Abstract:
The present disclosure concerns thrust reversers for a nacelle of a turbojet engine having a sliding cover. The active lock is rigidly connected to a fixed structure and engages with a locking interface of a mobile structure by a tilting bolt driven by a controlled electric motor. The tilting bolt is tiltably mounted with a pusher to push the mobile structure away from the fixed structure during the deployment of the mobile structure relative to the fixed structure driven by the controlled electric motor via mobilizing the active lock according to a predefined sequence of movements of the tilting bolt or the pusher.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/FR2013/052871, filed on Nov. 27, 2013, which claims the benefit of FR 12/61332, filed on Nov. 28, 2012. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to an active lock with mobilization assistance and a thrust reverser for nacelle of turbojet engine incorporating such a lock. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0004]    In the state of the art, it is known to have a lock in order that the moveable structure of a thrust reverser will not start the deployment thereof without a specific control of its actuators. Such an accidental deployment, under the action of tremors, for example during operation in flight or on take-off, would make the apparatus equipped with such a thrust reverser run a serious risk. 
         [0005]    The lock allows fastening an interface of the moveable structure of the thrust reverser to a point of the associated stationary structure, such as the nacelle of the turbojet engine which the thrust reverse equips. When the control for deploying the thrust reverser is transmitted, a first order for freeing the associated lock is received and activates the electric motor or actuator which mobilizes a moveable bolt of the lock which hence frees the locking interface of the moveable structure of the thrust reverser. A specific actuator for deploying the thrust reverser is then activated. 
         [0006]    On the contrary, upon the folding of the thrust reverser, the bolt of the lock meshes with the locking interface of the moveable structure as a result of the electric motor or actuator of the lock. The thrust reverser is then correctly neutralized and the risk of accidental deployment is reduced. 
         [0007]    In document FR 2 761 534, it is described a closing and locking device suitable for a thrust reverser. The device is adapted with a bolt liable to push the locking interface towards the closing position of the moveable structure which is secured to it thanks to an additional movement caused by the motor which drives the bolt. 
         [0008]    In the state of the art, an issue has become apparent in that during the deployment of the moveable structure of the thrust reverser, there exists an additional resistance to the inertia of only the moveable structure and which should be overcome at the start of the deployment of the thrust reverser. 
         [0009]    It is known to design a thrust reverser with an oversizing of its deployment actuator which allows helping the opening of the moveable structure despite the existence of this additional resistance. 
         [0010]    However, such an oversizing is detrimental especially when it leads to using an over-retractability of the moveable structure of the thrust reverser. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    The present disclosure provides an active lock secured to a stationary structure and which cooperates with an interface for locking a moveable structure by means of a bolt driven by a controlled electric motor. According to the present disclosure, the bolt is mounted tilted with a pusher intended to push back the movable structure from the stationary structure during the deployment of the moveable structure relatively to the stationary structure driven by the electric motor controlled by a means for mobilizing the lock according to a determined sequence of movements of the tilting bolt and/or the pusher. 
