Fan Cowl Slider Mounting System for Reduced Wind Drag
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nacelle designs face challenges in maintaining access for engine maintenance while minimizing wind loads, leading to increased weight and reduced fuel efficiency due to the need for strengthened cowl sections and larger hold-open components.
Innovation Solution
A slider-type mounting system is used to couple the fan cowl to an engine mounting pylon, allowing the cowl to be opened and maintained without hinges, latches, or hold-open rods, utilizing a sliding mechanism that reduces wind drag and weight by enabling the cowl to slide along tracks, thereby reducing the overall weight of the engine assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the cowl sections are strengthened and support rods are sized larger to withstand wind gusts when the cowl is open, then the structural strength and reliability are improved, but the overall weight of the engine assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the hold-open rods and strengthening components entirely by extracting the function of keeping the cowl open during maintenance. The cowl is designed to remain open without mechanical support structures, eliminating the need for weighted reinforcement while maintaining structural integrity through the mounting system design.
Solution Approach 2:
The cowl mounting system transitions from a static fixed position to a dynamic sliding mechanism along rails. This allows the cowl to be easily positioned and secured without requiring heavy reinforcement, as the dynamic mounting system provides the necessary support and stability during maintenance operations.
2Reliability
If the cowl sections are strengthened and support rods are sized larger to withstand wind gusts, then the reliability under wind load is improved, but the fuel efficiency decreases due to increased weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the unnecessary hold-open rods and reinforcement structures that consumed additional energy through their weight. By removing these components while maintaining reliability through the rail-based mounting system, the overall weight reduction directly improves fuel efficiency without compromising the cowl's ability to withstand wind loads during maintenance.
3Ease of operation
If hinges, latches, and hold-open rods are used to maintain cowl access, then the ease of operation for maintenance is improved, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes hinges, latches, and hold-open rods by extracting their functions entirely. The cowl mounting system is designed to allow easy removal and reattachment without these intermediate components, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining ease of operation for maintenance access.
Solution Approach 2:
The rail-based mounting system serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, enables easy cowl removal and reattachment, and ensures proper alignment. This multi-functional design replaces multiple separate components (hinges, latches, hold-open rods) with a single integrated system that is both simpler and equally effective.
Data Source
AI summary
A nacelle for housing an engine includes a fan cowl sized to cover at least a first axial portion of the engine. The engine includes an inlet end, an exhaust end, and an axis extending through the engine from the inlet end through the exhaust end. The fan cowl is coupled to an engine mounting pylon via a slider-type mounting system that includes at least one slider track assembly defining at least one slot therein. The at least one slot is configured to receive at least one fan cowl slider fitting.