TRUST REVERSER ACTUATOR INCLUDING AN INTEGRATED LOCKING MECHANISM

摘要

A thrust reverser system includes one or more actuator each having an integrated locking mechanism that prevents unintended actuator movement, and thus unintended thrust reverser movement. Each of the actuators with the integrated locking mechanism includes a housing, a drive shaft, and a lock. The drive shaft includes an outer surface, is rotationally mounted within the housing, and is operable, in response to the operation of the one or more motors, to rotate in a first rotational direction, to thereby move the thrust reverser to the deploy position, and a second rotational direction, to thereby move the thrust reverser to the stow position. The lock is movably mounted within the housing and is operable to move between at least a first position and a second position, and includes at least a side surface and a bottom surface. One or more gears are provided on the outer surface of the drive shaft, each of which is adapted to mesh with gears that are operably coupled to the thrust reverser. In addition, one or more protrusions extend from the outer surface of the drive shaft. Each of the protrusions includes a stop susrface configured to fixedly abut the lock side surface when the lock is in the first position, and a tapered surface configured to slidingly abut the lock bottom surface when the lock is in the first position. Thus, rotation of the drive shaft in the first rotational direction is prevented and rotation of the drive shaft in the second rotational direction is allowed when the lock is in the first position.