Aircraft Engine Mounting Strut Spreader Beam Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing aircraft engine mounting structures are complex, leading to high assembly and disassembly times, significant encumbrance, and aerodynamic disturbances due to the combination of multiple force pathways in the rear engine attachment, causing drag and performance loss.
Innovation Solution
The engine mounting structure features a rear engine attachment strut that serves as both an attachment strut and a spreader beam, connected to the caisson via an articulated shaft system, simplifying the design and reducing encumbrance, with a dual function that includes stop devices to manage thrust effort transmission and failure scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the spreader beam is joined to the rear engine attachment beam which is attached to the lowest stringer of the primary structure, then the thrust efforts can be transmitted, but the design becomes complicated and assembly/disassembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the rear engine attachment beam and the spreader beam into a single integrated component. The rear engine attachment strut is designed to simultaneously serve as both the attachment beam connecting to the primary structure and the spreader beam connecting to the connecting rods, thereby transmitting thrust efforts while simplifying the overall design and reducing assembly complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The rear engine attachment strut is designed as a multi-functional component that performs multiple roles: it acts as an attachment strut connecting the engine to the primary structure, serves as a spreader beam for the thrust transmission system, and provides mounting points for both the shackle and connecting rods. This universal design reduces the number of separate components needed
2Reliability
If the spreader beam is joined to the rear engine attachment beam, then thrust transmission is achieved, but assembly and disassembly times become substantial
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the rear engine attachment beam and spreader beam into one integrated strut, the number of joints and connection points is reduced. This merger simplifies the assembly process as fewer components need to be connected and reduces disassembly time for maintenance or engine replacement operations
3Reliability
If the rear engine attachment is configured with multiple force pathways, then thrust transmission is achieved, but encumbrance increases causing aerodynamic disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the unnecessary separate spreader beam component from the configuration, keeping only the essential force transmission pathways. By removing the redundant beam that created encumbrance in the secondary flow outflow area, aerodynamic disturbances are reduced while the thrust transmission function is maintained through the streamlined rear engine attachment strut design
Data Source
AI summary
An engine mounting structure for an engine aircraft including a rigid structure forming a caisson, together with an engine mounting system mounted on the structure, and a rear engine attachment, including an attachment strut to which is connected at least one shackle, to be connected to the engine. The engine mounting system includes a system for transmitting thrust efforts generated by the engine, including two lateral connecting rods connected to a spreader beam mounted in articulated fashion relative to the caisson. The attachment strut constitutes the spreader beam, wherein the body is mounted in articulated fashion relative to the caisson using an articulated shaft system.