         [0012]    According to other features: 
         [0013]    the tilting bolt and the pusher are mounted on shafts driven by the means for mobilizing the lock and having a common axis, the bolt assumes a hook shape, and the pusher includes an articulated latch on a lever for applying a thrust force during the start of the deployment of the moveable structure relatively to the stationary structure; 
         [0014]    the tilting bolt and the pusher are mounted on shafts driven by the means for mobilizing the lock having a common axis, the bolt assumes a hook shape, and the pusher includes an end in contact with the moveable structure in its closing state having a cam profile for applying a thrust force during the start of the deployment of the moveable structure relatively to the stationary structure; 
         [0015]    the means for mobilizing the lock includes declutchable connection means between the electric motor of the lock and the tilting bolt and/or between the electric motor of the lock and the pusher, in such a manner that a determined sequence of movements of the tilting bolt and pusher be applied during the deployment of the moveable structure; 
         [0016]    the declutchable connection means include claws respectively associated to the tilting bolt and pusher, cooperating with elastic means which repel them from each other when the electric motor connected to any of the claws ceases to be active, in that any of the claw disks is driven on the shaft of the electric motor, the connection between the shaft and any of the disks, the claws and the control of the electric motor arranged for determining said sequence of movements; 
         [0017]    the declutchable connection means include a first disk having a groove formed and associated to the tilting bolt, the groove cooperating with at least one cam mounted on a second disk associated with the pusher and at least one spur on a stationary disk of which the relative positions, the activation of the electric motor coupled to the at least any of the disks of the declutchable connection means, determine said sequence of movements; 
         [0018]    The declutchable connection means include a plurality of toothed wheels, meshed by one of them to a wheel driving the electric motor, a toothed wheel of said plurality carrying a shaft associated with the tilting bolt and another toothed wheel of said plurality carrying a shaft associated with the pusher, any of the wheels associated with the pusher or the bolt including a simple toothed sector and being returned by elastic means in a rest position when the electric motor is not actuated, the wheels and the toothed sector being arranged for determining said sequence of movements; 
         [0019]    The present disclosure also relates to a thrust reverser for turbojet engine nacelle, incorporating at least one active lock discussed above. According to the present disclosure, the stationary structure is associated with the turbojet engine nacelle and the moveable structure is associated with at least one sliding cowl of the thrust reverser. 
         [0020]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0022]      FIGS. 1 a  to 1 c    represent three successive states of one form of the active lock of the present disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b    represent the disposition of the active lock of the form of  FIGS. 1 a  to 1 c    set up in a stationary structure relatively to a moveable structure, nominally within the framework of a thrust reverser for a turbojet engine nacelle; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 3 a  to 3 d    represent four successive states of another form of the active lock of the present disclosure; 
           [0025]      FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b    represent the disposition of the active lock of the form of  FIGS. 1 a  to 1 c    set up in a stationary structure relatively to a moveable structure, nominally within the framework of a thrust reverser for turbojet engine nacelle; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 5 a  to 5 d    represent the successive states of one form of a part of an active lock according to the first or the second form; 
           [0027]      FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b    represent two views of a second form of a part of an active lock according to the first or second form; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  represents four successive states (a) to (d) of the part of the second form of  FIGS. 6 a    and  6   b;    
           [0029]      FIGS. 8 a  to 8 c    represent the successive states of a third form of a part of an active lock according to the first or second form; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  represents the third form of a part of an active lock according to the first or second form. 
           [0031]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
         [0033]    In  FIGS. 1 a    to  1   d,  it has been represented the successive states of an active lock according to a first form of the present disclosure. On an axis  5   b  are mounted a tilting bolt  2  and a pusher  3 ,  4 . The tilting bolt meshes in closing position of the moveable structure  6 ,  7  inside a locking interface  6 , in the shape of a hook, secured to the moveable structure  7 . The latter is immobilized in the state represented on  FIG. 1   a.    
         [0034]    The pusher is composed in the form of two pieces including a lever  3  turning on the aforementioned axis  5   b  and a latch  4 , articulated on an axis  5   a  mounted on the end of the lever  3  opposite to the one secured to the axis  5   b.  The movement of the two main pieces of the active lock of the present disclosure, namely the tilting bolt and the pusher, is determined by a means  1  for mobilizing the active lock which cooperates with an electric motor. Their movement, joint or separate, is then distributed according to predetermined sequences between the tilting bolt  2  and the pusher  3 ,  4  during the deployment of the moveable structure  6 ,  7  ( FIGS. 2   a,    2   b ). 
         [0035]    On  FIG. 1   a,  it has been represented the closing state of the active lock  1 - 4 , the moveable structure was in closing position on the position  8   b  marked on the right of the axis  8   a  connecting the axes  5   b  and  5   a,  the pusher  3 ,  4  being lifted and the tilting bolt  2 , meshed in the locking interface  6  secured to the moveable structure  7 . 
