Assembly of a mounting mast with an aircraft engine

Abstract

Assembly of a mounting mast with an aircraft engine. The invention relates to the assembly of a mounting mast with an aircraft engine, by means of a front engine attachment (363) integral with the primary structure (304), comprising a body (321) partially embedded in the primary structure (304), the body (321) comprising on its front face, a first pair of arms (313) and then a second pair of arms (318, 319), where the arms of both pairs of arms all extend forwards and parallel to the vertical median plane (V), the body (321) comprising a lower face facing the engine and a pin (365) located in the vertical median plane (V) articulated to the engine (302), a straight two-point shackle (341), inserted between the arms of the first pair of arms (313) being articulated, on the one hand, to the body (321) by means of a first articulation axis (320) and on the other hand to the motor via a second articulation axis (326),Each of the branches of the second pair of branches (318, 319) is articulated to the motor by means of the second articulation axis (326). Such an assembly has a reduced vertical footprint. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 3,

Description

Title of the invention: Assembly of a towing mast with an aircraft engine. Technical field

[0001] The present application relates to an assembly of a towing mast with an aircraft engine. The present invention also relates to an aircraft comprising at least one such assembly. PREVIOUS STATE OF THE ART

[0002] As shown in [Fig. 1], an aircraft 10 typically has, under each of its wings 12, at least one turbojet engine 14 with a fan. Each engine 14 is attached under a wing 12 by means of a mounting mast 16, which is fixed on one side to the wing 12 and on the other side to the engine 14 by means of engine mounts. The engine 14 is surrounded by a nacelle. Typically, there is a forward engine mount at the front of the engine and a rear engine mount at the rear of the engine. The dimensions of the fans on new-generation engines are significant in order to improve engine performance, thereby reducing the distance between the engine nacelle and the ground.

[0003] There is therefore a need for a design of the assembly of the hitch mast and the motor which allows the motor to be brought closer to the hitch mast in order to maintain an acceptable ground clearance. Description of the invention

[0004] The invention meets this need in whole or in part. To this end, the invention relates to an assembly of a mounting mast with an aircraft engine, the engine extending along a longitudinal axis, the mounting mast comprising a primary structure extending from front to back along the longitudinal axis, separated into two parts, port and starboard, by a longitudinal median vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis, the primary structure comprising, at the top, an upper spar, at the bottom, a lower spar located opposite the engine, the primary structure comprising a front face provided with an opening, the assembly comprising, at the rear, a rear engine attachment, and at the front, a front engine attachment, each of the engine attachments being fixed on one side to the primary structure and on the other side to the engine,characterized in that the front motor attachment comprises a body partially embedded in the primary structure through the opening and extending the primary structure forwards, the body comprising on its front face and from top to bottom, a first pair of arms and then a second pair of arms, where the spacing between the arms of the second pair of arms is greater than that between the arms of the first, pair of arms, where the arms of both pairs of arms all extend forward and parallel to the median vertical plane, said plane forming a plane of symmetry for each of the two pairs of arms, the body comprising a lower face facing the motor and a pin situated in the median vertical plane and extending out of said face, a straight two-point shackle, inserted between the arms of the first pair of arms being articulated, on one side to the body by means of a first axis of articulation and on the other side to the motor through a second axis of articulation, each of the arms of the second pair of arms being articulated to the motor by means of the second axis of articulation, the first and second axes of articulation being oriented transversely to the median vertical plane, the pin being articulated to the motor.

[0005] According to one embodiment, the assembly is remarkable in that the motor comprises a plurality of straight fixing fittings spaced apart from each other and all extending parallel to the median vertical plane and distributed symmetrically on either side of this plane, with a pair of proximal fittings located on either side of the plane and a pair of distal fittings located on either side of the pair of proximal fittings, the shackle, extending in the vertical median plane being inserted on one side between the pair of proximal fittings and on the other side between the first pair of arms, on each side of the vertical median plane, a branch of the second pair of arms being located between a fitting of the pair of proximal fittings and a fitting of the pair of distal fittings, the first articulation axis oriented transversely to the vertical median plane passing through the arms of the first pair of arms and the shackle,and the second pivot point passing through the fittings, the shackle, and the arms of the second pair of arms.

