The Boeing Company

Eric H Crudden

John Michael Kay

P Jay Jessen

A sensor (20) is mounted on a fixed torque box (8) carried by a fixed portion of an engine nacelle (6). A target plate (40) is resiliently mounted on a thrust reverser translating cowl (10). A cylindrical sleeve (32) is attached to the sensor (20) and surrounds its outer sensing end (22). The outer radial surface (34) of the sleeve (32) is spaced beyond the sensing end (22) a predetermined distance (100). The surface (34) contacts the target plate (40) when the cowl (10) is in its closed position. The resilient mounting of the plate (40) compensates for inaccuracies in the installation of the plate (40) and allows relative movement between the cowl (10) and the plate (40) when the cowl (10) is in its closed position to maintain a fixed gap (100) between the plate (40) and the sensor (20).

Proximity sensor with automatic gap control

A self-contained apparatus for moving the portions of a cowl covering the gas-generator portion of a turbofan jet engine includes a motor-driven pump for pumping hydraulic fluid from a reservoir mounted on the engine through a control circuit which selectively channels the fluid to actuators associated with each of the cowl portions to move the cowl portions to their desired positions. The hydraulic control circuit preferably includes solenoid-actuated valves associated with each of the actuators and operable to selectively permit flow of fluid into and out of the actuators as is desired to open and close the cowl portions. Another solenoid valve is provided to control passage of the fluid from the actuators back to the reservoir during the closing of the cowl portions. The speed of closure of the cowl portions is regulated by one-way flow restrictors in the outlet ports of the actuators that control the rate of flow of fluid out of the actuator. A manual drive is provided for the pump and is operable to permit actuation of the cowl moving apparatus during periods of power loss or motor failure.

Growing community of inventors

Mercer Island, WA, United States of America

Eric H Crudden