# US 10,309,343 B2 · Split sleeve hidden door thrust reverser

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,309,343 B2
- Document ID: US10309343B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/534,988
- Filed: 2014-11-06
- Published: 2016-06-09
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2014-11-06
- Assignees: Rohr, Inc.
- Applicants: Rohr, Inc.
- Inventors: Timothy Gormley
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309343B2

## CPC

- F02K 1/763: {with actuating systems or actuating devices; Arrangement of actuators for thrust reversers}
- F02K 1/70: using thrust reverser flaps or doors mounted on the fan housing
- F02K 1/72: the aft end of the fan housing being movable to uncover openings in the fan housing for the reversed flow
- F02K 1/766: {with blocking systems or locking devices; Arrangement of locking devices for thrust reversers}
- F02K 1/06: Varying effective area of jet pipe or nozzle (by using fluid jets to influence the jet flow F02K1/30)
- F02K 1/08: by axially moving or transversely deforming an internal member, e.g. the exhaust cone
- F02K 1/30: for varying effective area of jet pipe or nozzle
- F02K 1/76: Control or regulation of thrust reversers
- F05D 2220/36: specially adapted for the fan of turbofan engines
- F05D 2260/50: Kinematic linkage, i.e. transmission of position
- F05D 2260/56: using cams or eccentrics
- F05D 2260/57: using servos, independent actuators, etc.
- F02K: JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (features of jet-propulsion plants common to gas-turbine plants, air intakes or fuel supply control of air-breathing jet-propulsion plants F02C7/00, F02C9/00)
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS

## Abstract

A system for a thrust reverser of an aircraft includes a primary sleeve and a secondary sleeve having cascades. The secondary sleeve is coupled to a set of blocker doors. The sliding motions of the primary sleeve and the secondary sleeve are not directly coupled when each moves between its stowed and deployed positions. The sliding motion of the primary sleeve may begin at a different time and continue at a different rate from the sliding motion of the secondary sleeve.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A thrust reverser of an aircraft comprising:
a moveable primary sleeve; and
a moveable secondary sleeve coupled to a blocker door independent of the primary sleeve, wherein the secondary sleeve drives the blocker door from a blocker door stowed position to a blocker door deployed position; and
wherein a stroke associated with the primary sleeve is longer than a stroke associated with the secondary sleeve.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The thrust reverser of claim 1, wherein the moveable secondary sleeve is coupled to a first link, and wherein the first link is coupled to a crank, and wherein the crank is coupled to a second link, and wherein the second link is coupled to the blocker door.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The thrust reverser of claim 2, wherein the first link is configured to be oriented in a substantially axial direction relative to an axis of the thrust reverser when the thrust reverser is fully deployed.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The thrust reverser of claim 2, wherein the blocker door is configured to provide load from the blocker door through the second link and the crank to a fixed structure of the aircraft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The thrust reverser of claim 1, further comprising:
a ring configured to couple to the blocker door.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The thrust reverser of claim 1, wherein the blocker door is configured to be stowed above a skin associated with at least one of the primary sleeve and a duct when the thrust reverser is stowed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The thrust reverser of claim 1, further comprising:
a fixed structure configured to be within a compartment of the primary sleeve when the primary sleeve is in a stowed position;
wherein the blocker door is pivotally mounted to the fixed structure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The thrust reverser of claim 1, further comprising:
a structure configured to be within a compartment of the primary sleeve when the primary sleeve is in a stowed position;
wherein the primary sleeve moves relative to the structure when the primary sleeve moves between the stowed position and a deployed position; and
wherein the blocker door is pivotally mounted to the structure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

