阅读说明：本技术 用于致动推力反向器的具有防展开元件的装置 (Device for actuating a thrust reverser with an anti-deployment element ) 是由 阿坎·马利奥纳 朱利安·科宾 让-菲利普·乔伊涅 朱利安·豪特考尔 伊冯·琼库尔 让-米歇 于 2018-03-06 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于致动推力反向器的装置,其包含发动机舱携带的可移动的推力反向元件(1)以在缩回位置和展开位置之间移动,所述致动装置包含：两个致动器,其安装在所述发动机舱上和连接到发动机和可移动的推力反向元件上,以在可移动的推力反向元件的缩回位置和展开位置之间的致动器的行程上在缩回或者展开方向上调动可移动推力反向元件；锁,用于将所述可移动的推力反向元件锁合到缩回位置上；和防展开主体(11,12,13,16),其与所述致动器相连来确保所述致动器在缩回方向上的自由运行和确保所述致动器保持在展开方向上,所述防展开主体设计来确保所述致动器在展开方向上在致动器的对应于从所述可移动的推力反向元件的过缩回位置移位到可移动的推力反向元件的缩回位置的行程的一部分上的自由运行。(The invention relates to a device for actuating a thrust reverser, comprising a movable thrust reversal element (1) carried by an engine nacelle to move between a retracted position and a deployed position, said actuating device comprising: two actuators mounted on the nacelle and connected to the engine and to the movable thrust reversal element to manoeuvre the movable thrust reversal element in either the retracted or deployed direction over the stroke of the actuator between its retracted and deployed positions; a lock for locking the movable thrust reversal element in the retracted position; and a deployment-prevention body (11, 12, 13, 16) associated with the actuator to ensure free-running of the actuator in the retraction direction and to ensure that the actuator remains in the deployment direction, the deployment-prevention body being designed to ensure free-running of the actuator in the deployment direction over a portion of the actuator's stroke corresponding to the displacement from the over-retracted position of the movable thrust-reversing element to the retracted position of the movable thrust-reversing element.)

1. A device for actuating a thrust reverser comprising at least one movable thrust reverser element (1) carried by an engine nacelle (2) to be displaced between a retracted position and a deployed position, said actuating device comprising: at least one actuator (4) mounted on said nacelle and connected on the one hand to an engine (6) and on the other hand to said at least one movable thrust-reversing element to manoeuvre said at least one movable thrust-reversing element in a retraction or deployment direction over the stroke of said at least one actuator comprised between a retracted position and a deployed position of said at least one movable thrust-reversing element; at least one lock (20, 21) for locking said at least one movable thrust reversal element in said retracted position; and at least one deployment prevention element (11, 12, 13, 16) associated with said at least one actuator to ensure free travel of said at least one actuator in a retraction direction and to ensure retention of said at least one actuator in said deployment direction, characterized in that said at least one deployment prevention element is configured to ensure free travel of said at least one actuator in said deployment direction over a portion of the travel of said at least one actuator corresponding to the passage from the over-retracted position (B) of said at least one movable thrust reversal element to the retracted position (a) of said at least one movable thrust reversal element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a motor directly connected to each actuator.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a motor (6) connected to several actuators (8) by means of mechanical transmission elements (7).

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one first actuator driven by a motor and at least one second actuator driven by said first actuator.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two actuators having different actuation strokes or speeds.

6. A device according to any of claims 1-5, wherein said at least one lock is electrically controlled.

7. A device according to any of claims 1-5, wherein said at least one lock is hydraulically controlled.

8. The apparatus of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the at least one motor is an electric motor.

9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein said at least one motor is a hydraulic motor.

10. A method for using a device according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that it comprises, starting from the deployed position (O) of said at least one movable thrust reversal element, the steps of: controlling said at least one actuator to move said at least movable thrust reversal element in a retraction direction until said at least one movable thrust reversal element has reached a retracted position, which ensures closure of said at least one lock, and controlling said at least one actuator in a deployment direction until a portion of said at least one lock carried by said at least one movable thrust reversal element comes into contact with a portion of said at least one lock carried by the nacelle.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for actuating a thrust reverser, and to a method for using such an actuating device.

