FIELD

The present disclosure relates to thrust reversers for aircraft propulsion systems and, more particularly, to systems for deploying blocker doors of thrust reversers.

BACKGROUND

Gas turbine engine systems for modern aircraft often include a thrust reverser incorporated into a nacelle. The thrust reverser may redirect the flow of air through the nacelle in order to apply a reverse thrust to the aircraft. One style of thrust reverser includes a translating sleeve. The translating sleeve may translate aft to deploy blocker doors into the bypass air duct of a nacelle. The blocker doors may redirect air in the bypass air duct outward though a series of cascades which then turn the air forward, producing reverse thrust. Conventional blocker doors are driven by drag links that are located in a bypass air duct of the nacelle. The drag links and corresponding fittings undesirably result in drag and may generate undesirable noise because of their location in the bypass air duct.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a system for deploying a blocker door of a nacelle. The system includes a master link configured to be coupled to a fixed structure of the nacelle. The system further includes a master crank pivotally attached to the master link. The system further includes a first door crank. The system further includes a first door link pivotally coupled to the first door crank. The system further includes a first blocker door coupled to the first door link. The system further includes a first driveshaft coupled to the master crank and to the first door crank and configured to transfer motion from the master crank to the first door crank such that translation of a translating sleeve of the nacelle in an aft direction drives the master crank via the master link, which in turn drives the first door link via the first driveshaft and the first door crank to move the first blocker door into a bypass air duct defined by the nacelle.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the master crank and the first door crank are each configured to be pivotally coupled to the translating sleeve.

Any of the foregoing embodiments may further include a second door crank; a second door link pivotally coupled to the second door crank; a second blocker door coupled to the second door link; and a second driveshaft coupled to the master crank and to the second door crank and configured to transfer motion from the master crank to the second door crank, wherein the second door crank and the second blocker door are each pivotally coupled to the translating sleeve.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the master crank is located circumferentially between the first driveshaft and the second driveshaft.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the master link, the master crank, the first door crank, and the first door link are each configured to be located radially outward from the bypass air duct in response to the translating sleeve being located at its forward-most position.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the master link, the master crank, the first door crank, and the first door link are each configured to avoid contact with an aft cascade ring of a fixed cascade in response to aft and forward motion of the translating sleeve.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the master link is pivotally attached to the fixed structure of the nacelle.

Any of the foregoing embodiments may further include a first hinge coupled to the first blocker door and configured to be coupled to the translating sleeve such that the first blocker door can pivot radially inward relative to the translating sleeve.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the nacelle includes a translating cascade.

Also disclosed is a system for deploying a blocker door of a nacelle. The system includes a gear box configured to be coupled to a translating sleeve of the nacelle and to convert linear motion of the translating sleeve to rotational motion. The system further includes a first door crank. The system further includes a first door link pivotally attached to the first door crank. The system further includes a first blocker door coupled to the first door link. The system further includes a first driveshaft coupled to the gear box and to the first door crank and configured to transfer the rotational motion from the gear box to the first door crank, such that translation of the translating sleeve in an aft direction drives the first door link via the first door crank to move the first blocker door into a bypass air duct defined by the nacelle.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the gear box, the first door crank, and the first door link are each configured to be located radially outward from the bypass air duct in response to the translating sleeve being located at its forward-most position.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the nacelle includes at least one of a translating cascade or a fixed cascade.

Also disclosed is a system for deploying a blocker door of a nacelle. The system includes a master link configured to be coupled to a fixed structure of the nacelle. The system further includes a master crank pivotally attached to the master link. The system further includes a first door crank and a second door crank. The system further includes a first door link pivotally coupled to the first door crank and a second door link pivotally coupled to the second door crank. The system further includes a first blocker door coupled to the first door link and a second blocker door coupled to the second door link. The system further includes a first driveshaft coupled to the master crank and to the first door crank and a second driveshaft coupled to the master crank and to the second door crank, the first driveshaft and the second driveshaft being configured to transfer motion from the master crank to the first door crank and the second door crank, respectively, such that translation of a translating sleeve of the nacelle in an aft direction drives the master crank via the master link, which in turn drives the first door link via the first driveshaft and the first door crank and drives the second door link via the second driveshaft and the second door crank to move the first blocker door and the second blocker door into a bypass air duct defined by the nacelle.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the first blocker door, the second blocker door, the master crank, the first door crank, and the second door crank are each configured to be pivotally coupled to the translating sleeve.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the master crank is located circumferentially between the first driveshaft and the second driveshaft.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the master link, the master crank, the first door crank, the first door link, the second door crank, and the second door link are each configured to be located radially outward from the bypass air duct in response to the translating sleeve being located at its forward-most position.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the master link, the master crank, the first door crank, the first door link, the second door crank, and the second door link are each configured to avoid contact with an aft cascade ring of a fixed cascade in response to aft and forward motion of the translating sleeve.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the master link is pivotally attached to the fixed structure of the nacelle.

Any of the foregoing embodiments may further include a first hinge coupled to the first blocker door and configured to be coupled to the translating sleeve such that the first blocker door can pivot radially inward relative to the translating sleeve.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, the nacelle includes a translating cascade.

The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, the following description and drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature and non-limiting.

