Patent ID: 12258924

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” are defined with respect to the direction of airflow in the turbomachine.

The terms “axial” and “radial” are defined relative to a longitudinal extension axis A of the thrust reverser10.

FIG.3shows very schematically a thrust reverser10with a door of a nacelle of a turbojet engine of an aircraft (not shown).

The thrust reverser10extends along a longitudinal axis A corresponding to a longitudinal axis of the nacelle (not shown). The thrust reverser10corresponds to the downstream section of the nacelle.

The thrust reverser10comprises a fixed structure12and a door14which is rotatable about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, between a closed position, shown inFIG.3, in which it provides aerodynamic continuity with the fixed structure12of the reverser and with the nacelle and an open position (not shown), in which the door14allows the air flow to be diverted to the exterior and upstream of the reverser10.

The door14is pivotably mounted about an axis by means of an actuator. The actuation of the door is known and will not be described further.

The fixed structure12comprises here a housing13for receiving the door14delimited axially by an upstream frame13aand a downstream frame13band transversely by two lateral beams13c, only one of which is shown inFIG.3. Alternatively, it could be provided that the fixed structure12comprises a different number of housings for receiving the door, for example greater than or equal to two.

The downstream frame13bis spaced apart axially from a downstream end edge of the door14by an axial clearance J.

The thrust reverser10further comprises a system20for diverting fluids to the exterior of the thrust reverser10.

An example of the fluid diverter system20is illustrated in detail inFIGS.4to6. In this example, the fluid diverter system20comprises a first portion22connected to the door14and extending axially into axial clearance J and towards the downstream frame13bof the fixed structure12of the thrust reverser10.

An axial gap (not referenced) is left between a free end of the first portion22and an upstream end15of the downstream frame13bof the fixed structure12. The axial gap is smaller than the axial clearance.

As illustrated inFIG.5, the first portion22comprises an attachment portion22afixed to the downstream end edge14aof the door and a diverting portion22bextending from an outer surface of the attachment portion22ato the exterior. The diverting portion22bis here substantially inclined at an angle of between 90° and 150°, for example equal to 135° relative to the attachment portion22a.

The fluid diverter system20further comprises a second portion24connected to the fixed structure12and extending axially into the axial clearance J from the upstream end15of the downstream frame13band towards the downstream end edge14aof the door14of the thrust reverser10.

An axial gap (not referenced) is left between a free end of the second portion24and the downstream end edge14aof the door14. The axial gap is smaller than the axial clearance.

As illustrated inFIG.6, the second portion24comprises an attachment portion24afixed to the upstream end15of the downstream frame13bof the fixed structure12and a diverting portion24bextending from an outer surface of the attachment portion24ato the exterior. The deflecting portion24bis here inclined at an angle of between 90° and 150°, for example equal to 90° relative to the attachment portion24a.

The first and second portions22,24are deflectors configured to change the direction of flow of a stream of fluids external to the thrust reverser.

The first portion22supported by the door14is not in contact with the downstream frame13bof the fixed structure12and the second portion24supported by the downstream frame13bis not in contact with the end edge14aof the door14.

The first and the second portions22,24are here spaced apart circumferentially from one another by a circumferential clearance.

In other words, the first and the second portions22,24of the fluid diverter system20are not in contact with one another. The circumferential clearance makes it possible to allow for manufacturing and installation tolerances of the door and the fixed structure, as well as displacements during aircraft flight.

The first and the second projections22,24of the fluid diverter system20each extend locally into the axial clearance J. In other words, the first projection22attached to the door does not extend around the whole circumference of the end edge14aof the door14and the second projection24attached to the fixed structure does not extend around the whole circumference of the upstream end15of the downstream frame13bof the fixed structure12.

Thus, the first and the second portions22,24of the fluid diverter system20form a local barrier allowing external fluids to be redirected to the exterior of the thrust reverser10to pass along the downstream frame13bof the fixed structure12.

As illustrated, the fluid diverter system20comprises a first portion22and a second portion24, forming a deflector group. Alternatively, a different number of first and second portions22,24of the fluid diverter system could be provided. It could also be provided that the number of first portions22is different from the number of second portions24. In the case of a plurality of first and second portions, the first and second portions can be alternated. It is also possible to provide a succession of first portions without alternating with second portions.

It could also be provided that the fluid diverter system20comprises a plurality of deflector groups spaced apart circumferentially from one another.

