Aeronautics and astronautics – Aircraft power plants – Mounting
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-16
2003-09-23
Eldred, J. Woodrow (Department: 3644)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Aircraft power plants
Mounting
C244S05300R, C060S226200, C248S554000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06622963
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for moving one or more aircraft engine cowl doors and, more particularly, to a system and method for controlling the movement of one or more engine cowl doors using an electric control system.
2. Description of Related Art
The engines installed on many aircraft are housed within a nacelle. Typically, the engine nacelle includes one or more cowl doors. The cowl doors allow maintenance personnel to access the interior of the nacelle to repair and maintain the engine.
The movement of the cowl doors between the open and closed positions has, in the past, been accomplished via hydraulic or pneumatic actuation systems. Hydraulic systems may include one or more hydraulic controllers and hydraulic lines coupled to the aircraft's hydraulic system, and hydraulic actuators connected to the doors. Pneumatic systems may include one or more controllers coupled to one or more pneumatic motors that are coupled to the cowl doors via actuators. These hydraulic and pneumatic control systems are generally satisfactory, but can be complex, bulky, and heavy.
Hence, there is a need for an improved system that can control the movement of the engine cowl doors, that is safe, simple, reliable, less expensive, and light in weight as compared to hydraulic or pneumatic control systems. The present invention addresses one or more of these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a comparatively simple, reliable, and lightweight system and method for controlling movement of a jet engine cowl door.
In one embodiment of the present invention, and by way of example only, a system for controlling movement of a jet engine cowl door between an open position and a close position includes an electric motor, at least one actuator, an electrically operated brake assembly, and a first switch. The actuator is coupled to the motor and is operable to move the cowl door to the open position. The electrically operated brake assembly is electrically coupled in parallel with the motor and is operable to allow motor rotation when energized and stop motor rotation when de-energized. The first switch is coupled to a power source and has at least a first position and a second position, the first switch is operable to couple the power source to the motor and the brake assembly when in the first position and remove the power source from the motor and couple the power source to the brake assembly when in the second position.
In another exemplary embodiment, an aircraft engine nacelle includes a nacelle housing with at least one cowl door, a gas turbine engine, and a system for moving the cowl door. The nacelle housing cowl door is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The gas turbine engine is mounted in the nacelle. The system for moving the cowl door includes an electric motor, at least one actuator, an electrically operated brake assembly, and a switch. The actuator is coupled to the motor and is operable to move the cowl door to the open position. The electrically operated brake assembly is electrically coupled in parallel with the motor and is operable to allow motor rotation when energized and stop motor rotation when de-energized. The switch is coupled to a power source and has at least a first position and a second position, the switch is operable to couple the power source to the motor and the brake assembly when in the first position and remove the power source from the motor and couple the power source to the brake assembly when in the second position.
In still another exemplary embodiment, a method of controlling movement of the cowl door between closed and opened positions includes releasing a brake assembly to allow rotation of the electric motor, energizing the electric motor to thereby rotate the motor in a first predetermined direction to move the cowl door to the opened position, and de-energizing the motor to allow the cowl door to move to the closed position under gravitational force.
Other independent features and advantages of the preferred cowl door operating system and method will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1175346 (1916-03-01), Dearborn
patent: 2912632 (1959-11-01), Turtil
patent: 3514952 (1970-06-01), Schumacher et al.
patent: 3515361 (1970-06-01), Blackburn
patent: 3618880 (1971-11-01), Hagaman et al.
patent: 3621763 (1971-11-01), Geyer
patent: 3714535 (1973-01-01), Krivak et al.
patent: 3795853 (1974-03-01), Whitehouse
patent: 3815357 (1974-06-01), Brennan
patent: 3932058 (1976-01-01), Harner et al.
patent: 3936226 (1976-02-01), Harner et al.
patent: 4005822 (1977-02-01), Timms
patent: 4137711 (1979-02-01), Montgomery
patent: 4184107 (1980-01-01), Turnini et al.
patent: 4191094 (1980-03-01), Flippo
patent: 4284930 (1981-08-01), Matty
patent: 4297844 (1981-11-01), Halin et al.
patent: 4383647 (1983-05-01), Woodruff et al.
patent: 4424669 (1984-01-01), Fage
patent: 4437783 (1984-03-01), Halin et al.
patent: 4442928 (1984-04-01), Eastman
patent: 4458863 (1984-07-01), Smith
patent: 4459121 (1984-07-01), Gazzera et al.
patent: 4462207 (1984-07-01), Hitchcock
patent: 4543783 (1985-10-01), Greiine et al.
patent: 4546783 (1985-10-01), Lott
patent: 4585189 (1986-04-01), Buxton
patent: 4586329 (1986-05-01), Carlin
patent: 4607202 (1986-08-01), Koenig
patent: 4651621 (1987-03-01), Eastman
patent: 4656407 (1987-04-01), Burney
patent: 4788531 (1988-11-01), Corwin et al.
patent: 4827248 (1989-05-01), Crudden et al.
patent: 5167119 (1992-12-01), Ward
patent: 5213286 (1993-05-01), Elliott, deceased et al.
patent: 5243817 (1993-09-01), Matthias
patent: 5267436 (1993-12-01), Wood, Jr., et al.
patent: 5282719 (1994-02-01), McCarty et al.
patent: 5313788 (1994-05-01), Wright et al.
patent: 5327055 (1994-07-01), Danielson et al.
patent: 5350136 (1994-09-01), Prosser et al.
patent: 5381654 (1995-01-01), Halin
patent: 5448884 (1995-09-01), Repp
patent: 5524431 (1996-06-01), Brusson et al.
patent: 5615549 (1997-04-01), Valleroy
patent: 5813218 (1998-09-01), Kohlbacher
patent: 5826823 (1998-10-01), Lymons et al.
patent: 5904041 (1999-05-01), Dhainault
patent: 5960626 (1999-10-01), Baudu et al.
patent: 5996937 (1999-12-01), Gonidec et al.
patent: 6009356 (1999-12-01), Monroe
patent: 6021636 (2000-02-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 6034492 (2000-03-01), Saito et al.
patent: 6042053 (2000-03-01), Sternberger et al.
patent: 6044641 (2000-04-01), Baudu et al.
patent: 6094908 (2000-08-01), Baudu et al.
patent: 6121740 (2000-09-01), Gale et al.
patent: 6167694 (2001-01-01), Davies
patent: 6178867 (2001-01-01), Kovac
patent: 6211665 (2001-04-01), Ahrendt et al.
patent: 6220546 (2001-04-01), Klamka et al.
patent: 6240246 (2001-05-01), Evans
patent: 6307339 (2001-10-01), Yourist et al.
Ahrendt Terry J.
Chakkera Kevin K.
Johnson Andrew T.
Eldred J. Woodrow
Honeywell International , Inc.
Newburry, Esq. Keith A.
LandOfFree
System and method for controlling the movement of an... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System and method for controlling the movement of an..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System and method for controlling the movement of an... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3069440