Dielectric elastomer device to fill steps or gaps in a thrust reverser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016245231-A1
Application number	US-201514626547-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 19, 2015
Priority date	Feb 19, 2015
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a thrust reverser of an aircraft, comprising: a wall having a first surface that partially forms a flow channel associated with an air flow, a blocker door having a second surface that partially forms the flow channel, and a dielectric elastomeric device that is configured to selectively expand and contract within a cavity formed between the wall and the blocker door where the cavity is substantially radially adjacent to the flow channel when the thrust reverser is in a stowed state.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A thrust reverser of an aircraft, comprising:
a wall having a first surface that partially forms a flow channel associated with an air flow; a blocker door having a second surface that partially forms the flow channel; and a dielectric elastomeric device that is configured to selectively expand and contract within a cavity formed between the wall and the blocker door where the cavity is substantially radially adjacent to the flow channel when the thrust reverser is in a stowed state.

2 . The thrust reverser of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric elastomeric device is in a first state when the thruster reverser is operated in the stowed state and in a second state when the thrust reverser is operated in a deployed state.

3 . The thrust reverser of claim 2 , wherein a first size of the dielectric elastomeric device in the first state is larger than a second size of the dielectric elastomeric device in the second state.

4 . The thrust reverser of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric elastomeric device comprises an elastomer located between two electrodes.

5 . The thrust reverser of claim 4 , wherein the dielectric elastomeric device is in an energized state when the thruster reverser is operated in the stowed state and in a de-energized state when the thrust reverser is operated in a deployed state.

6 . The thrust reverser of claim 5 , wherein the energized state and the de-energized state are based on a voltage that is applied to the electrodes.

7 . The thrust reverser of claim 6 , wherein the voltage is based on a 28 Volt direct current aircraft power source.

8 . The thrust reverser of claim 1 , further comprising:
a shutter plate coupled to the dielectric elastomeric device, wherein the shutter plate partially forms the flow channel.

9 . The thrust reverser of claim 8 , wherein the shutter plate is formed from at least one of aluminum, titanium, or a composite material.

10 . The thrust reverser of claim 8 , wherein a first end of the shutter plate is hinged to the blocker door, and wherein a second end of the shutter plate couples to a protrusion formed in a deflector when the thrust reverser is operated in the stowed state.

11 . The thrust reverser of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric elastomeric device is configured to completely fill the cavity when the thrust reverser is operated in the stowed state.

12 . The thrust reverser of claim 1 , further comprising:
an actuator configured to control a deployment or stowing of the blocker door.

13 . The thrust reverser of claim 1 , wherein the dielectric elastomeric device is wedge-shaped.

Assignees

• Rohr Inc

Inventors

• Frank Joel H
• Ribarov Lubomir A

Classifications

• F02K1/766 Primary

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

• F02K1/74

  Reversing at least one flow in relation to at least one other flow in a plural- flow engine · CPC title

• F05D2250/90

  Variable geometry · CPC title

• F02K1/66

  using reversing fan blades · CPC title

• F02K1/70

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