally mounted door. 3. The engine assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one hydraulic actuator comprises: an actuator housing coupled to the nacelle;an actuator rod extending through the housing and coupled, at a distal end, to the thrust-reversing element, the actuator housing comprising a piston sealed within the housing and defining first and second fluid chambers of the housing; andfirst and second fluid ports leading to the respective first and second fluid chambers, each of the first and second fluid ports residing in fluid communication with the directional control unit. 4. The engine assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one hydraulic primary lock comprises: a lock housing coupled to the nacelle; a spring-biased lock rod extending through the housing;a locking element coupled to a distal end of the lock rod, the locking element engaging a latch of the thrust-reversing element when the at least one hydraulic primary lock is in the engaged state;a piston sealed within a piston chamber of the housing and coupled to a proximal end of the lock rod; anda fluid port leading to the piston chamber and residing in fluid communication with the directional control unit. 5. The engine assembly of claim 4, wherein the fluid port residing in fluid communication with the directional control unit is the only fluid port leading to the piston chamber. 6. The engine assembly of claim 4, wherein the locking element comprises an S-shaped structure mounted to pivot about a center of rotation, and wherein the distal end of the lock rod is connected to a portion of the structure offset from the center rotation. 7. The engine assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one hydraulic primary lock comprises: an electronic solenoid plunger; anda spring-biased block movable by the plunger between a first position, where the at least one hydraulic primary lock is prevented from transitioning from the engaged state to the released state, and a second position, where transitioning of the at least one hydraulic primary lock between the engaged state and the released state is uninhibited. 8. The engine assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one hydraulic primary lock comprises a first hydraulic primary lock, and wherein the thrust reverser further comprises a second hydraulic primary lock independently operated by the directional control unit. 9. The engine assembly of claim 8, wherein the first hydraulic primary lock and the second hydraulic primary lock are fluidly coupled to the directional control unit in parallel. 10. The engine assembly of claim 1, wherein the directional control unit comprises a spring-biased spool valve configured to receive pressurized fluid from a pressure source and selectively convey the pressurized fluid to an extend fluid port and a retract fluid port of the at least one hydraulic actuator based on a current stage of the directional control unit, such that the pressurized fluid is conveyed to the extend fluid port of the at least one hydraulic actuator only when the directional control unit is in the second stage. 11. The engine assembly of claim 10, wherein the spool valve comprises an elongated shaft having a spring shoe at one end, a piston member at an opposite end, and a land residing between the ends of the shaft. 12. The engine assembly of claim 11, wherein the spool valve resides in a valve case comprising: a spring chamber receiving a biasing spring seated on the spring shoe of the spool valve;an actuator fluid chamber in fluid communication with the extend fluid port of the at least one hydraulic actuator; anda piston chamber receiving the piston member of the spool valve, the piston chamber including a pilot valve inlet port for receiving pressurized fluid from the pressure source and directing a hydraulic pressure force against the piston member, the hydraulic pressure force opposing a spring force of the biasing spring. 13. The engine assembly of claim 12, wherein the spool valve is movable within the valve case when the hydraulic pressure force overcomes the spring force at the second activation pressure. 14. The engine assembly of claim 12, wherein the directional control unit further comprises a solenoid valve configured to, in response to a control signal, simultaneously convey pressurized fluid from the pressure source to the pilot valve inlet port and the at least one hydraulic primary lock. 15. The engine assembly of claim 14, wherein the directional control unit further comprises a flow restriction residing on a flow path leading to the valve inlet port. 16. An actuation system for operating an engine thrust reverser comprising a thrust-reversing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the actuation system comprising: at least one hydraulic actuator coupleable to the thrust-reversing element and, when coupled, configured to convey sufficient actuating force to move the thrust-reversing element between the stowed position and the deployed position;at least one hydraulic primary lock coupleable to the thrust-reversing element and, when coupled, configured to transition between an engaged state, where movement of the thrust-reversing element is inhibited, and a released state, where movement of the thrust-reversing element is uninhibited, in response to a first activation pressure; anda directional control unit fluidly coupled to the at least one hydraulic actuator and the at least one hydraulic primary lock, the directional control unit configured to transition from a first stage to a second stage in response to a second activation pressure that is greater than the first activation pressure, and where a transition from the first stage to the second stage by the directional control unit, when the at least one hydraulic actuator is coupled to the thrust-reversing element, causes the at least one hydraulic actuator to convey an actuating force to deploy the thrust-reversing element. 