Thrust Reverser Door Continuous Curved Surface Flow Attachment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional thrust reverser doors on aircraft experience flow separation due to discrete transitions in their interior mold lines, leading to reduced effectiveness in providing reverse thrust along the entire door length.

Innovation Solution

A thrust reverser door with a continuous interior surface profile featuring a downstream nozzle portion, a convex portion, and a concave portion, designed to maintain flow attachment and prevent separation, including a lofted portion with continuous curves and a slat that occupies the transition gap when stowed to minimize jet pipe losses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional discrete transitions are used in the interior mold line, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the flow separates from the door reducing reverse thrust effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidreverse thrust effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by replacing discrete flat transitions with a continuous curved surface profile. The interior surface includes a convex portion and concave portion that smoothly transition without sharp angles, preventing flow separation and maintaining effective reverse thrust along the entire door length while remaining manufacturable through modern molding techniques

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Device complexity

If discrete flat surfaces with large transitions are used, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but flow separation occurs downstream of the transition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidflow attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces discrete flat surfaces with a continuous curved profile featuring a convex portion followed by a concave portion. This curved geometry eliminates sharp transitions that cause flow separation, ensuring the flow remains attached to the door surface throughout its length, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The continuous curved surface profile ensures uninterrupted flow attachment along the entire door length. By eliminating discrete transitions and maintaining a smooth continuous geometry, the useful action of flow attachment is preserved throughout the door, preventing the degradation of reverse thrust effectiveness that occurs with conventional discrete surfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 continuous profile and slat design ensure effective thrust vectoring along the entire door length, maximizing reverse thrust while minimizing jet pipe losses and optimizing fuel efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

designed to maintain flow attachment and prevent separation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow attachment:

Implementation Method 2

These conventional discrete transitions may cause the flow to separate from the thrust reverser door

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow separation: Flow Separation

Implementation Method 3

Thrust reversers typically deflect the exhaust of an aircraft engine into the aircraft forward direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThrust vectoring:

Implementation Method 4

This 'reversed' thrust if often used to slow the aircraft after landing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReverse thrust:

Data Source

PatentUS11719188B2Thrust reverser with continuous curved surface

Publication Date: 2023.08.08 GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORP

AI summary

A thrust reverser for an aircraft includes a jetpipe and a thrust reverser door. The thrust reverser door has an aft end, a forward end, and an interior surface facing radially inward. The interior surface defines a continuous profile with a downstream nozzle portion directly adjacent to the aft end, a concave portion directly adjacent to the downstream nozzle portion, and a convex portion directly adjacent to the forward end and adjacent to the concave portion.