Aeroengine Washing Fluid Collection System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current washing systems for aeroengines face challenges in efficiently collecting washing fluid that seeps through the nacelle and from the engine's inlet during and after washing, particularly due to varying engine sizes and positions, leading to contamination and environmental concerns.

Innovation Solution

A mobile washing liquid collection system comprising a collection tray and an extendable inlet collector connected to the engine's inlet, featuring a flexible or rigid sheet material with anchoring and tensioning mechanisms to accommodate different engine sizes and positions, ensuring comprehensive fluid collection and easy transportation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed collection system is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate different engine sizes and positions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of different engine sizes and positionsVSAvoidsystem structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inlet collector is designed as an extendable component that can dynamically adjust its length to accommodate different engine positions and sizes. The collection tray is also designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing the system to adapt to various engine configurations while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the inlet collector is made extendable to accommodate different engines, then adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment to engine positionsVSAvoidextendable mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inlet collector is divided into multiple segments or sections that can be extended or reconfigured independently. This segmentation allows the system to achieve adaptability through modular adjustments rather than requiring a complex overall restructuring, simplifying the extendable mechanism while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If washing fluid is not fully collected, then the system is simpler, but contamination and environmental impact increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontamination and environmental impactVSAvoidcollection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inlet collector and collection tray are merged into an integrated system where the inlet collector channels washing fluid directly into the collection tray. This combination ensures comprehensive fluid capture without requiring separate complex collection mechanisms, reducing system complexity while preventing contamination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2244946B1Aeroengine washing system and method
Publication Date: 2015.05.13 ROLLS ROYCE PLC
  • EP2244946B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2244946B1 patent drawingFigure 2~7B
  • EP2244946B1 patent drawingFigure 8~9

AI summary

The present invention is a collector (56) for collecting washing fluid issuing (40, 41) from a gas turbine engine (10) during and/or after a washing operation. The collector (56) comprises a collection tray (58, 53) and an inlet collector (70) attached at a first end (72) to the collection tray (58, 53). The second end (74) of the inlet collector (70) is connected to an inlet (12) of the engine (10), thereby collecting washing fluid (40, 41) issuing from any one or both the inlet (21) and below the engine (10).