US 12,345,216 B2
Limited flow thrust reverser actuating
Joseph Thomas Kopecek, Santa Clarita, CA (US)
Assigned to Woodward, Inc., Fort Collins, CO (US)
Filed by Woodward, Inc., Fort Collins, CO (US)
Filed on May 16, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/666,193.
Application 18/666,193 is a division of application No. 17/319,916, filed on May 13, 2021, granted, now 12,065,987.
Prior Publication US 2024/0301842 A1, Sep. 12, 2024
Int. Cl. F02K 1/76 (2006.01); F02K 1/60 (2006.01)
CPC F02K 1/763 (2013.01) [F02K 1/60 (2013.01); F05D 2220/323 (2013.01); F05D 2260/50 (2013.01); F05D 2270/64 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating an engine thrust reverser comprising a thrust-reversing element movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the method comprising:
transitioning the thrust-reversing element from the stowed position to the deployed position by:
conveying a primary fluid flow from a pressurized fluid source to a hydraulic actuator coupled to the thrust-reversing element;
conveying a secondary fluid flow from a fluid return reservoir to the hydraulic actuator, the secondary fluid flow being separate from the primary fluid flow; and
while conveying the primary fluid flow and the secondary fluid flow, operating an electrohydraulic directional control servo valve, the operating comprising:
configuring the electrohydraulic directional control servo valve to a first deploy stage in which the pressurized fluid source is fluidically connected to a deploy chamber of the hydraulic actuator and the fluid return reservoir is fluidically connected to a stow chamber of the hydraulic actuator;
controllably routing, through the electrohydraulic directional control servo valve in the first deploy stage, fluid from the pressurized fluid source to the deploy chamber;
configuring the electrohydraulic directional control servo valve to a second deploy stage in which the pressurized fluid source is fluidically connected to the deploy chamber and the stow chamber is fluidically connected to the deploy chamber;
controllably routing, through the electrohydraulic directional control servo valve, fluid from the stow chamber to the deploy chamber;
configuring the electrohydraulic directional control servo valve to a stow stage; and
routing, through the electrohydraulic directional control servo valve, fluid from the pressurized fluid source to the stow chamber; and
unidirectionally communicating, by a check valve, fluid from the stow chamber to the deploy chamber; and
permitting, by the check valve, fluid flow from the fluid return reservoir to the hydraulic actuator, wherein the check valve resides on a bypass fluid line providing fluid communication between the hydraulic actuator and the fluid return reservoir independent of the electrohydraulic directional control servo valve; and
inhibiting, by the check valve, fluid flow from the deploy chamber to the fluid return reservoir.