# US 10,371,091 B2 · Electric thrust reverser actuation system with controlled brake assist > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,091 B2 - Document ID: US10371091B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/384,979 - Filed: 2017-01-09 - Published: 2018-07-12 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-09 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Applicants: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: Steve Abel; James Wawrzynek; Patrick Hinke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371091B2 ## CPC - F02K 1/763: {with actuating systems or actuating devices; Arrangement of actuators for thrust reversers} - F02K 1/566: {by blocking the rearward discharge by means of a translatable member} - F02K 1/72: the aft end of the fan housing being movable to uncover openings in the fan housing for the reversed flow - H02P 3/14: by regenerative braking - H02P 3/22: by short-circuit or resistive braking - F05D 2270/62: Electrical actuators - Y02T 50/60: Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft - 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) - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A thrust reverser control system includes a plurality of actuators, an electric motor, an electric brake, and a control. Each actuator is responsive to an actuator input torque to move between a stowed position and a deployed position. The electric motor is coupled to each of the actuators and is configured, upon being energized from a voltage source having a supply voltage magnitude, to supply the actuator input torque to the actuators and further configured to selectively generate regenerative current. The electric brake is coupled to be selectively supplied with the regenerative current and is configured, upon being supplied with the regenerative current, to supply a braking torque that slows movement of the actuators. The control is coupled to the electric brake and is configured, upon the supply voltage magnitude exceeding a predetermined value, to cause the regenerative current to be supplied to the electric brake. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thrust reverser control system, comprising: a plurality of actuators, each actuator coupled to receive an actuator input torque and configured, upon receipt of the actuator input torque, to move between a stowed position and a deployed position; an electric motor coupled to each of the actuators, the electric motor adapted to be selectively energized from a voltage source having a supply voltage magnitude and configured, upon being energized, to supply the actuator input torque to the actuators and further configured to selectively generate regenerative current; an electric brake coupled to be selectively supplied with the regenerative current and configured, upon being supplied with the regenerative current, to supply a braking torque that slows movement of the actuators; and a control coupled to the electric brake and configured, upon the supply voltage magnitude exceeding a predetermined value, to cause the regenerative current to be supplied to the electric brake. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a brake switch configured to controllably transition between an OFF state, in which the electric brake cannot receive the regenerative current, and an ON state, in which the electric brake can receive the regenerative current. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein: the brake switch is responsive to a brake switch control signal to transition between the OFF state and the ON state; and the control is further configured, upon the supply voltage magnitude exceeding the predetermined value, to supply the brake switch control signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the control is further configured to (i) supply the brake switch control signal with a duty cycle and (ii) vary the duty cycle of the brake switch linearly with the supply voltage magnitude, whereby the braking torque supplied by the electric brake varies linearly with the supply voltage magnitude. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the electric brake comprises: a stator; a coil wound on a portion of the stator and coupled to be selectively supplied with the regenerative current; a rotor disposed adjacent to the stator and configured, in response to the coil being supplied with the regenerative current, to translate toward the stator and supply the braking torque. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the electric brake further comprises: one or more return springs engaging the rotor and configured to supply a spring force thereto such that the braking torque does not commence until the magnitude of the regenerative current exceeds a predetermined value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the electric brake is coupled to the electric motor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the electric brake is coupled to one of the actuators. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the system further comprises one or more moveable thrust reverser components coupled to the actuators; and the electric brake is coupled to the one or more moveable thrust reverser components. ### Claim 10 A thrust reverser control system, comprising: a plurality of moveable thrust reverser components movable between a stowed position and a deployed position; a plurality of actuators coupled to the moveable thrust reverser components, each actuator coupled to receive an actuator input torque and configured, upon receipt of the actuator input torque, to move the moveable thrust reverser components between the stowed and deployed positions; an electric motor coupled to each of the actuators, the electric motor adapted to be selectively energized from a voltage source having a supply voltage magnitude and configured, upon being energized, to supply the actuator input torque to the actuators and further configured to selectively generate regenerative current; an electric brake coupled to be selectively supplied with the regenerative current and configured, upon being supplied with the regenerative current, to supply a braking torque that slows movement of the actuators; and a control coupled to the electric brake and configured, upon the supply voltage magnitude exceeding a predetermined value, to cause the regenerative current to be supplied to the electric brake. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, further comprising: a brake switch configured to controllably transition between an OFF state, in which the electric brake cannot receive the regenerative current, and an ON state, in which the electric brake can receive the regenerative current. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein: the brake switch is responsive to a brake switch control signal to transition between the OFF state and the ON state; and the control is further configured, upon the supply voltage magnitude exceeding the predetermined value, to supply the brake switch control signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the control is further configured to (i) supply the brake switch control signal with a duty cycle and (ii) vary the duty cycle of the brake switch linearly with the supply voltage magnitude, whereby the braking torque supplied by the electric brake varies linearly with the supply voltage magnitude. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the electric brake comprises: a stator; a coil wound on a portion of the stator and coupled to be selectively supplied with the regenerative current; a rotor disposed adjacent to the stator and configured, in response to the coil being supplied with the regenerative current, to translate toward the stator and supply the braking torque. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the electric brake further comprises: one or more return springs engaging the rotor and configured to supply a spring force thereto such that the braking torque does not commence until the magnitude of the regenerative current exceeds a predetermined value. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the electric brake is coupled to the electric motor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the electric brake is coupled to one of the actuators. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the electric brake is coupled to the one or more moveable thrust reverser components. ### Claim 19 A thrust reverser control system, comprising: a plurality of moveable thrust reverser components movable between a stowed position and a deployed position; a plurality of actuators coupled to the moveable thrust reverser components, each actuator coupled to receive an actuator input torque and configured, upon receipt of the actuator input torque, to move the moveable thrust reverser components between the stowed and deployed positions; an electric motor coupled to each of the actuators, the electric motor adapted to be selectively energized from a voltage source having a supply voltage magnitude and configured, upon being energized, to supply the actuator input torque to the actuators and further configured to selectively generate regenerative current; an electric brake coupled to be selectively supplied with the regenerative current and configured, upon being supplied with the regenerative current, to supply a braking torque that slows movement of the actuators; a brake switch, responsive to a brake switch control signal, to transition between an OFF state, in which the electric brake cannot receive the regenerative current, and an ON state, in which the electric brake can receive the regenerative current; and a control coupled to the brake switch and configured, upon the supply voltage magnitude exceeding a predetermined value, to supply the brake switch control signal, to thereby cause the regenerative current to be supplied to the electric brake. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the control is further configured to (i) supply the brake switch control signal with a duty cycle and (ii) vary the duty cycle of the brake switch linearly with the supply voltage magnitude, whereby the braking torque supplied by the electric brake varies linearly with the supply voltage magnitude.