Actuator and safety lock system for pivoting door thrust reverser for

Abstract

An actuator and safety lock system for a pivoting door thrust reverser for an aircraft jet engine. An actuator having a plunger upon which an integral carriage is secured is slidably disposed upon a central guide rod which extends from the actuator. An over center link mechanism is pivotally secured to the carriage and to the thrust reverser doors so that upon movement from an extended position that locks the associated reverser doors in a locked position to a retracted position the doors are rotated to an open, deployed position. An actuator is positioned in each side beam of the fixed structure of a thrust reverser and provides a simple mechanism to operate a target type pivoting door thrust reverser and significantly reduces the bulk of such side beam and reduces the weight and aerodynamic drag of such side beam and contained mechanisms. A secondary lock system carried within each side beam provides pivoting latch members that cooperate with lock members provided at each corner of the forward end of each thrust reverser door to securely lock the thrust reverser doors in a stowed position. An actuator drives the latch members to an unlocked position to permit the lock members to be withdrawn when it is desired to deploy the doors. Proximity sensors are provided for each pair of latch members on each side beam to provide electrical signals representative of 'latch engaged' and 'door stowed' positions.