Device for securing a cable or bundle of electrical power supply cables to an aircraft engine blade

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for retaining an elongated element such as a cable, a bundle of electrical power cables for an aircraft engine blade, or a hydraulic tube, said elongated element being retained by fastening means providing a slack strand (B) within the cable or cable bundle. This retaining device comprises a guide element (2) acting on the slack strand during engine rotation, the guide element having a concave surface (3) surrounding the slack strand (B). Figure 3 (for the abstract)

Description

Title of the invention: Device for retaining a cable or a bundle of electrical power supply cables for an aircraft engine blade. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to aircraft engines and more particularly to the attachment of a cable or a cable harness, or even a hydraulic tube, to the rotating parts of an aircraft engine. It relates more particularly to the retention of an elongated element such as a cable, a power cable harness, or a hydraulic tube for an aircraft engine. Previous techniques

[0002] One of the major concerns of aircraft engine manufacturers is to offer engines with maximum propulsive efficiency, in particular through an unfaired architecture.

[0003] Such an architecture is a vector of significant optimization of fuel consumption, while offering the same speed performance and the same cabin experiences for passengers.

[0004] Indeed, climate change is a major concern for many legislative and regulatory bodies around the world.

[0005] Various restrictions on carbon emissions have been or will be adopted by various states.

[0006] In particular, an ambitious standard applies both to new types of aircraft and to those in circulation, requiring the implementation of technological solutions in order to make them comply with the regulations in force.

[0007] Civil aviation has been mobilizing for several years now to contribute to the fight against climate change.

[0008] Technological research efforts have already made it possible to significantly improve the environmental performance of aircraft.

[0009] The Applicant takes into consideration the factors impacting all phases of design and development in order to obtain aeronautical components and products that are less energy-intensive, more environmentally friendly and whose integration and use in civil aviation have moderate environmental consequences with the aim of improving the energy efficiency of aircraft.

[0010] Consequently, the Applicant is constantly working to reduce its negative climate impact through the use of methods and the operation of processes virtuous development and manufacturing that minimizes greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the environmental footprint of its activity.

[0011] An application of the invention therefore also relates to propulsion systems comprising an electric hybridization.

[0012] Aircraft propulsion systems are conventionally equipped with cable bundles that provide electrical power to electrified devices.

[0013] For example, this could be a device for de-icing the engine blades, generally consisting of a heating resistive element which receives an electrical power supply conveyed by a bundle of cables.

[0014] In certain types of engines, particularly in unfaired architectures with large blade dimensions, the engine blades are steerable.

[0015] The cables that supply the de-icing devices are, for their part, generally held by fasteners or clamps, providing in the cables a slack strand allowing the blades to move when they are oriented.

[0016] The presence of the slack strand presents a major drawback: during high-speed engine rotation, the cable bundle is likely to end up in various uncontrolled positions due to centrifugal force. The random positioning of the cables makes balancing the rotating propulsion assembly difficult.

[0017] Furthermore, the lifespan of the cables is likely to be altered due to the stresses caused by centrifugal force.

[0018] In addition, the cables are likely to be damaged when in contact with rotating parts. Description of the invention

[0019] The aim of the invention is therefore to overcome these drawbacks and, in particular, to guarantee the maintenance of a cable or a bundle of electrical supply cables of a blade, in particular steerable, of an aircraft engine during the rotation of the engine.

[0020] The invention also relates to the control of the position of a hydraulic tube subjected to centrifugal force and therefore relates, in general, to the holding of an elongated element of the type cable, cable bundle or hydraulic hose for aircraft engine.

[0021] The invention therefore relates to a device for holding an elongated element such as a cable, a bundle of electrical supply cables for a blade of an aircraft engine or a hydraulic hose, said elongated element being held by fastening means providing a slack strand in the elongated element held.

[0022] This device includes a guide element acting on the slack strand during the rotation of the motor, the guide element comprising a concave surface surrounding the slack strand.

[0023] Such a device thus ensures the position of the slack strand during motor rotation, as the slack strand is confined within the concave surface regardless of the blade's position. This eliminates the risk of cable breakage or damage due to centrifugal force or contact with moving mechanical parts. The guide element limits the displacement of the elongated element to at least one position and / or prevents the element from contacting another motor part or that other part from contacting the held element, by defining a displacement envelope for the elongated element under the effect of centrifugal force.

[0024] In addition, the cable is held in position, which facilitates the balancing of the rotating parts of the motor.

[0025] In one embodiment, the guide element has a cap shape having a concave surface facing the slack strand and configured to surround the elongated element regardless of the position of the blade.

[0026] The concave surface is a surface for holding and guiding the elongated element during the rotation of the blade.

[0027] This concave surface is in particular a circular arc-shaped portion, centered on an average position of the blade. Such positioning ensures that the elongated element remains within the volume of the guide element, in both directions of blade rotation.

[0028] According to another feature, the fastening means include clamps or hose clamps.

[0029] The invention also relates to an aircraft engine comprising, for each blade of the engine, a cable retaining device as defined above, as well as an aircraft comprising such an engine. Brief description of the drawings

[0030] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting examples, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0031] [Fig.1] mounts the position of a power cable of a steerable aircraft engine blade for various blade orientations. ;

[0032] [Fig.2] is a schematic side view of an aircraft engine equipped with a cable retaining device according to the invention;

[0033] [Fig.3] shows an example of an embodiment of a cable retention device in accordance with the invention; and

[0034] [Fig.4] illustrates another view of the device in Fig. 3. Detailed description

[0035] Figure [1] shows an example of the implementation of an electrical connection of a blade P of an aircraft engine according to the prior art.

