Thrust reverser system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorEric D. Bol
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus comprising a sleeve, at least one linear electric motor connected to the sleeve, and a controller. The sleeve is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The sleeve exposes a cascade when in the second position. The at least one linear electric motor is configured to move the sleeve between the first position and the second position. The controller is configured to control operation of the at least one linear electric motor to move the sleeve between the first position and the second position.
Claims21
An apparatus comprising:
- a sleeve configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein the sleeve exposes a cascade when in the second position;
- at least one linear electric motor directly connected to the sleeve and configured to move the sleeve between the first position and the second position, wherein the at least one linear electric motor comprises:
- a coil system disposed within a base connected to an engine structure, a member connected to the sleeve, and a magnet system connected to the member and configured to interact with the coil system to linearly move the member relative to the base to cause the sleeve to move between the first position and the second position;
- a controller configured to control operation of the at least one linear electric motor to move the sleeve between the first position and the second position;
- and
- a load cell, disposed within the base, configured to send load information to the controller, wherein the controller is further configured to use the load information to maintain a desired load on the at least one linear electric motor.
A thrust reverser system comprising:
- a sleeve configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein the sleeve exposes a cascade when in the second position;
- at least one linear electric motor having a coil system disposed within a base connected directly to an engine structure, a member connected directly to the sleeve, and a magnet system connected to the member and configured to interact with the coil system to linearly move the member relative to the base to cause the sleeve to move between the first position and the second position;
- and
- a load cell, disposed within the base, configured to send load information to a controller, wherein the controller is configured to use the load information to maintain a desired load on the at least one linear electric motor.
A method for operating a thrust reverser system for an aircraft, the method comprising:
- moving a sleeve on an engine in the thrust reverser system from a first position to a second position using a linear electric motor directly connected to the sleeve and to a structure of the engine, wherein the moving of the sleeve to a second position exposes a cascade such that exhaust gasses generated by the engine pass through the cascade;
- wherein the at least one linear electric motor comprises:
- a base;
- a coil system associated with the base;
- a member connected to the sleeve;
- a magnet system associated with the member and configured to interact with the coil system to linearly move the member relative to the base to cause the sleeve to move between the first position and the second position;
- and
- a load cell, disposed within the base, configured to send load information to a controller, wherein the controller is configured to use the load information to maintain a desired load on the at least one linear electric motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.