# US 10,480,453 B2 · Hidden thrust reverser blocker door link arm fitting

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- Number: US 10,480,453 B2
- Document ID: US10480453B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/258,820
- Filed: 2016-09-07
- Published: 2018-03-08
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-07
- Assignees: United Technologies Corporation
- Applicants: United Technologies Corporation
- Inventors: Nigel David Sawyers-Abbott; Matthew Exner
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480453B2

## CPC

- F02K 1/763: {with actuating systems or actuating devices; Arrangement of actuators for thrust reversers}
- F01D 25/24: Casings (modified for heating or cooling F01D25/14); Casing parts, e.g. diaphragms, casing fastenings (casings for rotary machines or engines in general F16M {; special arrangements in stators dealing with breaking-off of part of rotor F01D21/045})
- F01D 25/28: Supporting or mounting arrangements, e.g. for turbine casing
- F02K 1/72: the aft end of the fan housing being movable to uncover openings in the fan housing for the reversed flow
- F05D 2220/32: in gas turbines
- F05D 2230/60: Assembly methods
- F05D 2260/50: Kinematic linkage, i.e. transmission of position
- F16C 11/045: {with at least a pair of arms pivoting relatively to at least one other arm, all arms being mounted on one pin (crank-pins F16C11/02)}
- F16C 2360/23: Gas turbine engines
- 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)
- F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D)
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A linkage system for a nacelle may comprise a pivot configured to extend through a second aperture disposed in a link arm, a retaining member having a first end and a second end and defining a first aperture and a cavity, wherein the pivot is configured to extend at least partially into the first aperture and the cavity is configured to accommodate a portion of the link arm, and wherein the retaining member comprises an attachment aperture located at the first end and a lip extending from the retaining member at the second end, the attachment aperture configured to receive a fastener and the lip configured to be placed under a distal layer of an inner fixed structure (IFS).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A linkage system for a nacelle comprising:
a pivot configured to extend through a second aperture disposed in a link arm;
a retaining member having a first end and a second end and defining a first aperture and a cavity, wherein the pivot is configured to extend at least partially into the first aperture and the cavity is configured to accommodate a portion of the link arm, and
wherein the retaining member comprises an attachment aperture located at the first end and a lip extending from the retaining member at the second end, the attachment aperture configured to receive a fastener, the fastener configured to receive a nut to secure the retaining member to an inner fixed structure (IFS), and the lip configured to be placed under a distal layer of the inner fixed structure (IFS), wherein the nut is accessible from a bypass flow path;
a housing configured to encase a portion of the retaining member, the housing being coupled to the IFS and comprising a first portion radially inward of the retaining member and a second portion configured to cover the lip, the fastener extending from the housing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The linkage system of claim 1, wherein the first end of the retaining member is configured to be attached to the IFS via the attachment aperture.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The linkage system of claim 2, wherein the lip is configured to prevent the second end of the retaining member from moving relative to the IFS.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The linkage system of claim 3, wherein the first aperture extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the cavity.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The linkage system of claim 4, wherein the retaining member is configured to retain the link arm to the IFS.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The linkage system of claim 5, wherein the attachment aperture extends substantially orthogonal to the first aperture.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The linkage system of claim 6, wherein the cavity comprises a high aspect ratio aperture.

### Claim 8

A nacelle for a gas turbine engine comprising:
an inner fixed structure (IFS) comprising a proximal layer and a distal layer;
a link arm having a first end and a second end, wherein a second aperture is disposed in the link arm at the first end, the link arm configured to rotate about the second aperture; and
a fitting arrangement for the link arm comprising: a pivot extending through the second aperture;
a retaining member having a first end and a second end and defining a first aperture and a cavity,
wherein the pivot extends at least partially into the first aperture and at least a portion of the first end of the link arm is located within the cavity,
wherein the retaining member comprises an attachment aperture located at the first end of the retaining member and a lip extending from the retaining member at the second end of the retaining member, the attachment aperture configured to receive a fastener, the fastener configured to receive a nut to secure the retaining member to the IFS, and the lip located under the distal layer of the IFS, and
wherein the retaining member is disposed at least one of radially inward of the distal layer or flush with the distal layer, wherein the nut is accessible from a bypass flow path;
a housing configured to encase a portion of the retaining member, the housing being coupled to the IFS and comprising a first portion radially inward of the retaining member and a second portion configured to cover the lip, the fastener extending from the housing.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The nacelle of claim 8, wherein the first end of the retaining member is attached to the IFS via the attachment aperture.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The nacelle of claim 9, wherein the lip prevents the second end of the retaining member from moving relative to the IFS.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The nacelle of claim 10, wherein the first aperture extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the cavity.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The nacelle of claim 11, wherein the retaining member retains the link arm to the IFS.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The nacelle of claim 12, wherein the attachment aperture extends substantially orthogonal to the first aperture.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The nacelle of claim 13, wherein the cavity comprises a high aspect ratio aperture.

### Claim 15

A method of installing a linkage system to a nacelle comprising:
placing a pivot at least partially into a first aperture disposed in a retaining member;
positioning the first aperture and a second aperture disposed in a thrust reverser link arm in concentric alignment;
placing the pivot at least partially into the second aperture of the thrust reverser link arm;
placing a lip underneath a distal layer of an inner fixed structure (IFS), the lip extending from the retaining member, the retaining member defining at least a portion of the first aperture and defining at least a portion of a cavity, at least a portion of the link arm being located within the cavity;
placing a fastening aperture disposed in the retaining member to surround a fastener, the fastener being coupled to the IFS; and fastening the retaining member to the fastener via a nut, wherein the method is performed from a bypass flow path of the nacelle and the nut is accessible from the bypass flow path of the nacelle;
a housing configured to encase a portion of the retaining member, the housing being coupled to the IFS and comprising a first portion radially inward of the retaining member and a second portion configured to cover the lip, the fastener extending from the housing.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15,
wherein the nut is located radially inwards from a distal surface of the distal layer.