Thrust reverser with one or more butressing corner cascade portions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9903313-B2
Application number	US-201414261025-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2014
Priority date	Apr 24, 2014
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A thrust reverser of a propulsion system nacelle is provided. The thrust reverser extends circumferentially about a lengthwise-extending centerline. The thrust reverser includes a lengthwise-extending upper track beam, a lengthwise-extending lower track beam, an annular torque box extending circumferentially between the upper and lower track beams, and an annular cascade array extending circumferentially between the upper and lower track beams. The cascade array is circumferentially segmented into a plurality of cascade portions. At least one of the plurality of cascade portions is made at least substantially of a material that permits the at least one cascade portion to bear high loads during both a forward thrust operation of the thrust reverser and a thrust reversing operation of the thrust reverser.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A thrust reverser of a propulsion system nacelle, the thrust reverser extending circumferentially about a lengthwise-extending centerline, the thrust reverser comprising:
a lengthwise-extending upper track beam;
a lengthwise-extending lower track beam;
an annular torque box extending circumferentially between the upper and lower track beams;
an annular cascade array extending circumferentially between the upper and lower track beams;
wherein the cascade array is circumferentially segmented into a plurality of cascade portions comprising a corner cascade portion and an intermediate cascade portion;
wherein the corner cascade portion is made at least substantially of a first material that permits the corner cascade portion to bear loads during both a forward thrust operation of the thrust reverser and a thrust reversing operation of the thrust reverser; and
wherein the intermediate cascade portion is made at least substantially of a second material that is different than the first material.

2. The thrust reverser of claim 1 , wherein the corner cascade portion buttresses a connection between the torque box and the upper track beam.

3. The thrust reverser of claim 1 , wherein the corner cascade portion buttresses a connection between the torque box and the lower track beam.

4. The thrust reverser of claim 1 , wherein the thrust reverser includes a fixed structure and a translating structure that at least partially define an annular airstream bypass duct there between;
wherein the translating structure is moveable relative to the fixed structure between a stowed position and a deployed position;
wherein the upper and lower track beams, the torque box, and the cascade array are included in the fixed structure;
wherein the translating structure prevent a bypass airstream passing through the bypass duct from discharging through the cascade array when the translating structure is in the stowed position;
wherein the cascade array is exposed to the bypass airstream and ambient air surrounding the propulsion system nacelle when the translating structure is in the deployed position; and
wherein the bypass airstream is discharged through the cascade array when the translating structure is in the deployed position.

5. The thrust reverser of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of cascade portions includes a plurality of vanes that are configured to redirect the bypass airstream to generate reverse thrust as the bypass airstream is discharged through the cascade array.

6. The thrust reverser of claim 1 , wherein the cascade array is circumferentially segmented into left and right sides that each extend circumferentially between respective top and bottom ends; and
wherein the respective top ends of the left and right side portions of the cascade array are connected to the upper track beam.

7. The thrust reverser of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cascade portions includes:
a first corner cascade portion disposed adjacent to and connected to the upper track beam;
a second corner cascade portion disposed adjacent to the first corner cascade portion;
a third corner cascade portion disposed adjacent to and connected to the lower track beam; and
a fourth corner cascade portion disposed adjacent to the third corner cascade portion;
wherein the intermediate cascade portion is disposed circumferentially between the second and third corner cascade portions;
wherein the first, second, third, and fourth corner cascade portions are made at least substantially of the first material that permits the first, second, third, and fourth corner cascade portions to bear loads during both a forward thrust operation of the thrust reverser and a thrust reversing operation of the thrust reverser;
wherein the intermediate corner cascade portion is made at least substantially of the second material that permits the intermediate cascade portion to bear loads during a thrust reversing operation of the thrust reverser; and
the corner cascade portion comprises one of the first, second, third, and fourth corner cascade portions.

8. The thrust reverser of claim 1 , wherein the first material is metal and the second material is composite material.

9. The thrust reverser of claim 1 , wherein the corner cascade portion is made completely of the first material that consists essentially of metal, and the second material comprises composite material.

10. The thrust reverser of claim 1 , wherein the corner cascade portion is circumferential next to and connected to the at least another one of the plurality of cascade portions.

11. The thrust reverser of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first aft cascade ring fitting integrally formed with the corner cascade portion;
a second aft cascade ring fitting formed discrete from and attached to the intermediate cascade portion; and
an annular aft cascade ring that extends circumferentially between the upper track beam and the lower track beam, wherein the annular aft cascade ring is connected to the corner cascade portion through the first aft cascade ring fitting, and wherein the annular aft cascade ring is connected to the intermediate cascade portion through the second aft cascade ring fitting.

12. The thrust reverser of claim 11 , wherein the first material is metal and the second material is composite material.

13. A thrust reverser of a propulsion system nacelle, the thrust reverser extending circumferentially about a lengthwise-extending centerline, the thrust reverser comprising:
a lengthwise-extending upper track beam;
a lengthwise-extending lower track beam;
an annular torque box extending circumferentially between the upper and lower track beams;
an annular cascade array extending circumferentially between the upper and lower track beams;
wherein the cascade array is circumferentially segmented into a plurality of cascade portions;
wherein at least one of the plurality of cascade portions is made at least substantially of a material that permits the at least one cascade portion to bear loads during both a forward thrust operation of the thrust reverser and a thrust reversing operation of the thrust reverser;
wherein the plurality of cascade portions include:
a first corner cascade portion disposed adjacent to and connected to the upper track beam;
a second corner cascade portion disposed adjacent to and connected to the lower track beam;
an intermediate cascade portion disposed circumferentially between the first and second corner cascade portions;
wherein the first and second corner cascade portions are made at least substantially of a first material that permits the first and second corner cascade portions to bear loads during both a forward thrust operation of the thrust reverser and a thrust reversing operation of the thrust reverser; and
wherein the intermediate corner cascade portion is made at least substantially of a second material that permits the intermediate cascade portion to bear loads during a thrust reversing operation of the thrust reverser.

14. The thrust reverser of claim 13 , wherein forward ends of the first and second corner cascade portions are connected to the torque box; and
wherein a forward end of the intermediate cascade portion abuts the torque box but is not connected to the torque box.

15. The thrust reverser of claim 13 , further comprising:
an annular aft cascade ring that extends circumferentially between the upper track beam and the lower track beam;
wherein the cascade array extends in a lengthwise direction between the torque box and the aft cascade ring;
wherein at least one of the first and

Assignees

• Rohr Inc

Inventors

• Aten Michael

Classifications

• F02K1/72 Primary

  the aft end of the fan housing being movable to uncover openings in the fan housing for the reversed flow · CPC title

• Y02T50/672

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y02T50/60

  Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft · CPC title