Background

There are known devices for actuating thrust reversers comprising a movable thrust reversal element, usually two movable thrust reversal elements, carried by the nacelle, to be displaced between a retracted position and a deployed position, said actuating devices comprising: an actuator mounted on said nacelle and connected on the one hand to the engine and on the other hand to said movable thrust reversal element to manoeuvre the movable thrust reversal element in the retraction direction or in the deployment direction over an actuator stroke comprised between the retracted position and the deployed position of said thrust reverser element; and a lock ensuring that the movable thrust reversal element remains in the retracted position; and means for maintaining said thrust reverser from inadvertent deployment in flight. The movable thrust reversal elements tend to unfold naturally under the aerodynamic action they undergo until they reach their full opening end. Due to the inertial effects of the movable parts that constitute the actuation means, the movable thrust reversal elements, when reaching the deployment end, generate dynamic vibrations that are harmful to the structure of the nacelle. To control deployment time and avoid such shock shocks at the deployment end point, it is necessary to monitor the deployment speed of the actuator. However, in the event of failure of the actuator control or in the event of mechanical breakage of the mechanical transmission chain of the actuating device, the movable thrust reversal elements can unwind at too high a speed and produce an impact when they reach the end point. In order to ensure the prevention of these deterioration conditions, it is known to mount on the actuating device a deployment prevention element, the configuration of which ensures the free running of the actuator in the retraction direction and the retention of the actuator in the deployment direction. The deployment prevention element serves to generate higher frictional forces when the tension applied to the actuator is substantial.

However, the introduction of such an anti-deployment element creates another problem that must be overcome: when the thrust reverser is in the closed position, the deployment prevention element blocks movement of the actuator in an undesired position. This is incompatible with the constructional dimensions of the thrust reverser, since it is ensured that the blocked force path of the movable thrust reversal elements passes through the actuator, while the desired positions are the retracted positions of the movable thrust reversal elements for which they are in contact with at least one main lock. A primary lock is defined as a lock through which the force path that ensures the blocking of the movable thrust reversal element passes. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for actuating a thrust reverser, which serves to avoid the risk of high speed impacts at the deployment end, while ensuring that, in the closed position, the door blocks a force path that is sent through the main lock, instead of the actuator.

Disclosure of Invention

To achieve this object, a device for actuating a thrust reverser is proposed, comprising at least one movable thrust reversal element carried by an engine nacelle to be displaced between a retracted position and a deployed position, said actuating device comprising: at least one actuator mounted on said nacelle and connected on the one hand to the engine and on the other hand to said at least one movable thrust-reversing element to manoeuvre said at least one movable thrust-reversing element in the direction of retraction or deployment over the stroke of said at least one actuator comprised between the retracted position and the deployed position of said at least one thrust-reversing retracted and movable element; at least one lock for blocking said at least one movable thrust reversal element in said position; and at least one deployment prevention element coupled to the at least one actuator to ensure free movement of the at least one actuator in a retraction direction and to ensure retention of the at least one actuator in the deployment direction, wherein the at least one deployment prevention element is configured to ensure free movement of the at least one actuator in the deployment direction over a portion of a travel of the at least one actuator corresponding to passage from the over-retracted position of the at least one movable thrust reversal element to the retracted position of the at least one movable thrust reversal element. The term retracted position in the meaning of the present invention denotes a position of the movable thrust reversal elements for which they are in contact with a so-called primary lock, that is to say a lock through which the force path is fed, which ensures blocking of the door, and the term over-retracted position denotes a position for which the movable thrust reversal elements against the engine compartment exceed the retracted position.

The deployment prevention element is characterized by the fact that it is passive in its travel between the over-retracted position and the retracted position, that is to say it does not introduce friction over this part of its travel. Due to this feature of the anti-deployment element it is thus ensured that when the thrust reverser is in the closed position, the force path of the blocking door passes through the primary lock provided for this purpose, and not through the actuator of the actuating device.

According to other features of the invention considered separately or in combination: the apparatus includes a motor directly connected to each actuator; said device comprises a motor connected to several actuators by means of mechanical transmission elements; the device comprises at least one first actuator driven by the engine, and at least one second actuator driven by the first actuator; the device comprises at least two actuators having different actuation strokes or speeds; said at least one lock is electrically controlled; said at least one lock is hydraulically controlled; the engine is an electric motor; the engine is a hydraulic engine.

According to another aspect of the invention, this relates to a method of using the device defined above, starting from the deployed position of said at least one thrust reverser element, comprising the steps of: controlling said at least one actuator in a retraction direction of said at least one thrust reverser element to manoeuvre it in the retraction direction until said at least one thrust reverser element has reached a retracted position, which ensures the closure of said at least one lock, and controlling said at least one actuator in a deployment direction until a portion of said at least one lock carried by said at least one thrust reverser element is in contact with a portion of said at least one lock carried by said nacelle.

Thus, on the one hand the lock is manoeuvred under conditions favouring such manoeuvring and on the other hand the actuator is finally free and without any restriction when the movable thrust reversal element is in the closed and locked position.

Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the following description of an actuating device according to a non-limiting preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a schematic perspective view with a part open of a nacelle equipped with an actuating device according to the invention,

figure 2 is an exploded illustration of an actuator according to a part of the present invention,

figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view according to line III-III of figure 2,

fig. 4 is a schematic view, showing the movement of the movable thrust reversal element formed by the use of the actuating device according to the invention,

fig. 5 is a graph showing the relative position of parts of the primary lock as a function of the position of the movable thrust reversal element.

