Compact Front Engine Mount Structure for Reduced Nacelle Clearance

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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 an engine pylon and a front engine attachment with a vertical median plane, featuring a main link fastened via a secondary ball-joint connection, a main shaft establishing a main ball-joint connection, and an outer cylinder mounted via an annular linear connection to the front casing, 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 front engine attachment is merged with the engine pylon by incorporating the attachment system directly into the pylon structure. The main link is integrated into the pylon, and the outer cylinder is mounted on the pylon, creating a combined structure that reduces the overall height while maintaining structural integrity and engine support functionality.

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 nacelle position is improved, but the structural complexity of the attachment system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheight of front engine attachmentVSAvoidstructural complexity of attachment system

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system is nested within the engine pylon structure. The main link is positioned within the pylon, the outer cylinder is mounted on the pylon, and various connection elements are integrated into the pylon's internal structure, creating a compact nested arrangement that reduces height while managing complexity through hierarchical integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The engine pylon is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides structural support for the engine, incorporates the front engine attachment system, and serves as the mounting structure for the outer cylinder and main link. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and reduces overall height.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12565321B2Front engine attachment system intended for an aircraft engine and having a compact structure

Publication Date: 2026.03.03 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

AI summary

A system for attaching a front engine of an aircraft, having: a vertical median plane, an engine pylon with a nose having a main female clevis, and a cylindrical housing around a vertical axis, a main link fastened to a front casing of the engine by a secondary ball-joint connection about a secondary axis perpendicular to the median plane by a secondary shaft, a main shaft, perpendicular to the median plane and forming a main ball-joint connection of the main link in the main female clevis about a main axis, the main and secondary axes in the plane perpendicular to the median plane, and an outer cylinder, coaxial with the vertical axis and a first end of which fastened in the cylindrical housing and a second end of which mounted, via an annular linear connection, around the vertical axis with respect to the front casing.