[0036] This includes, for example, but not exclusively, an engine having an unfaired architecture driving large-sized blades.

[0037] Each blade is furthermore mounted in a rotational manner relative to a disk D around an axis X-X' so as to adapt the angle of incidence of the blade P according to the operating range of the engine.

[0038] The blade is finally supplied with electrical energy by means of a cable C or a bundle of cables which delivers a power supply to the blade P.

[0039] It may, for example, involve powering a blade de-icing system including, for example, electrical resistors provided on the leading edge of the blade.

[0040] In [Fig.1], cable C is shown in four respective positions I, II, III, IV, corresponding to four angular positions of the blade relative to the disk.

[0041] Furthermore, the cable is fixed using fastening means, these fastening means being configured and the cable being held in these fastening means in such a way that the cable or bundle of cables is held sufficiently loosely in the vicinity of its connection area with the blade to create a sufficient slack strand B so as not to impede the rotation of the blade.

[0042] However, as previously stated, the presence of this soft strand presents a number of disadvantages.

[0043] Indeed, the position of the slack strand is not guaranteed during high-speed motor rotation due to the centrifugal force exerted on the cable.

[0044] Thus, the slack strand is likely to position itself randomly, which, on the one hand, is likely to cause balancing problems and, on the other hand, risks damaging the cable if it comes into contact with rotating parts.

[0045] Figure 2 shows an example of a motor equipped with a cable retention device according to the invention, which overcomes these drawbacks. The motor illustrated in this figure is an unenclosed blower, comprising a set of blades P driven in rotation about an axis Y-Y'. Each blade of the motor is associated with a cable retention device.

[0046] With reference to Figures 3 and 4, the cable retention device, designated by the general reference numeral 1, comprises a guide element 2 in the shape of cap which surrounds the cable or cable bundle, this cap having a peripheral surface sufficient to confine the cable, whatever position it may adopt depending on the angular rotation of the blade around its axis X-X'.

[0047] Indeed, in figures 3 and 4, the cable or bundle of cables supplying the blades is also fixed relative to the disk D on which the blades are mounted, using fixing means, designated by references 3 and 4, such as clamps or hose clamps, so as to create a slack strand B allowing the rotation of the steerable blades.

[0048] The retaining device is, for example, mounted in a fixed manner relative to disk D. It is, for example, mounted on disk D.

[0049] The guide element 2 has a concave surface 5 surrounding the cable or cable bundle, with the concavity facing the slack strand B. The concavity of the guide element is in particular radially turned inwards with respect to the axis of rotation of the motor, the cable being subjected to the centrifugal force outwards, and allowing cooperation between the cable and the guide element.

[0050] This concave surface 5 extends on the one hand, in a direction corresponding to the general direction of the slack strand, so as to cover the length of the slack strand B and, on the other hand, in another direction corresponding to the direction of movement of the slack strand B under the effect of the centrifugal force, so as to extend along the entire range of movement of the cable between positions I, II, III and IV.

[0051] The dimensions of the retaining device, and in particular the dimensions of the concave surface, are chosen so as to ensure sliding contact with the soft strand during the rotation of the motor.

[0052] The concave surface 5 thus constitutes a guide surface against which the cable or cable bundle rests during the angular rotation of the blade and allows the cable to be limited outwards under the effect of centrifugal force during the rotation of the motor.

[0053] Thus, during the rotation of the blade, the cable remains confined inside the retaining device 1 and, in particular, prevents any contact between the cable and the rotating parts of the motor.

[0054] The concave surface advantageously includes a circular arc portion, centered on an average position of the blade in order to ensure that the cable is held in the volume of the guide device in both directions of rotation of the blade.

[0055] It should be noted that such a retaining device can be made from any material suitable for the intended use, in particular by three-dimensional printing.

[0056] Finally, it should be noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described.

[0057] Indeed, the embodiment described above, the device is intended to ensure the retention of an elongated element consisting of a power cable for steerable blades of a motor with an unfaired architecture.

[0058] We do not depart from the scope of the invention when the elongated element held is made up of any other type of element capable of being moved under the action of centrifugal force, such as a hydraulic tube.

[0059] Of course, we also do not depart from the scope of the invention when such a device is used to ensure the retention of power cables for blades of other types of motor, or for non-steering blades.

Claims

Demands

1. A device for retaining an elongated element such as a cable, a bundle of electrical power supply cables for a blade of an aircraft engine, or a hydraulic tube, said elongated element being retained by fastening means (3, 4) providing a slack strand (B) in the retained elongated element, characterized in that it comprises a guide element (2) acting on the slack strand (B) during the rotation of the engine, the guide element comprising a concave surface (3) surrounding the slack strand.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the guide element has a cap shape having a concave surface (3) turned towards the soft strand which surrounds the elongated element regardless of the position of the blade.

3. Device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the concave surface (3) is a surface for holding and guiding the elongated element during the rotation of the blade.

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guiding element comprises a circular arc portion, centered on an average position of the blade.

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fastening means comprise hose clamps.

6. Aircraft engine comprising, for each blade of the engine, a cable retaining device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. Aircraft, comprising an aircraft engine according to claim 6.

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