Positioning and control system for fan thrust reverser cowls in a turbofan engine

A pressurized hydraulic fluid positioning and control system for moving first and second fan thrust reverser cowls in a turbofan engine, said fan thrust reverser cowls being movable in retraction and deployment between a retracted position and a deployed position, respectively, comprising:

• first and second hydraulic actuator means coupled respectively to said first and said second reverser cowls for moving said cowls between said retracted and deployed positions, each of said first and second hydraulic actuator means including at least one double-acting hydraulic actuator having cooperative piston and cylinder members and a movable piston rod, said piston rod of said hydraulic actuator of said first hydraulic actuator means being coupled to said first reverser cowl, and said piston rod of said hydraulic actuator of said second hydraulic actuator means being coupled to said second reverser cowl, each said cylinder member being affixed to said turbofan engine and having a rod end pressurizable to retract said cowls and a head end pressurizable to deploy said cowls;
• means for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to said first and said second hydraulic actuator means;
• directional control valve means for selectively controlling flow of said pressurized hydraulic fluid to and from said first and second hydraulic actuator means to retract or deploy said thrust reverser cowls;
• and,
• first and second flow regulator means respectively coupled to said first and second actuator means for regulating flow of said pressurized hydraulic fluid to and from said first and second actuator means during deployment and retraction of said first and second reverser cowls, said first and second flow regulator means being operable to regulate the respective rates of flow of hydraulic fluid to and from said first and second hydraulic actuator means to provide substantially synchronous and independent movement of said first and second reverser cowls during retraction and deployment.