Thrust Reverser Nozzle Support Members Inhibit Deflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thrust reverser cowlings are prone to significant deflection under high-thrust engine loads, which can damage components and are limited by space constraints, making it difficult to increase wall thickness for stiffness.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating support members between the nozzle inner and outer walls, including a rigid support member attached to a torque box or fixed structure, to inhibit deflection and prevent disengagement of the inner V-blade and V-groove, ensuring stable load transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the thickness of the inner walls is increased to prevent deflection, then the stiffness and load-bearing capacity improve, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from increasing wall thickness (one-dimensional solution) to adding support members that extend radially between the inner and outer walls (introducing a new spatial dimension). This allows stiffness enhancement without increasing the thickness of the inner wall itself, thereby avoiding space constraints and complexity associated with thicker walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members act as intermediary structural elements between the inner wall and outer wall (or fixed structure). These intermediaries provide additional load paths and stiffness without requiring the inner wall itself to be thicker, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and device complexity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the thickness of the inner walls is increased to prevent deflection, then the structural stability improves, but the ease of manufacture and installation deteriorate due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The structural reinforcement is segmented into discrete support members rather than uniformly increasing wall thickness throughout. This segmentation allows for targeted reinforcement where needed, simplifying manufacturing and installation while maintaining structural stability in critical areas without the complexity of thickening the entire wall structure.
3Power
If conventional thrust reverser cowlings are used with high-thrust engines, then the power output increases, but the reliability decreases due to component damage from deflection
Solution Approach 1:
The support members are installed beforehand to prevent deflection before it can occur during high-thrust operation. This proactive reinforcement ensures that when high-power engines operate, the thrust reverser structure is already prepared to handle the loads without deflection-induced component damage, thereby maintaining reliability under high power conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Aircraft systems having thrust reversers with support members are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an aircraft system includes a thrust reverser having a nozzle inner wall, a nozzle outer wall radially outward of the inner wall, and a blocker door carried by the outer wall. The blocker door is movable between a deployed position and a stowed position. The thrust reverser further includes a support member extending between a forward section of a nozzle inner wall and a forward section of the nozzle outer wall. The support member is positioned such that at least a portion of the support member is forward of the blocker door when the blocker door is in the stowed position.