Thrust reverser for a turbofan gas turbine engine
AssigneeThe NORDAM Group, Inc.
InventorsJean-Pierre Lair, Paul Weaver
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The thrust reverser comprises sections, such as arms and skins, which may be connected along joints to provide a thrust reverser body. A plurality of fittings may be integrally formed on a surface of each arm.
Claims25
A thrust reverser extending circumferentially around a longitudinal engine axis, the thrust reverser comprising two discrete opposite substantially rectangular-shaped arms having longitudinally-extending edges providing long sides of said rectangle shape, the arms connected together by two discrete opposite skins extending circumferentially between respective longitudinally-extending edges of the arms, each of the arms comprising a machined unitary solid body varying in thickness to have a plurality of fittings integrally machined in an exterior surface of each arm, the fittings configured to provide attachment points for at least an actuator of the thrust reverser.
A thrust reverser comprising:
- an elongated generally cylindrical body extending around a longitudinal axis, the body having an interior jet pipe surface and an exterior surface, the body comprising at least four discrete longitudinally-extending sections, each of said sections fixedly joined to two adjacent sections along longitudinally-extending joints;
- and
- at least one of said sections comprising a unitary machined solid arm varying in thickness to provide in the exterior surface a plurality of fittings integrally machined from said arm, said fittings projecting radially outwardly of the arm, at least some of the fittings having a central bore for connecting a thrust reverser component.
A method of manufacturing a thrust reverser jet pipe, the method comprising:
- machining at least one discrete, unitary, solid workpiece to vary thickness thereof and provide a support having integrated fittings on a side thereof;
- forming at least one skin;
- assembling the at least one support and the at least one skin to form a substantially cylindrical jet pipe duct of the thrust reverser;
- joining the at least one support and skin to provide a rigid jet pipe body;
- and
- connecting at least one piece of thrust reverser hardware to the integrated fittings, the hardware selected from the group consisting of actuators and latches.
A thrust reverser comprising:
- two discrete side arms disposed circumferentially oppositely apart and each including a machined unitary solid body varying in thickness due to machining thereof to have a plurality of integrally machined attachment fittings extending outwardly therefrom;
- two discrete skins disposed circumferentially between said side arms and fixedly joined thereto to collectively form a duct;
- and
- a discrete annular flange fixedly joined to said side arms and said skins to form a structural pipe assembly for precisely supporting thrust reverser doors and actuators therefor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.