Aircraft Jet Engine Mast Movable Cowl for Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft engine pylons with rigid cowls suffer from manufacturing and assembly tolerances leading to air flow disruptions, acoustic phenomena, and difficult access for maintenance due to misalignments and the need for heavy structural reinforcement.
Innovation Solution
Aircraft engine pylons with a movable cowl system featuring a slider and movable rear cowl that translates parallel to the engine pylon, allowing easy access and simplifying the structure while minimizing air flow disturbances, using a locking and movement system with guides and sliding elements for smooth operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If removable hatches are provided on rigid cowls for access, then maintenance access is enabled, but structural complexity and weight increase due to reinforcement elements
Solution Approach 1:
The cowl is transformed from a fixed rigid structure to a movable structure that can open and close. The cowl assembly includes a movable cowl portion that can be displaced relative to the engine pylon, eliminating the need for removable hatches and associated reinforcement elements while providing full maintenance access when opened.
Solution Approach 2:
The cowl is divided into a fixed cowl portion and a movable cowl portion that can independently displace. This segmentation allows the movable portion to be opened for maintenance access while the fixed portion remains attached to the engine pylon, simplifying the overall structure compared to fully rigid cowls with reinforcement elements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple rigid cowls are juxtaposed to cover the engine pylon, then drag is reduced through smooth surface, but manufacturing and assembly tolerances cause spaces and misalignments that disrupt air flow and create acoustic phenomena
Solution Approach 1:
The movable cowl portion can be positioned and adjusted to maintain optimal aerodynamic alignment with the fixed cowl portion. The dynamic positioning capability allows compensation for manufacturing tolerances and ensures continuous smooth surface for reduced drag and minimized acoustic phenomena.
Solution Approach 2:
The cowl system transitions from a static multi-piece rigid structure to a dynamic system where the movable cowl portion can change its position and orientation. This parameter change capability allows the system to adapt to manufacturing variations and maintain optimal aerodynamic characteristics.
3Ease of operation
If removable hatches are used for access, then maintenance is enabled, but the hatches require local structural reinforcement elements that increase weight
Solution Approach 1:
The movable cowl portion provides full maintenance access when opened, eliminating the need for localized hatch openings and their associated reinforcement structures. The entire cowl assembly can be opened without compromising structural integrity, reducing overall weight compared to reinforced hatch installations.
4Ease of operation
If a movable cowl is implemented, then access for maintenance is improved and structure is simplified, but a movement system with guides and sliding elements is required
Solution Approach 1:
The cowl assembly incorporates a movement system with guides and sliding elements that enable controlled displacement of the movable cowl portion. This dynamic system provides easy maintenance access while maintaining structural simplicity through straightforward mechanical components rather than complex mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an aircraft comprising a fixed structure (50), a reactor pylon (100), and a cowling system (200), a slide (52) carrying a rear cowling and movable in translation from an advanced position to a rearward position, a displacement system (250) comprising on either side of a median plane (XZ) of the reactor pylon (100), a guide (402a-b) integral with the fixed structure (50), a sliding element (404a-b) integral with the slide (52) and sliding along each guide (402a-b) disposed on the same side, and a support (406a-b) integral with the fixed structure (50) and having a pallet (408a-b) parallel to the direction of translation and on which a surface parallel to the direction of translation of the slide (52) rests. The presence of the movable hood ensures, among other things, easy access to the inside of the reactor mast and the systems housed there.