Gerotor Ball Screw Actuator With Manual Lock for Thrust Reversers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing actuator systems for thrust reversers in gas turbine engines require additional motors, increasing weight and space, and lack efficient mechanisms for motorless operation and manual override during maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The proposed actuator system incorporates a gerotor mechanism with a ball screw and nut configuration, coupled with a lock system that allows for motorless operation and manual override, utilizing a piston and grippable member to transition between locked and unlocked states, enabling the thrust reverser to move between deployed, stowed, and overstowed positions without an external motor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple flexshafts are used to move the thrust reverser, then the thrust reverser can be driven to move, but an additional motor is required which increases weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the additional motor from the system by implementing a direct gearset connection between the actuator and thrust reverser. The gearset is driven by the actuator itself through a ball screw mechanism, removing the need for a separate external motor that was previously required to drive multiple flexshafts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the actuator's drive function directly with the thrust reverser movement function through an integrated gearset mechanism. The actuator's ball screw rotates a pinion gear that directly drives the thrust reverser, combining what were previously separate drive systems into a unified mechanism that eliminates redundant components.
2Power
If multiple flexshafts are used to move the thrust reverser, then the thrust reverser can be driven to move, but an additional motor is required which increases space requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the additional motor from the system by implementing a direct gearset connection between the actuator and thrust reverser. The gearset is driven by the actuator itself through a ball screw mechanism, removing the need for a separate external motor that was previously required to drive multiple flexshafts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the actuator's drive function directly with the thrust reverser movement function through an integrated gearset mechanism. The actuator's ball screw rotates a pinion gear that directly drives the thrust reverser, combining what were previously separate drive systems into a unified mechanism that eliminates redundant components.
3Reliability
If a lock system is added to enable manual override, then maintenance safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lock system is designed to be manually operated by maintenance personnel without requiring external tools or complex mechanisms. The grippable member allows direct manual engagement to rotate the ball screw and move the thrust reverser to maintenance positions, enabling self-service maintenance operations while adding minimal complexity to the overall system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the weight and space requirements of the thrust reverser system by eliminating the need for an additional motor, allows for safe and efficient manual operation during maintenance, and ensures the thrust reverser can be locked at any position for safety during maintenance procedures.
Implementation Method 1
A movement of the inner rotor relative to the outer rotor is configured to rotate the ball screw relative to the ball nut to move the thrust reverser between at least a first position and a second position
Implementation Method 2
The actuator includes a ball screw configured to be coupled to the thrust reverser, and a ball nut coupled to the ball screw
Implementation Method 3
The piston housing includes a piston spring and a fitting, the piston includes a head and a shaft, the shaft is configured to engage the one of the plurality of bores of the outer rotor and the piston spring is disposed between the head and the fitting to bias the piston into engagement with the one of the plurality of bores of the outer rotor
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator for a thrust reverser includes a ball screw, a ball nut coupled to the ball screw, and a gerotor coupled to the ball screw. The gerotor includes an inner rotor coupled to the ball screw and an outer rotor. The outer rotor includes a plurality of bores. The actuator includes a lock system coupled to the outer rotor. The lock system is to enable the gerotor to rotate the ball screw in an unlocked state and to inhibit a rotation of the ball screw in a lock state. The lock system includes a piston coupled to a piston housing and a grippable member coupled to the piston housing. The piston is received in one of the bores in the lock state, and the grippable member is to move the piston housing relative to the gerotor to move the lock system to the unlocked state.