IP Library Granted Patent US 8,002,217
Granted Patent B2
US 8,002,217 · App. 11/941,647 · Granted Aug 23, 2011

System for adjustment of thrust reverser pivot door

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,002,217
App. No.
11/941,647
Granted
Aug 23, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system that allows for quick and easy adjustment of the position of a thrust reverser pivot door comprises an actuator rod end bolt and a pair of pivot door hinge pins, all of which have an eccentric element. The actuator rod end bolt includes a cylindrical portion along the center of the length of the bolt that has an eccentric element which protrudes beyond the outer surface of the cylinder. Each pivot door hinge pin includes a cylindrical portion along the center of the length of the pin that has an eccentric element which protrudes beyond the outer surface of the cylinder. Rotation of either the actuator rod end bolt or the pivot door hinge pins or both the actuator rod end bolt and the pivot door hinge pins adjusts the position of the pivot door.

Claims (41)

1. A system for adjusting a position of a pivot door of a thrust reverser, the system comprising:

a pair of hinge pins, operable to adjust the position of the pivot door by rotation of the hinge pins, the hinge pins located on opposing sides of the pivot door, each hinge pin including a hinge pin eccentric element;

a coupling bolt, operable to adjust the position of the pivot door by adjusting the length of an actuator rod, the coupling bolt located at the aft end of the actuator rod and including a coupling bolt eccentric element and a head at one end of the coupling bolt; and

a socket rigidly attached to a fitting in the pivot door, the socket operable to retain the head of the coupling bolt to prevent rotation of the coupling bolt.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein each hinge pin couples a hinge fitting of the pivot door to a hinge bearing of an engine nacelle fixed structure.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein each hinge pin further includes a cylindrical section coaxial to the length of the hinge pin.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the hinge pin eccentric element protrudes above a portion of the surface of the cylindrical section, such that a centerline of the hinge pin eccentric element is offset from a centerline of the cylindrical section.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling bolt couples the aft end of the actuator rod with an attachment fitting of the pivot door.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling bolt further includes a cylindrical section coaxial to the length of the coupling bolt.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the coupling bolt eccentric element protrudes above a portion of the surface of the cylindrical section, such that a centerline of the coupling bolt eccentric element is offset from a centerline of the cylindrical section.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling bolt head is hexagonal, allowing for the rotation of the coupling bolt in approximately 60-degree increments.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the coupling bolt head is double hexagonal, allowing for the rotation of the coupling bolt in approximately 30-degree increments.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the head of the coupling bolt is temporarily removed from the socket to adjust the length of the actuator rod.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein each hinge pin further includes a first spline positioned at a first end of the hinge pin and configured to mate with a retainer that couples the hinge pin to the pivot door, such that the hinge pin rotates only with the pivot door, and a second spline positioned at a second end of the pin and configured to couple with a crank arm that is coupled to a linear variable transducer that determines the rotational position of the pivot door.

12. A system for adjusting a position of a pivot door of a thrust reverser, the system comprising:

a pair of hinge pins, operable to adjust the position of the pivot door by rotation of the hinge pins, the hinge pins located on opposing sides of the pivot door, each hinge pin including

a hinge pin cylindrical section coaxial to the hinge pin, and

a hinge pin eccentric element that protrudes above a portion of the surface of the hinge pin cylindrical section, such that a centerline of the hinge pin eccentric element is offset from a centerline of the hinge pin cylindrical section; and

a coupling bolt, operable to adjust the position of the pivot door by adjusting the length of an actuator rod, the coupling bolt located at the aft end of the actuator rod and including

a coupling bolt cylindrical section coaxial to the coupling bolt, and

a coupling bolt eccentric element that protrudes above a portion of the surface of the coupling bolt cylindrical section, such that a centerline of the coupling bolt eccentric element is offset from a centerline of the coupling bolt cylindrical section, and