         [0036]    On  FIG. 1   b,  the active lock has started the opening sequence which allows freeing the locking interface  6  by making the tilting bolt  2  descend thanks to a rotation C 1  applied by the electric motor (non represented) coupled to the means  1  for mobilizing the active lock. In the same period, or during a second period according to the configuration of the means  1  for mobilizing the active lock, the pusher  4  follows a movement B 1  which repels the moveable structure  7  in a response movement A 1 , as the lever  3  has turned by a given angle whereas the face of the latch  4  remains in contact with a corresponding face of the locking interface  6 . The moveable structure  7  then achieves a position more on the right  8   c  in comparison with the closing position  8   b.    
         [0037]    It may be noted that the movement A 1  may be applied without the actuators (not represented) of the moveable structure  7  be actuated only by the action of the active lock of the present disclosure. Thus, it is possible to overcome the opening resistance of the moveable structure, and in particular, the deployment of the sliding cowl of a thrust reverser secured to this moveable structure. 
         [0038]    On  FIG. 1   c,  it has been represented the rest of the sequence applied by the means  1  for mobilizing the active lock. The movement A 2  of the moveable structure  6 ,  7  is now pursued as a result of its own actuators (not represented) its instantaneous position  8   d  moving away from the point reached  8   c  at the state of  FIG. 1   b.  In the same period, the rotation C 2  applied by the means  1  for mobilizing the active lock allows on the one hand to place the tilting bolt  2  in a waiting to close position, and on the other hand to return the pusher  3 ,  4  in closing position according to the movement B 2 . 
         [0039]    When the moveable structure  7  resumes the closing position ( FIG. 1 a   ) the means  1  for mobilizing the active lock will apply a rotation on the tilting bolt  2  only to make it ascend from the waiting position of  FIG. 1 c    to the meshing position of  FIG. 1 a    with the locking interface  6  of the moveable structure  6  which will have resumed its closing position  8   b  as a result of its own actuators. 
         [0040]    On  FIGS. 2 a    and  2   b,  it has been represented an application of the active lock of the form of  FIGS. 1 a  to 1 c    to a thrust reverser for turbojet engine nacelle. On  FIG. 2   a,  the active lock  2  is masked by a cowl of a stationary structure  9 A such as the body of the turbojet engine nacelle. 
         [0041]    The separation between the stationary structure  9 A and the moveable structure  9 B which includes the cowl or stopper of the thrust reverser, lets the locking interface  6  and the fixing thereof  7  to the moveable structure appear such that during the deployment of the thrust reverser the sliding cowl of the thrust reverser follows the translation movement  9 D. 
         [0042]    On  FIG. 2   b,  which represents like  FIG. 2 a    the closing state of the thrust reverser, the active lock of the form of figures la and  1  c is represented mounted in a casing  9 C with the tilting bolt  2  meshed in the locking interface  6  of the moveable structure  7 ;  9 A. 
         [0043]    In  FIGS. 3 a    to  3   c,  it has been represented the operating states of an active lock in a second form of the present disclosure. The active lock of this form includes a tilting bolt  11  articulated on a motor axis  13  and which assumes a bent shape in such a manner that the tilting bolt  11  retains in closing position a part  12  connected to the moveable structure. The motor axis  13  is secured to a stationary structure which is non-represented. The stationary and moveable structures are identical to the structures  9 B and  9 A of the form of  FIGS. 2 a    and  2   b.    
         [0044]    A pusher  10  is constituted of a lever articulated on the motor axis  13  already associated with the tilting bolt  11  and the two moveable members  10  and  11  of the active lock of this second form are both mobilized by an electric motor associated with a means for mobilizing the active lock, here not represented but similar to the means  1  for mobilizing the active lock of the first form represented on  FIGS. 1 a    to  1   c.    