[0006] According to an advantageous feature, the motor comprises a blind bore located behind said fittings with a bore axis situated in the median vertical plane and oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis, the pin being received in the blind bore. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0007] The features of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will become clearer upon reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the accompanying drawings, among which:

[0008] [Fig-1] is a side view of an aircraft according to the prior art;

[0009] [Fig.2] is a side view of an engine (the nacelle is not shown) attached under a wing of the aircraft in [Fig.1] by means of a mounting mast;

[0010] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of the front of a rigging mast assembly and an engine according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0011] [Fig.4] is a view similar to [Fig.3] in which the primary structure of the mast The hanging point is visible;

[0012] [Fig.5] is a front perspective and sectional view along axis AA of the assembly represented in [Fig.3];

[0013] [Fig.6] is a front perspective and sectional view along axis BB of the assembly represented in [Fig.3].

[0014] With reference to figures 2 to 6, the attachment of an engine to a mounting mast 20 is achieved by means of an engine attachment system 22 comprising a rear engine attachment 28 located at the rear of the engine and a front engine attachment 26 located at the front of the engine.

[0015] By convention, X is called the longitudinal axis of the engine. On the other hand, Y is called the transverse axis of the engine, which is horizontal when the aircraft is on the ground, and Z is called the vertical axis or height when the aircraft is on the ground, these three directions X, Y and Z being orthogonal to each other.

[0016] Furthermore, the terms "forward" and "rear" are to be considered in relation to the direction of travel of the aircraft during engine operation, this direction being schematically represented by arrow F in the figures. Similarly, the terms "port" and "starboard" define the lateral positions with respect to the direction of travel, respectively to the left and right of the aircraft.

[0017] With reference to Figures 3 to 6, the attachment mast comprises a primary structure 304 in the form of a hollow box extending from front to back along the longitudinal axis X. The primary structure 304 is divided into two parts, port and starboard, by a longitudinal median vertical plane V, passing through the longitudinal axis X, perpendicular to the ground, i.e., horizontally. The port and starboard parts of the primary structure 304 are symmetrical to each other with respect to the median vertical plane V.

[0018] The primary structure 304 comprises an internal structure (not shown) covered with panels, including at the top a flat upper panel, or upper spar 304a, which forms the upper face of the box, and at the bottom a flat lower panel, or lower spar 304b, which forms the lower face of the box and faces the ground and the engine 302. The panels further comprise two side panels forming the sides of the box, including a flat side panel arranged to port of the median vertical plane V, referred to as the port side panel 304c, and a flat side panel arranged to starboard of the median vertical plane V, referred to as the starboard side panel 304d. The upper spar 304a and lower spar 304b, as well as the starboard side panels 304d and port side panels 304c, define a U-shaped opening on the front face of the primary structure 304.

[0019] The rear engine mount 28 is fixed on one side to the lower stringer of the towing mast 20 and on the other side to the engine. The rear engine mount 28, which does not not the object of the present invention, may take any form known to a person skilled in the art and will not be described further.

[0020] As particularly visible in figures 3 and 4, the front motor attachment 363 is fixed on one side to the towing mast and on the other side to a set of fittings 342 integral with the motor 302. The set of fittings 342 is located at the front of the towing mast / motor assembly, and a housing in the form of a lower blind bore 364 with a bore axis 364x located in the median vertical plane V and oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis X, is made in the motor 302 behind the set of fittings 342.

[0021] The set of fittings 342 comprises a plurality of straight fixing fittings spaced apart from each other and extending all parallel to the median vertical plane V and distributed symmetrically on either side of this plane, with a pair of proximal fittings, one starboard 342b and the other port 342c, located on either side of the plane and a pair of distal fittings, one starboard 342a and the other port 342d, located on either side of the pair of proximal fittings 342b and 342c. Each of the proximal and distal fittings includes a through bore 326 whose bore axis is parallel to an axis 326x oriented transversely to the vertical median plane V. The bore axes of the different fittings are aligned and coincide with the axis 326x, and the bores are substantially identical. Each of these through bores is fitted with a sleeve.

