System for controlling the deployment of jet engine thrust reversers

A jet engine thrust reverser control system, comprising:

• an electric motor;
• one or more moveable thrust reverser components coupled to the motor, the components moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position;
• a speed sensor operable to sense at least a rotational speed of the motor and produce a speed feedback signal;
• a controller circuit having an output coupled to the motor for energizing the motor when the controller circuit is enabled;
• and
• a comparator circuit having an input coupled to receive at least the speed feedback signal and an output coupled to the controller circuit, the comparator circuit being operable to compare the speed feedback signal with first and second predetermined rotational speeds and to enable the controller circuit when the rotational speed of the motor is at or above the first predetermined rotational speed and to disable the controller circuit when the rotational speed of the motor is at or below the second predetermined rotational speed.

A jet engine thrust reverser control system, comprising:

• an electric motor;
• one or more moveable thrust reverser components coupled to the motor, the components moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position;
• a speed sensor operable to sense at least a rotational speed of the motor and produce a speed feedback signal;
• a position sensor operable to sense at least when the one or more moveable thrust reverser components attain a predetermined position relative to the deployed position;
• a controller circuit including at least (i) a motor speed command input port coupled to receive one of a at least a zero speed command signal and a non-zero speed command signal and (ii) an output coupled to the motor for selectively energizing the motor to rotate in accordance with the received motor speed command signal;
• and
• a comparator circuit having an input coupled to receive at least the speed feedback signal and an output coupled to the controller circuit, the comparator circuit being operable to compare the speed feedback signal with first and second predetermined rotational speeds and to enable the controller circuit when the rotational speed of the motor is at or above the first predetermined rotational speed and to disable the controller circuit when the rotational speed of the motor is at or below the second predetermined rotational speed, thereby causing the controller circuit to selectively energize the motor,
• wherein the motor speed command input port is coupled to receive the zero speed command signal in response to the position sensor sensing that the predetermined position is attained.

A jet engine thrust reverser control system, comprising:

• moving means for moving one or more moveable thrust reverser components between a stowed position and a deployed position;
• speed sensing means for sensing at least a rotational speed of the moving means;
• and
• controller means for (i) energizing the moving means when the speed sensing means senses that the rotational speed of the moving means is at or above a first predetermined rotational speed and (ii) deenergizing the moving means when the speed sensing means senses that the rotational speed of the moving means is at or below a second predetermined rotational speed.

A method of controlling a jet engine thrust reverser system, comprising:

• powering a motive force providing component to move a moveable thrust reverser component toward a deployed position;
• sensing a movement speed of the motive force providing component;
• and
• applying power to the motive force providing component when the sensed movement speed of the motive force providing component is at or above a first predetermined movement speed and removing power to the motive force providing component when the sensed speed is at or below a second predetermined movement speed.

A method of controlling a jet engine thrust reverser system, comprising:

• powering a motive force providing component to move one or more moveable thrust reverser components toward at least a deployed position;
• sensing a movement speed of the motive force providing component;
• comparing the sensed movement speed of the motive force providing component to at least a first and a second predetermined movement speed;
• and
• in response to this comparison, either applying power to the motive force providing component when the movement speed is at or above the first predetermined movement speed, or removing power to the motive force providing component when the movement speed is at or below the second predetermined movement speed.

A method of controlling a jet engine thrust reverser system, comprising:

• setting a target movement speed to one of at least a zero and a non-zero movement speed;
• moving one or more moveable thrust reverser components toward at least a deployed position by driving a motive force providing component at the target movement speed;
• sensing at least a movement speed of the motive force providing component;
• sensing at least when the one or more moveable thrust reverser components attain a predetermined position relative to the deployed position;
• comparing the sensed movement speed of the motive force providing component to at least a first and a second predetermined movement speed;
• applying power to drive the motive force providing component when the movement speed is at or above the first predetermined movement speed;
• removing the power to drive the motive force providing component when the movement speed is at or below the second predetermined movement speed,
• wherein the target movement speed is set to the zero movement speed in response to the sensing device sensing that the predetermined position is attained.