         [0045]    The free end of the pusher  10  assumes a cam shape facing the part  12  connected to the moveable structure. The cam shape includes a first part  14   a  to be suited to the shape facing the part  12  connected to the moveable structure when it is in closing state such as on  FIG. 3   a.  In this closing state, the part  12  is at the level marked by the mixed line  18   a  characteristic of the closing state of the moveable structure and the active lock. The cam shape of the pusher  10  includes a second part  14   b  which promotes the thrust of the pusher  10  on the part  12  connected to the moveable structure. 
         [0046]    To this end, the motor associated with the means for mobilizing the active lock (not represented) begins a movement of tilting  16  the tilting bolt  11 ,  FIG. 2 b    in such a manner that the part  12  connected to the moveable structure is cleared from the active lock. Then, the motor and the means for mobilizing the active lock applies a rotation  15  to the pusher  10  in such a manner that the second part  14   b  starts to repel the part  12  connected to the moveable structure in position  18   b.    
         [0047]    On  FIG. 2   c,  the pusher  10  has pursued its travel in such a manner that it has repelled the part  12  connected to the moveable structure in its extreme position  18   c.  The natural actuators of the moveable structure, that is to say, in an exemplary application of the present disclosure to a thrust reverser, to a sliding cowl of thrust reverser, thus enter into action and the part  12  connected to the moveable structure thus pursues in instantaneous position  18   d  its deployment travel of the thrust reverser autonomously from the active lock. During this period the motor of the means for mobilizing the active lock of the second form of the present disclosure brings the pusher  10  back to a waiting position according to the rotation  17 . 
         [0048]    The closing sequence is triggered by a specific control in such manner that the pusher  10  takes up again its position of  FIG. 3 a    in order to receive the part  12  connected to the moveable structure in closing state, then the tilting bolt  11  folds over on the other hand behind the part  12  connected to the moveable structure. One will have returned to the state of  FIG. 3   a.    
         [0049]    In  FIGS. 4 a    and  4   b,  it has been represented another exemplary application of the present disclosure to a sliding cowl of thrust reverser similar to that of  FIGS. 2 a    and  2   b.  The stationary structure  20  carries the active lock by means of a casing  23  inside which are mounted an electric motor  24  coupled to a reducer itself mechanically coupled to a means  26  for mobilizing the active lock, the part  12  connected to the moveable structure  21  assumes a hook shape. It is to be noted that the  FIG. 4 b    is a schematic top view of  FIG. 4   a.    
         [0050]    It will now be described three forms of the means  1  or  26  for mobilizing the active lock described for either one of the forms of the active lock. The mobilization means includes in the present disclosure an electric motor and declutchable connection means between the electric motor of the lock and the tilting bolt and/or between the electric motor of the lock and the pusher. The effect of the declutchable connection means of the present disclosure is that it be applied a determined sequence of movements of the tilting bolt and the pusher during the deployment of the moveable structure. 
         [0051]    Thus, it is possible to guarantee sequences of joint or separate movements of the tilting bolt and pusher synchronized with the deployment and folding of the moveable structure when the latter is associated with the sliding cowl of a thrust reverser for turbojet engine nacelle. Preferably, the tilting bolt and pusher are articulated on an axis which is common to two separate shafts of the declutchable connection means which then couple in a determined manner any one of or the two separate shafts with the action of the electric motor associated with the means for mobilizing the active lock of the present disclosure. According to the cases, as it will be explained, elastic return means exert part of the motor force in the absence of action of the electric motor. 
         [0052]    In  FIGS. 5 a    to  5   d,  it has been represented four successive states of a means for mobilizing the active lock in a first form with claws. The means for mobilizing the active lock substantially includes two disks  30  and  39  on the faces which face claws  35  and  36  disposed in association. As a means for connecting the motor shaft  33  and any of the disks, the disk  30  is provided with a tapping which is meshed on a screw mounted at the end of the motor shaft  33 . The disk  30  is secured to the pusher  3 ,  4  of the first form or  10  the second form of the active lock of the present disclosure. The disk  39  is provided with a bore which is mounted on a bearing  34  mounted on the shaft  33  in such a manner that the disk  39  is free on this motor shaft. The disk  39  is secured to the tilting bolt  2  of the first form or  11  second form of the active lock of the present disclosure. 