17. The actuation system of claim 16, wherein the at least one hydraulic actuator comprises: an actuator housing;an actuator rod extending through the housing and coupled, at a distal end, to the thrust-reversing element, the actuator housing comprising a piston sealed within the housing and defining first and second fluid chambers of the housing; andfirst and second fluid ports leading to the respective first and second fluid chambers, each of the first and second fluid ports residing in fluid communication with the directional control unit. 18. The actuation system of claim 16, wherein the at least one hydraulic primary lock comprises: a lock housing;a spring-biased lock rod extending through the housing;a locking element coupled to a distal end of the lock rod, the locking element engaging a latch of the thrust-reversing element when the at least one hydraulic primary lock is in the engaged state;a piston sealed within a piston chamber of the housing and coupled to a proximal end of the lock rod; anda fluid port leading to the piston chamber and residing in fluid communication with the directional control unit. 19. The actuation system of claim 18, wherein the fluid port residing in fluid communication with the directional control unit is the only fluid port leading to the piston chamber. 20. The actuation system of claim 18, wherein the locking element comprises an S-shaped structure mounted to pivot about a center of rotation, and wherein the distal end of the lock rod is connected to a portion of the structure offset from the center of rotation. 21. The actuation system of claim 16, wherein the at least one hydraulic primary lock comprises: an electronic solenoid plunger; anda spring-biased block movable by the plunger between a first position, where the at least one hydraulic primary lock is prevented from transitioning from the engaged state to the released state, and a second position, where transitioning of the at least one hydraulic primary lock between the engaged state and the released state is uninhibited. 22. The actuation system of claim 16, wherein the at least one hydraulic primary lock comprises a first hydraulic primary lock, and wherein the thrust reverser further comprises a second hydraulic primary lock independently operated by the directional control unit. 23. The actuation system of claim 22, wherein the first hydraulic primary lock and the second hydraulic primary lock are fluidly coupled to the directional control unit in parallel. 24. The actuation system of claim 16, wherein the directional control unit comprises a spring-biased spool valve configured to receive pressurized fluid from a pressure source and selectively convey the pressurized fluid to an extend fluid port and a retract fluid port of the at least one hydraulic actuator based on a current stage of the directional control unit, such that the pressurized fluid is conveyed to the extend fluid port of the at least one hydraulic actuator only when the directional control unit is in the second stage. 25. The actuation system of claim 24, wherein the spool valve comprises an elongated shaft having a spring shoe at one end, a piston member at an opposite end, and a land residing between the ends of the shaft. 26. The actuation system of claim 25, wherein the spool valve resides in a valve case comprising: a spring chamber receiving a biasing spring seated on the spring shoe of the spool valve;an actuator fluid chamber in fluid communication with the extend fluid port of the at least one hydraulic actuator; anda piston chamber receiving the piston member of the spool valve, the piston chamber including a pilot valve inlet port for receiving pressurized fluid from the pressure source and directing a hydraulic pressure force against the piston member, the hydraulic pressure force opposing a spring force of the biasing spring. 27. The actuation system of claim 26, wherein the spool valve is movable within the valve case when the hydraulic pressure force overcomes the spring force at the second activation pressure. 28. The actuation system of claim 26, wherein the directional control unit further comprises a solenoid valve configured to, in response to a control signal, simultaneously convey pressurized fluid from the pressure source to the pilot valve inlet port and the at least one hydraulic primary lock. 29. The actuation system of claim 28, wherein the directional control unit further comprises a flow restriction residing on a flow path leading to the pilot valve inlet port.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (4)
Lymons Dennis E. ; Aten Michael R., Actuator and safety lock system for pivoting door thrust reverser for aircraft jet engine.
Woodruff, Frank; Ferguson, Jr., John H.; Hoffman, John R., Integrated hydraulic control circuit for jet engine thrust reverser and variable exhaust nozzle.
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