Articulating Nacelle Slider With Spherical Bearing Load Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nacelle thrust reversers experience high contact stresses at the edges of the slider and track, leading to wear and damage due to the translation of the translating sleeve and/or translating doors.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of articulating sliders with spherical bearings and slider bars that allow for articulation, reducing contact stresses by allowing the slider to rotate within a spherical opening, thereby minimizing wear and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a translating sleeve or translating doors are used in the thrust reverser, then the bypass airflow can be redirected to produce reverse thrust, but high contact stresses occur at the edges of the slider and track leading to wear and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces spherical articulating bearings that allow the slider to rotate and articulate within a spherical opening. This spherical geometry distributes the contact stress across a larger surface area of the sphere rather than concentrating it at the sharp edges, thereby reducing peak contact stresses and minimizing wear and damage to both the slider and track components.
Solution Approach 2:
The slider is designed with articulating capabilities that allow it to dynamically adjust its orientation and position relative to the track. This dynamic articulation enables the slider to accommodate varying load conditions and motion paths, distributing stresses more evenly throughout the contact surfaces rather than maintaining fixed rigid contact points that would concentrate stress.
2Ease of operation
If the slider translates along a fixed track, then the thrust reverser can operate, but the high moments cause peaking of contact stresses at the forward and aft edges of the slider
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing the traditional fixed-track translation mechanism with spherical articulating bearings, the contact interface becomes curved rather than flat. This spherical contact surface allows for more uniform stress distribution during translation, eliminating the stress peaking that occurs at the forward and aft edges of sliders in fixed-track configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical bearing acts as an intermediary element between the slider and the track. It mediates the translation motion by allowing the slider to articulate and rotate within the spherical opening, thereby cushioning and distributing the high moments and contact stresses that would otherwise be concentrated at the slider edges during translation.
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
The articulating sliders effectively reduce wear and damage to the slider and track by distributing load through spherical articulation, enhancing the durability and longevity of the thrust reverser components.
Implementation Method 1
articulating sliders with spherical bearings and slider bars that allow for articulation, reducing contact stresses by allowing the slider to rotate within a spherical opening
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A thrust reverser comprises a translating sleeve panel (130). A first articulating slider (170) and a second articulating slider (171) are located at a circumferential end of the translating sleeve panel (130). Each of the first articulating slider (170) and the second articulating slider (171) include a slider bar (1801, 1802) and a slider ball (1821, 1822). The slider ball (1821, 1822) is attached to the translating sleeve panel (130) and located in a spherical opening (1841, 1842) defined by the slider bar (1801, 1802).