Method of fabricating a thrust reverser cascade assembly
AssigneeSpirit AeroSystems, Inc.
InventorsMark Anthony Wadsworth, Henry Arnold Schaefer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of fabricating a thrust reverser cascade assembly including positioning a first frame section on an assembly fixture, positioning a first set of turning vanes on a first elongated stiffener of the first frame section, securing the first set of turning vanes to the elongated stiffener, positioning a second frame section on the assembly fixture adjacent to the first frame section such that the first set of turning vanes are between the elongated stiffeners of the first and second frame section, adding additional sets of turning vanes and frame sections, and fastening the frame sections together.
Claims23
A method of fabricating a thrust reverser cascade assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a plurality of frame sections adjacent to each other such that elongated stiffeners of the frame sections are laterally spaced from each other;
- positioning a plurality of turning vanes between elongated stiffeners of adjacent frame sections;
- securing the turning vanes to the elongated stiffeners of the frame sections;
- and
- securing the adjacent frame sections to each other.
A method of fabricating a thrust reverser cascade assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a first frame section on an assembly fixture;
- positioning a first set of turning vanes on a first elongated stiffener of the first frame section;
- securing the first set of turning vanes to the first elongated stiffener;
- positioning a second frame section on the assembly fixture adjacent to the first frame section such that a second elongated stiffener of the second frame section is spaced from the first elongated stiffener of the first frame section and adjacent the first set of turning vanes;
- securing the second frame section to the first frame section;
- positioning a second set of turning vanes on the second elongated stiffener of the second frame section;
- securing the second set of turning vanes to the second elongated stiffener;
- and
- positioning additional frame sections on the assembly fixture adjacent to previously placed frame sections and securing the additional frame sections to elongated stiffeners of the previously placed frame sections, and positioning additional turning vanes on elongated stiffeners of previously placed frame sections and securing the additional turning vanes to the previously placed frame sections in alternating fashion.
A method of fabricating a thrust reverser cascade assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a first frame section on an assembly fixture;
- positioning a first set of turning vanes on a first elongated stiffener of the first frame section;
- securing the first set of turning vanes to the first elongated stiffener;
- positioning a second frame section on the assembly fixture adjacent to the first frame section such that flanges of the first and second frame sections overlap each other so that a second elongated stiffener of the second frame section is spaced from the first elongated stiffener of the first frame section and adjacent the first set of turning vanes;
- positioning a second set of turning vanes on the second elongated stiffener of the second frame section;
- securing the second set of turning vanes to the second elongated stiffener;
- positioning additional frame sections on the assembly fixture adjacent to previously placed frame sections such that flanges of the additional frame sections and previously placed frame sections overlap each other, and positioning additional turning vanes on elongated stiffeners of previously placed frame sections and securing the additional turning vanes to the previously placed frame sections in alternating fashion;
- and
- inserting cascade basket fasteners through aligned fastener holes of the overlapping flanges of the adjacent frame sections so as to secure the adjacent frame sections together and secure the thrust reverser cascade assembly to a cascade basket.
A thrust reverser cascade assembly comprising:
- at least ten frame sections each including an elongated stiffener and opposing flanges extending from the elongated stiffener, at least a portion of each flange overlapping a flange of an adjacent frame section, the overlapping portions cooperatively forming a fastener through-hole, at least some of the frame sections being radially extending frame sections and at least some of the frame sections being side turning frame sections;
- a plurality of turning vanes positioned between the frame sections in at least twelve rows of turning vanes, the turning vanes each including a thrust guide and opposing vane flanges, the turning vanes being attached to the elongated stiffeners of adjacent frame sections via the vane flanges;
- and
- a plurality of fasteners extending through the fastener through-holes for securing the frame sections together and securing the thrust reverser cascade assembly to an aircraft engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.