Conical Deflector Assembly for Aircraft Engine Bird Strike Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Airplane engine damage and potential crashes caused by collisions with birds and other foreign objects, leading to significant repair costs, safety risks, and legal burdens, as existing protective deflectors are either costly, require frequent maintenance, or impede airflow.
Innovation Solution
Aircraft safety device system comprising a deflector assembly with a base, inner and outer rings, rods creating a conical profile, and a forward-mounted cone-shaped deflecting member that can be securely mounted to the engine housing to deflect birds and debris without obstructing airflow, with a locking latch for easy maintenance and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If protective deflectors are installed to prevent bird and debris collisions, then engine safety is improved, but airflow through the turbine is impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a conical deflector made of a flexible, porous material that allows airflow to pass through while maintaining the protective function. The material's porosity enables air molecules to penetrate through the structure, reducing airflow impedement while the conical shape and flexibility provide effective bird and debris deflection.
Solution Approach 2:
The deflector incorporates porous material that permits air passage while providing physical barrier protection. The porous structure allows beneficial airflow through the deflector to reach the turbine, unlike solid deflectors that would completely block airflow, thus resolving the contradiction between protection and airflow maintenance.
2Reliability
If solid protective barriers are used to block birds and debris, then engine protection is improved, but maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible nature of the deflector material allows it to be easily removed, cleaned, and reinstalled. Unlike rigid barriers that may require complex disassembly and alignment procedures, the flexible deflector can be simply detached, washed to remove accumulated debris and bird droppings, and reattached, significantly reducing maintenance effort and time.
3Reliability
If conventional deflectors are installed to prevent foreign object damage, then repair costs are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector is designed as a segmented conical structure composed of multiple rods or struts arranged in a radial pattern, connected by cross-members. This segmentation allows the complex protective function to be achieved through simple, modular components that are easier to manufacture, install, and maintain compared to a monolithic complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The conical shape of the deflector provides aerodynamic benefits and structural efficiency. The curved, tapered form naturally guides birds and debris away from the engine intake while distributing structural loads more evenly than flat or angular designs, achieving effective protection with a relatively simple geometric form.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces engine failure risks, repair costs, and passenger safety hazards while maintaining minimal maintenance requirements and airflow efficiency, providing a cost-effective solution for protecting airplane engines from airborne threats.
Implementation Method 1
a forward-mounted cone-shaped deflecting member (resembling a profile of a bullet) mounted forward of and atop the apex of the plurality of rods to deflect birds and debris
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft system comprising a deflector assembly including, a base having mounting apertures; an inner ring concentrically positioned within an outer ring, the inner ring and the outer ring have an annulus defined therebetween via a base plate, a plurality of rods attached within the annulus and culminating at an apex creating a conical profile; and a forward-mounted cone-shaped deflecting member. The base plate comprises a through hole allowing airflow through the deflector assembly to supply an airplane engine. The aircraft safety device system further comprises at least one locking latch for removably securing the deflector assembly to a housing of the airplane engine. The aircraft safety device is mountable inside a lip of the housing of the airplane engine. Further, the aircraft safety device provides protection for airplane engines from air born animate and inanimate objects.