Abstract: A ducted fan housing for directing a duct flow includes an annular cowling and an adjustable fan duct nozzle. The nozzle includes a flexible sleeve having rigid areas arranged circumferentially around the nozzle orifice and connected by flexible areas so as to form a unitary sleeve structure. The rigid areas are radially moveable between a normal configuration in which the orifice is smaller and a dilated configuration in which the orifice is larger. A drive mechanism uses drive elements to move at least some of the rigid areas between the configurations to adjust the size of the orifice. The rigid areas may be constructed from laminated graphite and epoxy, and the flexible areas may be constructed from laminated graphite and soft resin. If the housing includes a thrust reverser, then a flexible joint area extends circumferentially around the housing and connects the flexible sleeve to a thrust reverser cowl.

Abstract: A ducted fan housing for directing a duct flow includes an annular cowling and an adjustable fan duct nozzle. The nozzle includes a flexible sleeve having rigid areas arranged circumferentially around the nozzle orifice and connected by flexible areas so as to form a unitary sleeve structure. The rigid areas are radially moveable between a normal configuration in which the orifice is smaller and a dilated configuration in which the orifice is larger. A drive mechanism uses drive elements to move at least some of the rigid areas between the configurations to adjust the size of the orifice. The rigid areas may be constructed from laminated graphite and epoxy, and the flexible areas may be constructed from laminated graphite and soft resin. If the housing includes a thrust reverser, then a flexible joint area extends circumferentially around the housing and connects the flexible sleeve to a thrust reverser cowl.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a thrust reverser cascade assembly including positioning a first frame section on an assembly fixture, positioning a first set of turning vanes on a first elongated stiffener of the first frame section, securing the first set of turning vanes to the elongated stiffener, positioning a second frame section on the assembly fixture adjacent to the first frame section such that the first set of turning vanes are between the elongated stiffeners of the first and second frame section, adding additional sets of turning vanes and frame sections, and fastening the frame sections together.

Abstract: A ducted fan housing for directing a duct flow includes an annular cowling and an adjustable fan duct nozzle. The nozzle includes a flexible sleeve having rigid areas arranged circumferentially around the nozzle orifice and connected by flexible areas so as to form a unitary sleeve structure. The rigid areas are radially moveable between a normal configuration in which the orifice is smaller and a dilated configuration in which the orifice is larger. A drive mechanism uses drive elements to move at least some of the rigid areas between the configurations to adjust the size of the orifice. The rigid areas may be constructed from laminated graphite and epoxy, and the flexible areas may be constructed from laminated graphite and soft resin. If the housing includes a thrust reverser, then a flexible joint area extends circumferentially around the housing and connects the flexible sleeve to a thrust reverser cowl.

Abstract: A thrust reverser for reversing a thrust of a turbofan engine of an aircraft. The reverser includes a pivot door, a cascade component, and an actuation system. The door is moveable between lowered and raised positions in which a side outlet is, respectively, covered and uncovered. The cascade includes turning vanes, and is moveable between forward and rearward positions in which the cascade is positioned, respectively, not over and over the side outlet. The actuation system deploys the reverser by simultaneously moving the door to the raised position and moving the cascade to the rearward position over the side outlet, and stows the reverser by simultaneously moving the cascade to the forward position and moving the door to the lowered position. When the door is raised and the cascade is over the side outlet, airflow through the side outlet is directed at least partially forward to provide reverse thrust.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a thrust reverser cascade assembly including positioning a first frame section on an assembly fixture, positioning a first set of turning vanes on a first elongated stiffener of the first frame section, securing the first set of turning vanes to the elongated stiffener, positioning a second frame section on the assembly fixture adjacent to the first frame section such that the first set of turning vanes are between the elongated stiffeners of the first and second frame section, adding additional sets of turning vanes and frame sections, and fastening the frame sections together.

Abstract: A thrust reverser for reversing a thrust of a turbofan engine of an aircraft. The reverser includes a pivot door, a cascade component, and an actuation system. The door is moveable between lowered and raised positions in which a side outlet is, respectively, covered and uncovered. The cascade includes turning vanes, and is moveable between forward and rearward positions in which the cascade is positioned, respectively, not over and over the side outlet. The actuation system deploys the reverser by simultaneously moving the door to the raised position and moving the cascade to the rearward position over the side outlet, and stows the reverser by simultaneously moving the cascade to the forward position and moving the door to the lowered position. When the door is raised and the cascade is over the side outlet, airflow through the side outlet is directed at least partially forward to provide reverse thrust.

Abstract: A hybrid torque box comprising a plurality of composite tubes and metal fittings attached together in alternating succession and configured to attach a thrust reverser to an engine fan case of an aircraft. The hybrid torque box may be substantially hollow and may comprise two V-blades for attaching the torque box to the engine fan case. The hybrid torque box may also be attached to or integral with a bull nose fairing configured for attachment with a cascade of the thrust reverser. Furthermore, the hybrid torque box may comprise and/or attach to a cowl interface flange configured for interfacing with an outer cowl of the thrust reverser.

Abstract: A hybrid torque box comprising a plurality of composite tubes and metal fittings attached together in alternating succession and configured to attach a thrust reverser to an engine fan case of an aircraft. The hybrid torque box may be substantially hollow and may comprise two V-blades for attaching the torque box to the engine fan case. The hybrid torque box may also be attached to or integral with a bull nose fairing configured for attachment with a cascade of the thrust reverser. Furthermore, the hybrid torque box may comprise and/or attach to a cowl interface flange configured for interfacing with an outer cowl of the thrust reverser.