Detailed Description

With reference to the figures, the actuating device according to the invention is intended for manoeuvring a movable thrust-reversing element between a retracted position and a deployed position, here two doors 1, carried by an engine compartment 2 to rotate about an axis 3. The actuating means comprise two actuators 4 mounted on the nacelle and each shaft 5 is connected to an engine, here an electric motor 6, which is connected to a power unit 24, which is itself connected to a controller 23, which is also connected to sensors, in particular a door position sensor 22, and an engine sensor 27, which is intended to provide the control unit 23 with the information necessary for the correct operation of the actuating means, in particular information about the position of the door 1. Each actuator 4 has one end hinged to the body of the nacelle 2 and an opposite end hinged to the door 1, either directly or connected by a link, also hinged to a nut 9 mounted on a ball screw 8. The position of the output nut 9 of the actuator 4 is determined by the rotation of the shaft 5 connected to the motor 6 by means of the flexible mechanical transmission cable 7.

Each actuator 4 further comprises an anti-deployment element comprising: a gear 11, idly mounted on the shaft 5 and connected to a pawl 16 hinged to an actuator casing 17; a friction plate 13 located between the gear 11 and a support plate 12 fixed to the shaft 5. The gear 11, friction plate 13 and support plate 12 are held tightly against each other between a front bearing 14 and a rear bearing 15.

The gear wheel 11 comprises a single tooth 18 which protrudes from a smooth side surface 19. The tooth 18 has a sloping side 25 and an opposite side with a steep edge 26. The deployment prevention device operates as follows:

when the shaft 5 is driven in rotation in the retraction direction, as indicated by the arrow R in fig. 3, the pawl 16 reaches the ramp 25 and falls to the side of the edge 26 in each rotation. The gear 11 rotates with the support piece 12 without sliding. The shaft 5 is free to rotate.

When the shaft 5 is driven in rotation in the unwinding direction, as indicated by the arrow D in figure 3, the gear 11 rotates without sliding with the support plate 12 as long as the pawl 16 slides on the smooth side wall 19. The shaft 5 is free to rotate. But when the pawl 16 abuts the front end 26, rotation of the gear is blocked and the support plate slides relative to the gear 11 with friction against the friction plate 13. The rotation of the shaft is braked. According to the invention, the actuator is configured so that the unbraked rotation corresponds to a partial stroke between the over-retracted position and the retracted position. For this purpose, the angular position of the teeth 18 is calculated as a function of the pitch of the ball screw 8 and the diameter of the toothed wheel 11, so that the steep edge 26 of the teeth 18 bears on the pawl 16 when the nut 9 is in the retracted position (position a in fig. 4).

Furthermore, said actuating means comprise, in a manner known per se, a main lock containing a hook 20 fastened to each door 1 and arranged for engaging a hook 21 during retraction of the movable thrust reversal element, and the hook 21 is carried by a pivotable arm which can be elastically returned towards the closed position of the lock and is associated with opening with a connecting actuator (not shown).

Fig. 4 is a view showing the displacement of the nut 9 during the rotation of the shaft 5. The letter a indicates the retracted position of the door, and the letter B indicates the over-retracted position, while the letter O indicates the end-of-travel position of the door during deployment.

During deployment, starting from point a, the nut 9 is first displaced towards the over-retracted position B (which is spaced from the retracted position a by only a few millimetres), which makes the spacing of the hooks 20 and 21 just enough for the hook 21 to disengage in the direction of opening the lock. Thereafter, the shaft 5 is driven in the unwinding direction until the movable thrust reversal element 1 comes to the end of travel indicated by the letter O.

During retraction, starting from point O, the nut 9 is first displaced in the retraction direction until the nut 9 reaches the over-retracted position B. The main lock is then closed and the nut 9 is displaced in the deployment direction up to the retracted position a. In this position, hooks 20 and 21 bear against each other and are therefore loaded, and the actuator is relieved of any load, as shown in figure 5.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and alternative embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

In particular, although the device according to the invention has been described with a single electric motor for two door actuators, the invention can also be carried out with a hydraulic motor and/or by providing each actuator connected to an electric motor, the motor 6 being directly mechanically transmitted, or by means of a reducer and the main shaft 5 of the actuator 4.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with an actuating device comprising one single lock/door, the present invention may be performed with several connected locks, depending on a combination of specification requirements related to the manufacture of a thrust reverser system.

Similarly, although no mention is made of any synchronization between the movements of the two doors, such synchronization may be added regardless of its embodiment, without the device obtained departing from the scope of the invention.

Although the invention has been described in connection with symmetrically arranged doors, it is possible to provide the actuating means with an asymmetric manner of opening of the movable thrust reversal element.

Although the present invention has been studied as a workable solution for small commercial jet aircraft, it can be applied to large aircraft.