Pivot Door Thrust Reverser Synchronization Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pivot door thrust reversers for gas turbine engines lack an efficient synchronization mechanism for coordinated operation of multiple doors, which affects the aircraft's braking performance during landing.
Innovation Solution
A synchronization mechanism is introduced, featuring a frame with pivotally mounted doors, cranks, and links that connect the doors to the frame and each other, allowing for coordinated opening and closing of the reverser doors through a linear actuator, ensuring synchronized operation and improved thrust reversal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple reverser doors are operated independently, then each door can be controlled separately, but the doors do not open and close in unison affecting braking performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple reverser doors into a single synchronized system by pivotally mounting them to a common frame structure. The doors are linked through shared pivot points and connected to a single actuator, ensuring they operate as a unified system rather than independent components.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame acts as an intermediary structure that mediates the motion between the actuator and multiple reverser doors. The crank mechanism serves as another intermediary, converting the linear motion from the actuator into rotational motion that simultaneously drives all doors in unison.
2Device complexity
If a single actuator is used to control multiple doors, then the device complexity is reduced, but achieving synchronized operation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric linkages and offset pivot points in the crank mechanism to compensate for differences in door positions and dimensions. By carefully designing the asymmetric geometry of the links and pivot locations, the system achieves synchronized door operation despite the inherent asymmetries in the multi-door configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The crank mechanism utilizes changes in angular parameters and link lengths to maintain synchronized door operation throughout the range of motion. By optimizing these geometric parameters, the system ensures that all doors open and close in unison while being driven by a single actuator.
Data Source
AI summary
A thrust reverser includes a frame having a longitudinal axis, a first reverser door pivotally mounted to the frame, a second reverser door pivotally mounted to the frame, a crank pivotally mounted to the frame, a first link connecting the crank to the first reverser door, and a second link connecting the crank to the second reverser door. In various embodiments, both the first reverser door and the second reverser door are driven by a single actuator.