Granted Patent B2

US 8,172,176 · App. 12/365,620 · Granted May 8, 2012

Abstract

Claims (31)

1. A slidable member configured to slidably couple with a fixed structure, the slidable member comprising:

a core assembly having a first face, a second face, an end portion, and a neutral axis of symmetry;

a slider apparatus adjacent the end portion of the core assembly and centered approximately at the neutral axis of symmetry of the core assembly, wherein the slider apparatus further comprises a primary slider component having a cylindrical portion and a flange portion extending radially from the cylindrical portion; and

a plurality of composite material plies wrapped around the core assembly and slider apparatus, wherein the core assembly, the slider apparatus, and the plurality of composite material plies are hardened and bonded together by a curing process.

2. The slidable member of claim 1 , wherein the slider apparatus further comprises at least one elongated chamfered element having a beveled face, wherein the at least one elongated chamfered element is bonded to the flange portion of the primary slider component.

3. The slidable member of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical portion is composed of an elongated carbon tow bundle wrapped with composite material, and the flange portion is composed of hardened composite material.

4. The slidable member of claim 3 , wherein carbon tows within the carbon tow bundle are oriented such that they are parallel to an axis of translation of the slidable member.

5. The slidable member of claim 1 , wherein at least one low friction slider shoe is bolted onto the slider apparatus outward of the plurality of composite plies.

6. The slidable member of claim 1 , wherein the fixed structure is at least one of a pylon and a hinge/latch beam of an aircraft for deploying a thrust reverser.

7. The slidable member of claim 1 , wherein the slidable member is at least one of a fan duct of an aircraft and a translating sleeve of a thrust reverser.

8. A slidable member configured to slidably connect with and be structurally supported by a fixed structure, the slidable member comprising:

a primary slider component having a first side, a second side, a first end, and a second end, the primary slider component including:

an elongated tow bundle, and

a first plurality of composite material plies, having a first portion wrapped around the elongated tow bundle, and a second portion extending radially outward from the elongated tow bundle, wherein the first plurality of composite material plies and the elongated tow bundle are hardened and bonded together through a composite curing process;

at least one elongated chamfered element having a beveled face, wherein the at least one elongated chamfered element is attached to the second portion of the first plurality of composite material plies on at least one of the first side and the second side of the primary slider component;

a core assembly having a first face, a second face, and at least one end portion adjacent the second portion of the first plurality of composite material plies;

a second plurality of composite material plies substantially wrapped around the chamfered element, the primary slider component, and the first face and the second face of the core assembly and hardened together by a curing process;

at least one low-friction slider shoe removably fixed to the primary slider component relative the first portion of the first plurality of composite material plies and outward of the second plurality of composite material plies.

9. The fixed structure of claim 8 , wherein the fixed structure is at least one of a pylon and a hinge/latch beam of an aircraft for deploying a thrust reverser.

10. The fixed structure of claim 8 , wherein the slidable member is at least one of a fan duct of an aircraft and a translating sleeve of a thrust reverser.

11. A method of integrating a slider apparatus with a slidable member of an aircraft, the method comprising:

(a) positioning the slider apparatus adjacent an end portion of a hardened core assembly of the slidable member such that the slider apparatus is centered with a neutral axis of symmetry of the core assembly;

(b) wrapping a plurality of composite material plies around the slider apparatus and the core assembly;

(c) curing the composite material plies together with the slider apparatus and core assembly; and

(d) attaching a low-friction slider shoe to the composite material plies and the slider apparatus.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising attaching at least one bushing to at least one end of the slider apparatus.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the low-friction slider shoe is one of bolted and riveted to the slider apparatus.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of forming the slider apparatus prior to step (a) by:

wrapping an elongated bundle of tow with another plurality of composite material plies having a first portion wrapped around the elongated bundle of tow, and a second portion extending radially outward from the elongated bundle of tow, and

bonding together the another plurality of composite material plies and the elongated bundle of tow through a composite curing process.

15. The method of claim 14 , the step of forming the slider apparatus further comprising bonding at least one chamfered element on at least one side of the second portion of the another plurality of composite material plies.

Assignments (19)