Patent ID: 8322653

Claim:
A hinge or latch beam for attaching a plurality of portions of a thrust reverser to each other and to an aircraft engine strut or pylon, the hinge or latch beam comprising: a plurality of hollow composite tubes, each composite tube having a first end, a second end, an inner surface, and an outer surface; a plurality of metal fittings each affixed to at least one of the composite tubes, such that at least one of the metal fittings is sandwiched between at least two of the composite tubes; wherein the metal fittings comprise at least one of a plurality of latch fittings and a plurality of hinge fittings operable to attach to an aircraft engine strut, a pylon, or another latch beam; and further comprising at least one track fixed to at least one of the composite tubes and the metal fittings and configured to slideably connect the hinge or latch beam with at least a portion of the thrust reverser.