[0022] The front engine mount 363 takes the form of a body 321 with a generally parallelepiped shape, elongated and extending from front to back along the longitudinal axis X. The body 321 comprises, at its front end, a front face and, at its rear end, a rear face. The lower face of the body faces the engine.

[0023] The body 321 is partially fitted, at its rear end, into the U opening of the primary structure 304. The body extends the primary structure forwards.

[0024] According to the invention, the body 321 comprises, at its front face and from top to bottom: - a first pair of branches 313 attached to the body, with branches distributed on either side of the median vertical plane V - a second pair of branches located below the first pair of branches 313, with a port branch 319 and a starboard branch 318. The spacing between branches 318, 319 of the second pair of branches is greater than the spacing between branches of the first pair of branches 313.

[0025] The branches of said first and second pairs of branches all extend parallel to the median vertical plane V, towards the front of the body 321. The branches The arms of the first pair of arms are arranged symmetrically on either side of the vertical median plane V, and the arms of the second pair of arms are also arranged symmetrically on either side of this same plane. The first pair of arms is articulated with the motor by means of a two-point straight shackle 341, articulated on one side to the body 321 and on the other to the motor. The shackle 341 has a first end inserted between the two arms of the first pair of arms 313 and articulated to them by means of a first articulation axis 320 whose bore axis is parallel to an axis 320x oriented transversely to the vertical median plane V. The second end of the shackle 341 is inserted between the two proximal fittings of the motor.

[0026] The port branch 319 of the second pair of branches is inserted between the port proximal fitting 342c and the port distal fitting 342d and the starboard branch 318 of the second pair of branches is inserted between the starboard distal fitting 342a and the starboard proximal fitting 342b of the set of fittings 342 arranged on the engine.

[0027] An articulation axis 326 extends transversely to the vertical median plane V and passes through the assembly of fittings 342 of the motor, symmetrically on either side of the vertical median plane V, the arms of the second pair of arms and the shackle allowing the articulation of the body 321 to the motor 302.

[0028] The assembly consisting of the first pair of arms 313, the shackle 341 and the set of fittings 342, the first articulation axis 320 and the second articulation axis 326 allows the vertical forces to be taken up along the vertical axis Y, coming from the motor during its operation.

[0029] The body 321 also includes, at its lower face, a protruding pin 365, which extends along an axis contained in the plane V, transverse to the axis X and projects out of the lower face of the body, downwards, in the direction of the motor 302. The pin 365 is inserted, in a fitted manner, into the housing 364 made in the motor 302. The fitting of the pin 365 in the housing 364 allows the longitudinal and transverse forces from the motor to be absorbed during its operation.

[0030] Thus, the first pair of arms 313, the shackle 341, the set of fittings 342, the first pivot pin 320, the second pivot pin 326 and the pin 365 fitted in its housing constitute a primary path of forces and ensure the solid fixing of the motor attachment 363 and the motor 302 by isostatically blocking three degrees of freedom.

[0031] In the detail of the attachment of the body 321 to the engine fittings, each end of the shackle 341 is drilled with a through bore equipped with a ball bearing.

[0032] The articulation of the first end of the shackle 341 to the first pair of arms is achieved by means of the first articulation axis 320 extending transversely to the vertical median plane V. Said articulation axis 320 is fitted in a spherical bearing mounted in a bore made at the first end of the shackle 341 and on either side of this spherical bearing, in a sleeve mounted in a bore made in one arm of the first pair of arms. The bores of the arms of the first pair of arms are identical and have a bore axis oriented transversely to the vertical median plane V.

[0033] The articulation of the second end of the shackle 341 to the fitting assembly 342 is achieved by means of the articulation axis 326 extending transversely to the vertical median plane V. Said articulation axis 326 is fitted into a ball bearing mounted in a bore made at the level of the second end of the shackle 341 and on either side of this ball bearing, in the sleeves mounted in the bores of the fittings of the fitting assembly 342. The articulation axis 326 is fitted into the bores of the fittings of the fitting assembly 342 and with radial clearance in the bores of the arms 318, 319 of the second pair of arms.

[0034] The second pair of branches 318, 319 and the axis 326 ensure the secondary path of forces, the latter only engaging in the event of a total or partial rupture occurring on the primary path of forces.

