Aircraft Thrust Reverser Gates Reducing Aerodynamic Drag

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Solution Overview

Problem

Thrust reverser systems for aircraft turbomachines experience aerodynamic disturbances and pressure losses due to air flow disruptions at the junctions between the outer mobile fairing and reverser gates in inactive configuration, leading to reduced performance.

Innovation Solution

The thrust reverser system features reverser gates composed of two folded sections housed outside the secondary channel, which deploy into the channel upon activation, minimizing air flow disturbances and optimizing the system's design to improve performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If reverser gates are positioned within the secondary channel in inactive configuration, then the system structure is simplified, but aerodynamic disturbances and pressure losses increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem structureVSAvoidpressure losses

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The reverser gates are extracted from the secondary channel in inactive configuration and positioned in a housing space outside the channel. This removes the gates from the airflow path, eliminating aerodynamic disturbances and pressure losses while maintaining system functionality when deployed into the channel during active configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The gates transition from a two-dimensional position within the channel cross-section to a three-dimensional deployment mechanism that moves gates from outside the channel into the channel. This dimensional transition allows the gates to be absent from the airflow path during inactive configuration while maintaining blocking capability during active configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If reverser gates are retracted within the secondary channel, then the mechanism size is reduced, but flow disturbances and drag increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanism sizeVSAvoidflow disturbances

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The gates are extracted from the secondary channel and positioned in an external housing space, removing them from the airflow path. This eliminates flow disturbances and drag in inactive configuration while maintaining the ability to deploy into the channel when thrust reversal is activated

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A housing space is introduced as an intermediary structure that contains the gates during inactive configuration. This housing space acts as a mediator between the gates and the secondary channel, preventing direct interaction between the gates and airflow while allowing deployment when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10519899B2Thrust reverser system limiting aerodynamic perturbation in an inactive configuration

Publication Date: 2019.12.31 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

AI summary

A thrust reverser system with a thrust reverser cascade and a reverser door with door segments laid out in a folded condition relatively to each other in an inactive configuration of the reverser system, and accommodated in an accommodation space located outside the secondary channel. Upon passing from the inactive configuration to the active configuration a rearward displacement of the cascade towards a nacelle aperture, released by an external movable nacelle cowl driven rearwards by the cascade, and a deployment of segments until they attain a deployed closing position within the secondary channel occurs simultaneously.