It could also be provided that the fluid diverter system20comprises a single projection forming a deflector group and extending into the axial clearance from either the door14or the fixed structure12towards the other fixed structure12or the door14.

The first portion22and second portion24can be made from a rigid material, such as a metal material, a composite material, a plastic material. The term “rigid” means a material which is not elastically deformable under the action of an applied stress.

The embodiment illustrated inFIGS.7and8, in which the same elements have the same reference numbers, differs from the embodiment illustrated inFIGS.4to6only in the system for diverting external fluids.

As illustrated in detail inFIGS.7and8, the fluid diverter system30comprises a first portion32connected to the door14and extending axially locally into the axial clearance J and towards the downstream frame13bof the fixed structure12of the thrust reverser10.

An axial gap (not referenced) is left between a free end of the first portion32and the downstream frame13bof the fixed structure12. The axial gap is smaller than the axial clearance.

As illustrated, the first projection32is fixed to the downstream end edge14aof the door14.

The fluid diverter system30further comprises a second portion34connected to the fixed structure12, in particular fixed to the upstream end15of the downstream frame13bof the fixed structure12and extending axially locally into the axial clearance J and towards the downstream end edge14aof the door14of the thrust reverser10.

An axial gap (not referenced) is left between a free end of the second portion34and the downstream end edge14aof the door14. The axial gap is smaller than the axial clearance.

As illustrated, the first and the second projections32,34are in point-like and direct radial contact with one another, forming a local seal between the door14and the downstream frame13b. In other words, the first portion32is in radial abutment with the second portion34. The contacts between the first portion32and the second portion34are shown in detail inFIG.8. Thus, it is observed that the first portion32and the second portion34are in contact along two contact areas (not referenced).

In other words, the first projection32fixed to the door14does not extend around the whole circumference of the end edge14aof the door14and the second projection34fixed to the fixed structure12does not extend around the whole circumference of the upstream end15of the downstream frame13bof the fixed structure12.

The term “direct contact” is defined as a contact without an intermediate element between two elements.

Thus, the first and the second projections32,34of the fluid diverter system30form a local and point-like barrier allowing external fluids to be redirected to the exterior of the thrust reverser10to flow along the downstream frame13bof the fixed structure12.

In this example, the first and second projections32,34are also deflectors configured to modify the flow direction of a stream of fluids external to the thrust reverser.

Alternatively, it is possible that the first and the second projections32,34are in circumferential contact with one another, or that first and the second projections32,34are in circumferential and radial contact with one another.

The first portion32may be a seal made from a more flexible material than the second portion34. For example, the first portion32is made from a polymeric material such as silicone for example. Alternatively, it is possible that the first portion32is made in the form of a metal leaf spring. In general, the first portion32is made from an elastic material capable of being deformed elastically with the application of external stress and returning to its initial shape once the external stress has stopped.

The second portion34can be made from a rigid material, such as a metal material, a composite material or a plastic material. The term “rigid” means a material which is not elastically deformable under the action of an applied stress.

Alternatively, the first portion32supported by the door14could be more rigid than the second portion34supported by the fixed structure12.

Alternatively, the first portion32and the second portion34can each be made from an elastic material capable of being elastically deformed during the application of external stress and returning to its initial shape once the external stress has stopped.

As shown, the fluid diverter system30comprises a first portion32and a second portion34together forming a deflector group. Alternatively, a different number of first and second portions32,34of the fluid diverter system could be provided. Each deflector group comprising a first and a second portion are spaced apart circumferentially from one another.

It is also possible to combine a first fluid diverter system20described with reference toFIGS.4to6with a second fluid diverter system30described with reference toFIGS.7and8, the first device20and the second device30being spaced apart circumferentially from one another.

In a manner that is in no way limiting, the thrust reverser10also comprises a circumferential seal19shown inFIG.8extending circumferentially around the door14. The circumferential seal19is separate from the systems20,30for diverting fluids.

In all of the described embodiments, the fluid diverter system20,30is advantageously arranged in the axial clearance between the door14and the fixed structure12closest to the mast or fuselage of the aircraft on which the thrust reverser10is to be mounted.

Due to the disclosure, it is possible to effectively divert the external fluids circulating around the door to the exterior of the thrust reverser and thus to prevent these external fluids from entering the clearance between the downstream end edge of the door and the downstream frame of the fixed structure of the thrust reverser.