Aircraft Engine Attachment Device Reducing Pylon Mass

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aircraft engine attachment devices are complex, require special tooling, and have mass inefficiencies due to the need for multiple fail-safe mechanisms and narrow pylon designs, making engine mounting difficult and mass-intensive.

Innovation Solution

A compact engine attachment device with a redundant thrust take-up system using a single additional fitting and shared connection pins, eliminating internal stop fittings and allowing for a thinner pylon design, simplifying engine attachment and reducing mass.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple fail-safe mechanisms and internal stop fittings are used, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and mass increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefail-safe functionVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the fail-safe function into the existing spreader structure by making the spreader itself redundant rather than adding separate fail-safe mechanisms. The spreader is designed with two superposed fittings that can independently resist thrust forces, eliminating the need for additional internal stop fittings and reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and eliminates the internal stop fittings from the pylon structure. Instead of having stops fixed inside the pylon box, the fail-safe function is achieved through the spreader design itself, which removes unnecessary internal components and simplifies the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If internal stop fittings are used for fail-safe function, then reliability is improved, but mass increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefail-safe functionVSAvoidpylon mass

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The fail-safe function is merged with the spreader structure, eliminating the need for separate internal stop fittings. This integration reduces the total mass of the pylon assembly while maintaining the redundancy required for safe operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The internal stop fittings are extracted and removed from the design. The fail-safe function is achieved through the spreader's inherent redundant structure, which reduces mass by eliminating unnecessary internal components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Manufacturing precision

If special tooling is used for engine attachment, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment precisionVSAvoidmounting simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using complex inclined pins that require special tooling for installation, the patent inverts the approach by using a horizontal pin insertion method. The pin is inserted horizontally through the spreader and connection fitting, allowing for simple manual or standard tool assembly without requiring specialized equipment, thus improving ease of manufacture while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Length of moving object

If engine is positioned close to wing, then ground clearance is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveground clearanceVSAvoidmounting ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional vertical pin insertion approach to a horizontal pin insertion method. This inversion allows the engine to be positioned closer to the wing for reduced ground clearance while maintaining ease of operation, as the horizontal pin can be inserted from the side without requiring complex vertical alignment or special tooling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS8727268B2Attachment device for aircraft engine and aircraft comprising at least one such device

Publication Date: 2014.05.20 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

AI summary

An attachment device for an aircraft engine including a rigid structure and an attachment mechanism of the engine onto the rigid structure. The attachment mechanism includes two thrust take-up connecting rods mechanically connected to a spreader, a connection fitting fixed to the rigid structure to which the spreader is mechanically connected by a junction fitting by a connection pin, and an additional fitting to which the connecting rods, the spreader, and the connection fitting are mechanically connected. A clearance is provided at the mechanical link between the connecting rods and the additional fitting, the link between the additional fitting and the connection fitting being made using the connection pin being inserted laterally, orthogonal to the median plane of the attachment device.