Aircraft Engine Attachment System With Front-Mounted Beam
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing diameter of aircraft engines poses a challenge for conventional engine attachment systems, which can restrict the growth due to bulk-related limitations in fixing the engine under the pylon.
Innovation Solution
An engine attachment system featuring an engine pylon with a top, bottom, and lateral walls, and a front engine attachment comprising a beam and connecting rods, with an intermediate cup-like piece that allows for a space-saving configuration and fail-safe fixing points to manage engine loads and facilitate access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the engine diameter is increased, then the engine power and performance are improved, but the conventional attachment system under the pylon creates bulk constraints that limit further diameter increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional under- pyl on attachment configuration to a side-mounted attachment system. The beam is positioned laterally alongside the engine rather than underneath, utilizing the lateral dimension of the pylon structure. This dimensional change eliminates the bulk constraints imposed by under-pylon mounting and allows for increased engine diameter while maintaining structural integrity and load-bearing capacity.
2Volume of moving object
If the beam is positioned on the front-end face of the pylon, then space is saved and engine diameter is no longer constrained, but the attachment system must accommodate complex force transmission paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate cup-like piece as a mediator between the beam and the pylon's front-end face. This intermediate structure simplifies the force transmission path by providing a dedicated interface that distributes loads from the beam to the pylon structure. The cup-like piece accommodates the connecting rods and facilitates efficient force transfer while maintaining the space-saving front-end face mounting configuration.
3Reliability
If fail-safe fixing points are implemented, then safety is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements fail-safe fixing points that are pre-positioned and ready to engage in case of primary attachment failure. These fixing points are integrated into the beam and connecting rod structure, providing redundant load paths before any failure occurs. The fail-safe mechanism is built into the design from the outset, ensuring that if the primary force transmission path fails, the engine remains securely attached to the pylon.
Data Source
AI summary
An engine attachment system comprising an engine pylon with a top wall, a bottom wall and two lateral walls, and a front engine attachment with a beam which bears two connecting rods for fixing the engine. The engine attachment system also comprises an intermediate piece with a bottom wall and four lateral walls, wherein the beam is fixed against an outer face of the bottom wall, wherein the intermediate piece is fitted at a front-end face of the engine pylon in such a way that an inner face of the bottom wall comes against the front-end face of the engine pylon, and in such a way that the lateral walls of the intermediate piece are superposed with the walls of the engine pylon. In such an engine attachment system, the front engine attachment is thus located on the front-end face of the engine pylon, allowing a space saving.