Compact Front Engine Attachment Structure for Low-Clearance Aircraft Engines

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing size of aircraft engine fans reduces the distance between the nacelle and the ground, necessitating a new arrangement to reduce the height of the front engine attachment and move the nacelle closer to the wing.

Innovation Solution

A front engine attachment system incorporating the engine pylon and front engine attachment, featuring a vertical median plane with a main rod fastened via secondary and main ball joint connections, and an outer cylinder mounted via an annular linear connection, reducing vertical bulk and incorporating the attachment within the pylon.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the fan size is increased to improve engine performance, then engine performance is improved, but the distance between the nacelle and the ground is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine performanceVSAvoiddistance between nacelle and ground

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the engine pylon and front engine attachment into a single integrated structure. The pylon nose directly incorporates the ball joint connection mechanism, eliminating the need for a separate front attachment assembly. This integration reduces the overall vertical height of the engine mounting system, allowing the nacelle to be positioned closer to the ground while maintaining structural integrity and force transmission capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Length of stationary object

If the height of the front engine attachment is reduced to move the nacelle closer to the wing, then the vertical bulk is reduced, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheight of front engine attachmentVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pylon nose is designed to directly incorporate the ball joint connection mechanism. The cylindrical housing within the pylon nose contains the main shaft that provides the ball joint connection between the main rod and the engine front casing. This integration eliminates the need for separate attachment assemblies while maintaining all necessary structural and functional capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pylon nose serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support as part of the engine mounting system, houses the ball joint connection mechanism for force transmission, and incorporates the cylindrical housing and main shaft for articulation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall structure despite the reduced height.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12539974B2Front engine attachment system for an aircraft engine, which has a compact structure

Publication Date: 2026.02.03 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

AI summary

A front engine attachment system for an engine having an engine pylon with a nose having a main female clevis and a cylindrical housing, a main rod fastened to the engine by a secondary ball joint connection about a secondary axis, a main shaft realizing a main ball joint connection of the main rod in the main female clevis about a main axis, wherein the main axis and the secondary axis are in the same vertical plane, a hollow outer cylinder with a vertical axis, of which a first end is fastened in the cylindrical housing and of which a second end is mounted so as to be able to move, via an annular linear connection, with respect to the front casing and an inner cylinder threaded and fastened in the outer cylinder.