a head at one end of the coupling bolt; and

a socket rigidly attached to a fitting in the pivot door, the socket operable to retain the head of the coupling bolt to prevent rotation of the coupling bolt.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein each hinge pin couples a hinge fitting of the pivot door to a hinge bearing of an engine nacelle fixed structure.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the coupling bolt couples the aft end of the actuator rod with an attachment fitting of the pivot door.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the coupling bolt head is hexagonal, allowing for the rotation of the coupling bolt in approximately 60-degree increments.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the coupling bolt head is double hexagonal, allowing for the rotation of the coupling bolt in approximately 30-degree increments.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the head of the coupling bolt is temporarily removed from the socket to adjust the length of the actuator rod.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein each hinge pin further includes a first spline positioned at a first end of the hinge pin and configured to mate with a retainer that couples the hinge pin to the pivot door, such that the hinge pin rotates only with the pivot door, and a second spline positioned at a second end of the pin and configured to couple with a crank arm that is coupled to a linear variable transducer that determines the rotational position of the pivot door.

19. A system for adjusting a position of a pivot door of a thrust reverser, the system comprising:

a pair of hinge pins, operable to adjust the position of the pivot door by rotation of the hinge pins, the hinge pins located on opposing sides of the pivot door, each hinge pin coupling a hinge fitting of the pivot door to a hinge bearing of an engine nacelle fixed structure and including

a hinge pin cylindrical section coaxial to the hinge pin,

a hinge pin eccentric element that protrudes approximately 0.025 inches above a portion of the surface of the hinge pin cylindrical section, such that a centerline of the hinge pin eccentric element is offset from a centerline of the hinge pin cylindrical section, the eccentric element operable to couple to the pivot door, such that rotation of the eccentric element provides a maximum adjustment of approximately 0.025 inches of the pivot door in the vertical direction,

a first spline positioned at a first end of the hinge pin and configured to mate with a retainer that couples the hinge pin to the pivot door, such that the hinge pin rotates only with the pivot door, and

a second spline positioned at a second end of the pin and configured to couple with a crank arm that is coupled to a linear variable transducer that determines the rotational position of the pivot door;

a coupling bolt, operable to adjust the position of the pivot door by adjusting the length of an actuator rod, the coupling bolt coupling the aft end of the actuator rod with an attachment fitting of the pivot door and including

a coupling bolt cylindrical section coaxial to the coupling bolt, and

a coupling bolt eccentric element that protrudes above a portion of the surface of the coupling bolt cylindrical section, such that a centerline of the coupling bolt eccentric element is offset from a centerline of the coupling bolt cylindrical section and

a head at one end of the coupling bolt; and

a socket ridgidly attached to a fitting in the pivot door the socket operable to retain the head of the coupling bolt to prevent rotation of the coupling bolt,

wherein the head of the coupling bolt is temporarily removed from the socket to adjust the length of the actuator rod.

Assignments (19)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 11, 2025
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 073932/0669 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2025
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 073900/0356 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2025
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 073916/0346 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 8, 2024
From: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 068217/0456 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2023
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
To: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.; SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS HOLDINGS, INC.; SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS NORTH CAROLINA, INC.
Reel/Frame 065772/0456 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN NOTES) Recorded Nov 21, 2023
From: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065659/0585 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Nov 23, 2022
From: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 061993/0847 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 061995/0281 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2020
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 054230/0578 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2020
From: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053993/0569 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2020
From: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053983/0350 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2020
From: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053993/0505 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 17, 2020
From: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 052433/0843 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 24, 2020
From: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052004/0929 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded May 2, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 038592/0181 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 19, 2012
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT (INCLUDING AS SUCCESSOR COLLATERAL AGENT TO CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.)
To: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC. (FKA MID-WESTERN AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS, INC.)
Reel/Frame 028072/0314 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 19, 2012
From: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 028072/0647 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 24, 2009
From: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 023134/0318 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2007
From: STERNBERGER, JOE E.
To: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 020127/0936 →