System and method for monitoring a translating cowl thrust reverser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10294893-B2
Application number	US-201615163966-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 25, 2016
Priority date	May 25, 2016
Publication date	May 21, 2019
Grant date	May 21, 2019

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring a thrust reverser system are provided. The embodiments described herein utilize sensors located proximate locks comprising a thrust reverser locking system. The provided system and method detect deflection and displacement proximate the locks to determine when individual locks have failed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A thrust reverser system for a turbine engine, comprising:
a support structure configured to be mounted to the engine;
a transcowl mounted on the support structure and comprising a circumferential front edge, the transcowl movable between a first position, in which the front edge substantially abuts the support structure, and a second position, in which an aperture is formed between the front edge and the support structure to redirect engine airflow, the transcowl comprising the properties of (i) a continuous structure, and (ii) a predetermined flexibility;
a primary locking system comprising a first lock and a second lock, the first and second lock configured to cooperatively lock the front edge to the support structure only when the transcowl is in the first position, the first lock coupled to the front edge at a first location and the second lock coupled to the front edge at a second location, the second location being different than the first location;
a secondary locking system coupled to the support structure and comprising a third lock, the third lock coupled at a third location on the front edge, the third lock configured to lock the front edge to the support structure only when (i) the transcowl is in the first position, and (ii) a separation distance between the front edge and the support structure is substantially a secondary gap distance; and
a system for monitoring the primary and secondary locking system comprising
a first sensor located proximate the first lock,
a second sensor located proximate the second lock, wherein the first and second sensors are each configured to, when the transcowl is in the first position, detect a respective separation distance between the front edge and the support structure,
a sensor module coupled to the first and second sensors, and configured to process respective separation distances and a first gap distance to determine (i) when the first lock has failed, and (ii) when the second lock has failed.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first gap distance is based on the predetermined flexibility of the transcowl.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the secondary gap distance is greater than the first gap distance.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the sensor module is further configured to process a second gap distance that is greater than the secondary gap distance, to determine when the secondary locking system has failed.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first lock and the second lock are two of a plurality of primary locks, each coupled to the front edge and configured to cooperatively lock the front edge to the support structure only when the transcowl is in the first position.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the sensor module is further configured to determine when each of the plurality of primary locks comprising the primary locking system has failed.

7. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first gap distance is from about 0.1 inch to about 0.25 inch, and the second gap distance is from about the first gap distance to about 1 inch.

8. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a turbofan engine, and wherein the engine includes a turbofan coupled to the thrust reverser.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising an aircraft, and wherein the turbofan engine is mounted to the aircraft.

10. A system for monitoring a thrust reverser for a turbine engine, the thrust reverser of the type having a support structure configured to be mounted to the engine, and a transcowl coupled to the support structure; the transcowl having a circumferential front edge, the transcowl movable between a first position, in which the front edge substantially abuts the support structure, and a second position, in which an aperture is formed between the front edge and the support structure to redirect engine airflow; the transcowl having the properties of (i) a continuous structure, and (ii) a predetermined flexibility; the thrust reverser having a primary locking system comprising a first lock and a second lock, the first and second lock configured to cooperatively lock the front edge to the support structure only when the transcowl is in the first position, the first lock coupled to the front edge at a first location and the second lock coupled to the front edge at a second location, the second location being different from the first location, the system for monitoring a thrust reverser comprising:
a first sensor located proximate the first lock and configured to detect a first separation distance between the front edge and the support structure;
a second sensor located proximate the second lock and configured to detect a second separation distance between the front edge and the support structure; and
a processor coupled to the first sensor and second sensor and configured to process the first and second separation distances and the predetermined flexibility of the transcowl to determine (i) when the first lock has failed, and (ii) when the second lock has failed.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a secondary locking system coupled to the support structure and configured to lock the front edge, at a third location on the front edge, to the support structure only when (i) the transcowl is in the first position, and (ii) a separation distance between the front edge and the support structure is substantially a secondary gap distance, wherein the third location is different than the first location and the second location.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a first gap distance that is less than the secondary gap distance, based on the predetermined flexibility of the transcowl.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to process a second gap distance that is greater than the secondary gap distance, to determine when the secondary locking system has failed.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first lock and the second lock are two of a plurality of primary locks, each coupled to the front edge and configured to cooperatively lock the front edge to the support structure only when the transcowl is in the first position.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of sensors coupled to the processor, each sensor of the plurality of sensors is (i) located proximate a respective primary lock, and (ii) configured to determine a respective separation distance, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine when each lock of the plurality of primary locks comprising the primary locking system has failed.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first gap distance is from about 0.1 inch to about 0.25 inch, and the second gap distance is from about the first gap distance to about 1 inch.

17. A method for monitoring a thrust reverser for a turbine engine, the thrust reverser of the type having a support structure configured to be mounted to the turbine engine, and a transcowl coupled to the support structure; the transcowl having a circumferential front edge, the transcowl movable between a first position, in which the front edge substantially abuts the support structure, and a second position, in which an aperture is formed between the front edge and the support structure to redirect engine airflow; the transcowl having the properties of (i) a continuous structure, and (ii) a predetermined flexibility; the thrust reverser having a primary locking system comprising a first lock and a second lock, the first and second lock configured to cooperatively lock the front edge to the support structure only when the t

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Smith Danis Burton
• Romano Robert
• Chakkera Kevin K

Classifications

• F05D2260/80

  Diagnostics · CPC title

• F05D2270/094

  by using back-up controls · CPC title

• F02K1/766 Primary

  with blocking systems or locking devices; Arrangement of locking devices for thrust reversers · CPC title

• G01M15/14

  Testing gas-turbine engines or jet-propulsion engines · CPC title

• F01D21/003

  Arrangements for testing or measuring (for measuring vibrations G01H) · CPC title