Aircraft Thrust Reverser Door Kinematic Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Thrust reverser systems for aircraft turbine engines suffer from aerodynamic disturbances and pressure losses in the secondary channel during the inactive configuration, leading to decreased performance due to the interaction of air flow with the junction zones between the outer mobile cowling and the reverser doors.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a thrust reverser system where the reverser door is housed outside the secondary channel in the inactive configuration and moves relative to the grid, plunging into the channel in the active configuration, utilizing a specific kinematic mechanism involving articulated connections and a sliding-pivoting motion to minimize air flow disturbance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the reverser door is integrated into the outer wall of the secondary channel in the inactive configuration, then the structural formation is simplified, but aerodynamic disturbances and pressure losses increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural formationVSAvoidaerodynamic disturbances
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The reverser door is extracted from the secondary channel flow path in the inactive configuration and positioned in a housing space outside the channel. This removes the door from the aerodynamic flow, eliminating the junction zones that cause disturbances and pressure losses, while the door can still be deployed into the channel when needed for thrust reversal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The reverser door is moved from a two-dimensional position within the channel cross-section to a three-dimensional position in an external housing space. This spatial relocation allows the door to be stored outside the aerodynamic flow path while maintaining the capability to deploy into the channel when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the reverser door is housed outside the secondary channel in inactive configuration, then aerodynamic disturbances are reduced, but the mechanism complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerodynamic disturbancesVSAvoidkinematic mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The translation and pivoting motions are combined into a single integrated mechanism driven by one actuator. The first connecting piece couples the grid translation with the door pivoting motion, allowing both movements to occur simultaneously through a unified mechanical system rather than separate mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanism uses dynamic motion where the door transitions from a static stored position to an active blocking position through coordinated translation and pivoting. The articulation points and connecting pieces enable smooth dynamic movement rather than rigid positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3415749B1Nacelle with thrust reverser system creating limited aerodynamic disturbances
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)
  • EP3415749B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3415749B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3415749B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

To reduce aerodynamic disturbances in a secondary channel of an aircraft turbomachine, the invention provides a thrust reverser system (40) comprising a thrust reverser grid (46) and a reverser door (50) housed in a housing space (60) located outside a secondary channel (24), the system also comprising connecting parts (52a, 52b) whose presence combined with the action of the actuator (42) simultaneously produce: - a rearward movement of the grid (46) towards a nacelle opening (70), released by a nacelle cowling (28) driven rearward with the grid; and - a combined movement of the reverser door (50) relative to the grid (46) leading to the rearward movement of the front end of the door along the grid, and to the pivoting of this door so as to cause its rear end to plunge into the secondary channel (24).