Remote Aircraft Latch Assembly for Hard-to-Reach Thrust Reversers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft thrust reverser latches are in need of improvement for enhanced operational efficiency and accessibility, particularly in terms of remote actuation and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A remotely operated latch assembly for aircraft, featuring an engager assembly with a gear-driven eye bolt and a receiver assembly, allowing for remote engagement and disengagement of the eye bolt using a control handle, and incorporating a spring-loaded lock collar for secure rotation control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the latch mechanism is placed in hard-to-reach locations for structural integration, then the structural integrity and compactness are improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The latch assembly is divided into two separate assemblies: an engager assembly that remains in the hard-to-reach location for structural integration, and a receiver assembly with a control handle that is positioned in an accessible location. This segmentation allows the operational components to be separated from the structurally integrated components, resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A drive rod acts as an intermediary mechanical linkage between the control handle in the accessible location and the eye bolt in the hard-to-reach location. This intermediary mechanism transmits the operational force remotely, allowing the operator to control the latch from an accessible position while maintaining the structural integration of the engager assembly in the confined space.
2Ease of operation
If the latch mechanism is designed for remote operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control function is extracted from the engager assembly and placed in a separate receiver assembly with a control handle. This extraction allows the operational control to be simplified and positioned remotely, while the engager assembly remains focused on its latching function. The complexity is distributed rather than concentrated, making the overall system more manageable despite the added remote operation capability.
3Ease of operation
If the eye bolt is made translationally movable for engagement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of secure latching deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The eye bolt is designed with controlled translational movement capability, allowing it to move from a retracted position to an extended engaged position. This dynamic design enables the eye bolt to be easily inserted and engaged with the receiver assembly while maintaining the ability to be securely locked in the engaged position through the lock collar mechanism, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of engagement and secure latching.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded lock collar automatically engages with the lock plate to secure the eye bolt in its engaged position. This self-locking mechanism ensures that once the eye bolt is extended for engagement, it automatically secures itself without requiring additional manual intervention, thereby maintaining both ease of operation and reliability of secure latching.
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
Enables efficient and accessible operation of aircraft thrust reverser components, facilitating maintenance and ensuring secure latching mechanisms even in hard-to-reach locations.
Implementation Method 1
a spring-loaded lock collar disposed proximate to the drive input, and a lock plate configured for engagement with the spring-loaded lock collar
Implementation Method 2
the eye bolt assembly may be gear driven, and rotation of the drive input and the first drive rod may enable gear-driven translation of the eye bolt
Data Source
AI summary
A latch assembly is provided for an aircraft. The latch assembly includes an engager assembly having an eye bolt assembly, a first drive rod, and a drive input disposed remote from the eye bolt assembly. The eye bolt assembly includes an eye bolt. The drive input is operatively coupled to the eye bolt assembly via the first drive rod for translation of the eye bolt at the eye bolt assembly. The latch assembly also includes a receiver assembly having a latch receiver and a control handle. The latch receiver is configured to receive the eye bolt. The control handle is operatively coupled to the latch receiver for at least one of engagement or disengagement with the eye bolt within the latch receiver.