[0035] Thus, in the event of a break in a branch of the first pair of branches 313, of the shackle 341 or of the first pivot pin 320, the transfer of forces can be ensured by the second pair of branches 318, 319 and the pin 326 which provide a so-called “fail safe” function.

[0036] The shaft 326 is duplicated for redundancy purposes and comprises two coaxial cylindrical parts 326a, referred to as the main shaft, and 326b, referred to as the secondary shaft, of different diameters. The main shaft 326a is in a first engaged position, taking over a primary path of forces in the vertical plane by means of a fitting in its bores, and the secondary shaft 326b is in a standby position and becomes active and takes over the forces in the event of failure of the main shaft 326a.

[0037] The assembly of the towing mast with a motor according to the invention offers a compact configuration allowing these forces to be taken up at the highest point of the towing mast and thus allows the installation of large diameter blowers under the wings of the aircraft.

[0038] Compared to the assembly of a towing mast with a motor according to the prior art, and with the same dimensions of the motor and the mast, measurements have shown that the maximum distance between the lower spar of the towing mast and the motor can be reduced by half with the assembly of a towing mast with a motor according to the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. 1) Assembly of a mounting mast with an aircraft engine, the engine extending along a longitudinal axis (X), the mounting mast comprising a primary structure (304) extending from front to rear along the longitudinal axis (X), separated into two parts, port and starboard, by a longitudinal median vertical plane (V) passing through the longitudinal axis (X), the primary structure (304) comprising, at the top, an upper spar, at the bottom, a lower spar located opposite the engine, the primary structure comprising a front face having an opening (U), the assembly comprising, at the rear, a rear engine attachment, and at the front, a front engine attachment (363), each of the engine attachments being fixed on one side to the primary structure and on the other side to the engine,characterized in that the front motor attachment (363) comprises a body (321) partially embedded in the primary structure (304) through the opening (U) and extending the primary structure (304) forward, the body (321) comprising on its front face, from top to bottom, a first pair of arms (313) and then a second pair of arms (318, 319), wherein the spacing between the arms of the second pair of arms (318, 319) is greater than that between the arms of the first pair of arms (313), wherein the arms of both pairs of arms all extend forward and parallel to the vertical median plane (V), said plane forming a plane of symmetry for each of the two pairs of arms, the body (321) comprising a lower face facing the motor and a pin (365) located in the vertical median plane (V) and extending out of said face, a shackle (341) right two points,inserted between the branches of the first pair of branches (313) being articulated, on the one hand to the body (321) by means of a first articulation axis (320) and on the other hand to the motor through a second articulation axis (326), each of the branches of the second pair of branches (318, 319) being articulated to the motor by means of the second articulation axis (326), the first and second articulation axes being oriented transversely to the vertical median plane, the pin (365) being articulated to the motor (302).

2. 2) Assembly of a mounting mast with an aircraft engine according to claim 1, characterized in that the engine (302) comprises a plurality of straight mounting brackets spaced

3. one another and all extending parallel to the median vertical plane (V) and distributed symmetrically on either side of this plane, with a pair of proximal fittings (342b and 342c) situated on either side of the plane and a pair of distal fittings (342a and 342d) situated on either side of the pair of proximal fittings (342b and 342c), the shackle (341), extending in the median vertical plane (V) being inserted on one side between the pair of proximal fittings (342b and 342c) and on the other side between the first pair of arms (313), on each side of the median vertical plane (V), an arm of the second pair of arms (318 and 319) being situated between a fitting of the pair of proximal fittings (342b and 342c respectively) and a shoeing of the pair of distal shoeings (respectively 342a and 342d),the first articulation axis (320) oriented transversely to the vertical median plane (V) passing through the arms of the first pair of arms (313) and the shackle (341), and the second articulation axis (326) passing through the fittings (342), the shackle (341) and the arms of the second pair of arms (318, 319). 3) Assembly of a mounting mast with an aircraft engine according to claim 2, characterized in that the engine comprises a blind bore (364) located behind said fittings with a bore axis (364x) located in the median vertical plane (V) and oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis (X), the pin (365) being received in the blind bore (364).

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