Tertiary lock system for a thrust reverser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10724477-B2
Application number	US-201815974841-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2018
Priority date	May 19, 2017
Publication date	Jul 28, 2020
Grant date	Jul 28, 2020

Abstract

A lock system for a component of a thrust reverser actuation system (“TRAS”), comprising a lock member translatable between a locked position, in which the lock member prevents movement of the thrust reverser component to deploy the thrust reverser actuation system, and an unlocked position, in which the lock member allows movement of the thrust reverser component to deploy the thrust reverser actuation system. The actuator may further comprise a screw shaft and a nut translatable along the screw shaft and operatively connected to the lock member. Rotational movement of one of the screw shaft and the nut causes the nut to translate along the screw shaft and, in turn, the lock member to move between its locked position and its unlocked position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tertiary lock system for an aircraft thrust reverser, comprising:
a non-rotating lock member translatable between a locked position, in which the lock member prevents deployment of the thrust reverser by blocking the path of a movable component, and an unlocked position, in which the lock member permits deployment of the thrust reverser by moving out of the path of the movable component;
a screw shaft and a nut, wherein rotational movement of one of the screw shaft and the nut causes the other of the screw shaft and the nut to translate along the longitudinal axis of the screw shaft and, in turn, the lock member to move between its locked position and its unlocked position; and
an electric motor configured to rotate the one of the screw shaft and the nut to cause the lock member to move between its locked position and its unlocked position.

2. A tertiary lock system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a resilient member configured to urge the lock member towards its locked position.

3. A tertiary lock system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the resilient member is a spring biased between the other of the screw shaft and the nut and a fixed housing, or between a member attached to and movable with the other of the screw shaft and the nut and a fixed housing.

4. A tertiary lock system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lock member is configured, in its locked position, to block the path of the movable component.

5. A tertiary lock system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the movable component forms part of a translating cowl of the aircraft thrust reverser.

6. A tertiary lock system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lock member comprises a first surface configured to abut the movable component upon movement of the movable component from a stowed position, so as to prevent movement of the component to deploy the thrust reverser.

7. A tertiary lock system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein a plane formed by the first surface is substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the movable component.

8. A tertiary lock system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lock member comprises a bevelled surface configured to abut the movable component upon movement of the movable component from a deployed position, such that, upon contacting the bevelled surface, the movable component rides up the bevelled surface and forces the lock member towards its unlocked position and out of the path of the movable component.

9. A tertiary lock system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the movable component comprises one or more rollers configured to contact the bevelled surface upon movement of the movable component from its deployed position, wherein, in use, the roller(s) roll up the bevelled surface and force the lock member towards its unlocked position.

10. A tertiary lock system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the screw shaft is non-rotating, and the motor is configured to rotate the nut about the longitudinal axis of the screw shaft, in order to translate the screw shaft along its longitudinal axis and move the lock member between its locked position and unlocked position.

11. A tertiary lock system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the nut is non-rotating, and the motor is configured to rotate the screw shaft about its longitudinal axis, in order to translate the nut along the longitudinal axis of the screw shaft and move the lock member between its locked position and unlocked position.

12. A thrust reverser assembly comprising the tertiary lock system as claimed in claim 1 .

13. A thrust reverser assembly as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising:
the movable component:
one or more actuators configured to selectively move the movable component between a stowed position and a deployed position;
wherein the tertiary lock system is configured to selectively prevent movement of the movable component from its stowed position to its deployed position via selective movement of the lock member between its locked position and its unlocked position.

14. A thrust reverser actuation system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein in its locked position the lock member prevents movement of the movable component from its stowed position to its deployed position, and in its unlocked position the lock member allows movement of the movable component from its stowed position to its deployed position.

15. A method of preventing deployment of an aircraft thrust reverser, comprising:
providing a tertiary lock system as claimed in claim 1 ;
operating the electric motor to move the lock member from its unlocked position to its locked position, such that the lock member blocks the path of the movable component of the thrust reverser assembly and prevents deployment of the thrust reverser.

Assignees

• Goodrich Actuation Systems Ltd

Inventors

• Hawksworth Andrew
• Holding James

Classifications

• F02K1/70

  using thrust reverser flaps or doors mounted on the fan housing · CPC title

• F02K1/766 Primary

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

• F16H25/2204

  with balls · CPC title