Aircraft Front Engine Mount Forward Rib Beam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional front engine attachment systems for aircraft result in a large occupancy volume due to the positioning of connection points, leading to increased drag and bulky covers.
Innovation Solution
A front engine attachment system where each connecting rod's connection point to the beam is positioned within a restricted space forward of the engine mast's front face, utilizing a beam with a main and secondary plate and female yokes to reduce the footprint and drag, with additional fail-safe connection points for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If connection points are positioned on the sides of the engine pylon and front rib, then the engine attachment system is structurally stable, but the occupied volume increases and drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection points are repositioned from a lateral arrangement (on the sides of the pylon and rib) to a forward arrangement (in front of the front face), effectively changing the spatial dimension of the attachment system. This dimensional shift allows the connection points to be located within the volume extending forward of the front face, reducing the lateral footprint and overall occupied volume while maintaining structural stability through the beam's geometric configuration
2Reliability
If connection points are positioned on the sides of the engine pylon and front rib, then the engine attachment system is structurally stable, but the cover dimensions increase and drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
By repositioning connection points to the forward volume, the lateral extent of the attachment system is reduced, allowing for a more compact cover design that presents a smaller cross-sectional area to the airflow, thereby reducing aerodynamic drag while the beam's forward-oriented geometry maintains structural stability
3Volume of moving object
If connection points are repositioned forward of the front face, then the occupied volume is reduced and drag is reduced, but the connection points must be positioned in a restricted space
Solution Approach 1:
The beam is designed with non-uniform geometric characteristics - wider at the front to accommodate connection points in the restricted forward volume, and tapering toward the rear. This local variation in cross-sectional dimensions allows the connection points to be positioned in the constrained forward space while maintaining adequate structural thickness and stability at each location
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a front engine mounting system (150) comprising a reactor pylon having a front rib fixed against a front face (163), a front engine mounting (160) comprising a beam (162) fixed to the front rib, two connecting rods (164, 166) articulated to the beam (162) respectively by two connection points (170a-b) and one connection point (170d), and a front engine casing (103), wherein the first connecting rod (164) is articulated to the front casing (103) by a connection point (170c) and wherein the second connecting rod (166) is articulated to the front casing (103) by a connection point (170e), wherein each connection point (170a-b, 170d) of a connecting rod (164, 166) to the beam (162) is positioned within a volume that extends forward the front face (163) of the reactor mast. Such a forward engine attachment system has a reduced footprint and therefore less drag.