System including telescoping hidden drag link assembly for actuating blocker door of thrust reverser

A system for actuating a blocker door of a translating sleeve thrust reverser, the system comprising:

• a sleeve translatable between a stowed position in which an engine airflow is directed rearwardly and a deployed position in which the engine airflow is redirected forwardly;
• a blocker door hingedly coupled with the sleeve and moveable between a closed position associated with the stowed position of the sleeve and an open position associated with the deployed position of the sleeve and in which the engine airflow is redirected laterally by the blocker door;
• and
• a drag link assembly located between the sleeve in the stowed position and the blocker door in the closed position and configured to mechanically couple the sleeve to the blocker door so that translation of the sleeve to the deployed position moves the blocker door to the open position and translation of the sleeve to the stowed position moves the blocker door to the closed position, the drag link assembly including
• a telescoping drag link including a base section and a subsequent section telescopically connected to the base section, with the base section including a first link end, and the subsequent section including a second link end rotatably coupled with the blocker door, and
• a drag link anchor, with the first link end of the drag link rotatably coupled with the drag link anchor,
• wherein during deployment of the translating sleeve thrust reverser, the sleeve is translated aft to the deployed position, the blocker door is pulled rearward with the sleeve, the telescoping drag link extends while initially rotating in a first direction and then rotating in a second direction to allow for continued translation of the sleeve, and as the telescoping drag link continues to extend while rotating in the second direction, the blocker door rotates into the open position, and
• wherein during stowage of the translating sleeve thrust reverser, the sleeve is translated forward to the stowed position, the blocker door is pulled forward with the sleeve, the telescoping drag link collapses while initially rotating in the second direction and then rotating in the first direction to allow for continued translation of the sleeve, and as the telescoping drag link continues to collapse while rotating in the first direction, the blocker door rotates into the closed position.

A system for actuating a blocker door of a translating sleeve thrust reverser, the system comprising:

• a sleeve translatable between a stowed position in which an engine airflow is directed rearwardly and a deployed position in which the engine airflow is redirected forwardly;
• a blocker door hingedly coupled with the sleeve and moveable between a closed position associated with the stowed position of the sleeve and an open position associated with the deployed position of the sleeve and in which the engine airflow is redirected laterally by the blocker door;
• and
• a drag link assembly located between the sleeve in the stowed position and the blocker door in the closed position and configured to mechanically couple the sleeve to the blocker door so that translation of the sleeve to the deployed position moves the blocker door to the open position and translation of the sleeve to the stowed position moves the blocker door to the closed position, the drag link assembly including
• a telescoping drag link including a base section and a subsequent section telescopically connected to the base section, with the base section including a first link end, and the subsequent section including a second link end rotatably coupled with the blocker door, and
• a drag link anchor, with the first link end of the drag link rotatably coupled with the drag link anchor, the drag link anchor including a stop element which limits the rotation of the drag link in a first direction about the drag link anchor,
• wherein during deployment of the translating sleeve thrust reverser, the sleeve is translated aft to the deployed position, the blocker door is pulled rearward with the sleeve, the telescoping drag link extends while rotating in the first direction until the telescoping drag link contacts the stop element which causes the drag link to rotate in a second direction to allow for continued translation of the sleeve, and as the telescoping drag link continues to extend while rotating in the second direction, the blocker door rotates into the open position, and
• wherein during stowage of the translating sleeve thrust reverser, the sleeve is translated forward to the stowed position, the blocker door is pulled forward with the sleeve, the telescoping drag link collapses while rotating in the second direction until the telescoping drag link contacts the stop element which causes the telescoping drag link to rotate in the first direction to allow for continued translation of the sleeve, and as the telescoping drag link continues to collapse while rotating in the first direction, the blocker door rotates into the closed position.