         [0053]    The motor shaft  33  is driven by an electric motor  32 . As in the two other forms of the means for mobilizing the active lock of the present disclosure, the electric motor  32  is activated by means of a programmed controller which cooperates with position sensors of the different pieces, namely the tilting bolt and the pusher (not represented) of either one of the aforementioned forms of the active lock of the present disclosure. 
         [0054]    The bearing  34  is secured to the stationary structure on which the active lock is fastened. However, the two disks  30  and  39  are spaced apart from each other by a plurality of springs as it is known in the jaw clutching technique. 
         [0055]    On  FIG. 5   a,  the tilting bolt is in closed position thus blocking the moveable structure such as the sliding cowl of the thrust reverser during flight. The electric motor  32  associated with the means for mobilizing the active lock is actuated in order to mobilize the disk  30  which is moveable by its threading on the end screw of the motor shaft. The disk  30  carrying the claws  35  still cleared from the claws  36  of the disk  39  associated with the tilting bolt allows compressing the springs disposed between the two disks  30  and  39 . 
         [0056]    On  FIG. 5   b,  the claws  35  and  36  are then meshed and the electric motor  32  pursuing its rotation then drives the pusher and the tilting bolt with a common movement, thus having for effect at the same time to open the active lock and push back the active structure such as the sliding cowl of the thrust reverser at the beginning of the deployment movement thereof. The opening state  38  of the tilting bolt is marked on the circle at the shaft  33  end having tilted by one quarter of a revolution on the closing position  37  marked on the same circle represented on  FIG. 5   a.    
         [0057]    On  FIG. 5   c,  the electric motor  32  stops its action. The tilting bolt is stopped in open position. However, the springs between the two claw disks  30  and  39  having been compressed, release their energy, thus having for effect to make the disk  30  revolve in the opposite direction, the disk ascends while revolving along the end screw of the shaft  33 . The pusher associated with the disk  30  then resumes alone its rest position, the tilting bolt associated with the disk  39 , stopped, remains in open position. The pusher is represented in the position  37  on the circle on the right of the end of the shaft  33 . 
         [0058]    On  FIG. 5   d,  the electric motor  32  is reactivated in the opposite direction to that of  FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b    in such a manner that the tilting bolt resumes the closing position  37  and the state of  FIG. 5 d    is equivalent to that of  FIG. 5   a,  representing active locking or closing state. In this case, the sliding cowl of the thrust reverser is closed and thrust reversal is impossible. 
         [0059]    In  FIGS. 6 a    and  6   b,  it has been represented a second form of the means for mobilizing the active lock of the present disclosure. A first disk  40  is mounted on an axis  46  and secured to the tilting bolt  2  or  11  of the active lock. A second disk  41  is also mounted on the axis  46 . A third stationary disk  45  mounted on the axis  46  carries one or several non-represented spurs which will be described later on. 
         [0060]    The first disk  40  secured to the tilting bolt is pierced right through by a groove  44  in which penetrates a cam  42  which is secured to the second disk  41  and secured to the pusher  3 ,  4  or  10  of the active lock. The cam  42  is pushed back towards the groove  44  of the first disk  40  by a spring  43  set up between the bottom of a housing of the second disk  41  in which the cam  42  is set up and the face facing the cam  42 . 
         [0061]    On  FIG. 7 , it has been represented  4  successive states from (a) to (d) of the means for mobilizing the active lock in this second form described on  FIGS. 6 a    and  6   b.    
         [0062]    In the state (a), the cam  42  in the shape of a corner, slides on the surface of the first disk  40  outside the groove  44 . The disk  40 , under the action of the electric motor associated with the means for mobilizing the lock which drives the axis  46  (see  FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b   ), revolves in the direction of the arrow Fl in such a manner that the tilting bolt  2  ( FIG. 1 b   ) or  11  ( FIG. 3 b   ) of the active lock is closing, the pusher  3 ,  4  ( FIG. 1 a   ) or  10  ( FIG. 3 a   ) is in rest position. 