The thrust reverser of claim 3, wherein
the blocker door is configured to provide load from the blocker door through the second link and the crank to a fixed structure of the aircraft;
the primary sleeve comprises an exterior surface exposed to an exterior free air stream around the thrust reverser during flight, and the primary sleeve is movable between a primary sleeve stowed position and a primary sleeve deployed position corresponding to the reverse thrust operation;
the secondary sleeve comprises a cascade for redirecting air from a fan duct during the reverse thrust operation, and the secondary sleeve is movable between a secondary sleeve stowed position and a secondary sleeve deployed position corresponding to the reverse thrust operation; and
the primary sleeve covers the cascade when the primary sleeve is in the primary sleeve stowed position, and the cascade is exposed to the exterior free air stream when the primary sleeve is in the primary sleeve deployed position.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The thrust reverser of claim 1, wherein
the stroke associated with the primary sleeve is indicative of a distance traveled by the primary sleeve between a stowed positioned of the primary sleeve and a fully deployed position of the primary sleeve; and
the stroke associated with the secondary sleeve is indicative of a distance traveled by the secondary sleeve between a stowed positioned of the secondary sleeve and a fully deployed position of the secondary sleeve.

### Claim 11

A thrust reverser of an aircraft comprising:
a movable primary sleeve with an exterior surface exposed to an exterior free air stream around the thrust reverser during flight, the primary sleeve movable a first distance between a primary sleeve stowed position and a primary sleeve deployed position corresponding to reverse thrust operation;
a movable secondary sleeve that includes a cascade for redirecting air from a fan duct during the reverse thrust operation, the secondary sleeve movable a second distance between a secondary sleeve stowed position and a secondary sleeve deployed position corresponding to the reverse thrust operation; and
a blocker door coupled to the secondary sleeve, wherein the secondary sleeve is coupled to the blocker door independent of the primary sleeve;
wherein the primary sleeve covers the cascade when the primary sleeve is in the primary sleeve stowed position, and the cascade is completely exposed to the exterior free air stream when the primary sleeve is in the primary sleeve deployed position; and
wherein the first distance is different from the second distance; and
wherein the secondary sleeve drives the blocker door from a blocker door stowed position to a blocker door deployed position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A thrust reverser according to claim 11, wherein the blocker door movable between the blocker door stowed position and the blocker door deployed position corresponding to the reverse thrust operation; and
wherein the blocker door is driven from its stowed position to the blocker door deployed position when the secondary sleeve moves from the secondary sleeve stowed position to the secondary sleeve deployed position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A thrust reverser according to claim 12:
wherein the primary sleeve further comprises an interior skin and an exterior skin, the blocker door is fully positioned between the interior skin and the exterior skin when the blocker door is in the blocker door stowed position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

A thrust reverser according to claim 11, further comprising:
a first sliding mechanism coupled with the primary sleeve such that the primary sleeve is movable by sliding relating to a fixed structure of the thrust reverser along a sliding axis defined by the first sliding mechanism; and
a second sliding mechanism coupled with the secondary sleeve such that the secondary sleeve is movable by sliding relating to the fixed structure of the thrust reverser along a sliding axis defined by the second sliding mechanism.

### Claim 15

A thrust reverser of an aircraft comprising:
a movable primary sleeve with an exterior surface exposed to an exterior free air stream around the thrust reverser during flight, the primary sleeve movable between a primary sleeve stowed position and a primary sleeve deployed position corresponding to reverse thrust operation;
a movable secondary sleeve, the secondary sleeve movable between a secondary sleeve stowed position and a secondary sleeve deployed position corresponding to the reverse thrust operation;
a blocker door coupled to the secondary sleeve independent of the primary sleeve and movable between a blocker door stowed position and a blocker door deployed position corresponding to the reverse thrust operation wherein the blocker door redirects air through a cascade;
wherein, when the secondary sleeve moves from the secondary sleeve stowed position to the secondary sleeve deployed position, the secondary sleeve drives the blocker door from the blocker door stowed position to the blocker door deployed position; and
wherein the movable primary sleeve moves relative to the movable secondary sleeve.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

A thrust reverser according to claim 15 wherein the secondary sleeve comprises the cascade.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

A thrust reverser according to claim 16 wherein, in the secondary sleeve stowed position, at least a portion of the cascade radially overlaps a fan case of a turbofan engine.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

A thrust reverser according to claim 17 wherein the blocker door is hidden from exposure to the exterior free air stream in a fan duct when the blocker door is in the blocker door stowed position.