         [0063]    In the following state (b), the cam  42  has fallen into the groove  42  of the first disk  40 . The tilting bolt has arrived in closing position. The electric motor associated with the means for mobilizing the lock which drives the axis  46  (see  FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b   ) inverts the direction of rotation thereof in F 2 . 
         [0064]    In the following state (c), the cam  42  meshed in the groove  44  of the first disk  40  revolves with it according to the arrow F 3  in such a manner that the tilting bolt and the pusher of the active lock revolve in the same direction in order to simultaneously free the moveable structure and apply to it a thrust which thus allows freeing the sliding cowl of the thrust reverser. 
         [0065]    In the following state (d), the first disk  40  and the groove  44  thereof intercept a stationary part constituted by any of the spurs secured to the disk  45  ( FIG. 6 b   ) which allows freeing the cam  42  from the groove  42 , thus having for effect to clear the pusher which goes back to its rest position when the motor of the means for mobilizing the active lock secured to the axis  46  starts off again in the other direction F 4 . 
         [0066]    In  FIGS. 8 a    to  8   c,  it has been represented three successive states of a third form of the means for mobilizing the active lock according to either one of the two forms of the active lock represented on  FIGS. 1 to 4 . A side view of any of the three views of  FIGS. 8 a  to 8 c    is represented on  FIG. 9 . 
         [0067]    The declutchable connection between the electric motor and the pusher or the tilting bolt is carried out by means of a toothed sector disposed on a wheel secured to the pusher. Two coaxial shafts are respectively associated  50  to the pusher and  51  to the tilting bolt. A wheel  52  is mounted on the shaft associated with the pusher  50 . It has a toothed sector  56 . It is briefly meshed with a toothed wheel  53  of which the toothing  57  is complete. This wheel  53  is mounted on a shaft secured to a wheel  55  having a complete toothing meshed on the complete toothing of a last wheel  54  secured to the shaft  51  associated to the tilting bolt. 
         [0068]    On  FIG. 8   a,  the active lock is in closed position. The means for mobilizing the active lock is associated with an electric motor which allows to put in rotation the wheel  52  in the direction H 1 , whereas the wheel  53  revolves in the direction G 1 . As the partial toothed sector  56  is meshed on the toothed crown  57  of the wheel  53  and the pusher is secured to the shaft  50 , the pusher comes into action ( 3 ,  4   FIGS. 1 a    and following;  10 ,  FIGS. 3 a    and following). On  FIG. 8   b,  the tilting bolt ( 2 ,  FIGS. 1 ;  11   FIGS. 3 ) being secured to the shaft  51 , clears the locking interface of the moveable structure, such as the sliding cowl of the thrust reverser. 
         [0069]    On  FIG. 8   c,  the activation of the electric motor associated with the means for mobilizing the active lock is terminated. Elastic return means (not represented) are applied to the pusher in order to bring it back in rest position, the wheel  52  thus revolving in the direction H 2  and the wheel  53  starting to bring the tilting bolt on the shaft  51  by revolving in the direction G 2  when the sector  56  is meshed in the toothed crown  57 . 
         [0070]    The electric motor associated with the means for mobilizing the active lock, in this third form, is coupled by a reducer to any of the toothed wheels  53  or  55  by applying a reduction ratio determined by the dimensioning of the application. Likewise, the position and extent of the toothed sector  56  on the wheel  52  associated to the pusher are determined according to required relative movements of the pusher and the tilting bolt. 
         [0071]    It is to be noted that the elastic return means of the pusher allow mobilizing the means for mobilizing the active lock in the opposite direction applied by the electric motor in such a manner that, in the absence of torque applied by this motor, the mobilization means is reversible. 
         [0072]    Particular sequences of relative movements of the pusher and the tilting bolt have been described. It is obvious that the components of the declutchable connection means may be arranged differently by applying the teaching of the present disclosure in order to be suitable for other sequences.