Modular Aircraft Pylon With Fluid Containment And Fire Barrier

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional aircraft pylons are labor-intensive and costly to produce due to their high part count and require extensive drilling and fastening, making inspection and repair difficult and expensive, while open structures lack fire and fluid protection.

Innovation Solution

An aircraft pylon with an open strut structure incorporating modular fluid containment and fire barrier components, where the fluid containment structure includes a shroud and sink to channel escaped fluids away from flammable zones and a fire barrier system with interposed elements forming a firewall when the thrust reverser is closed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional closed pylon structures are used, then fire and fluid protection is provided, but production time and cost increase due to extensive drilling and fastening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire and fluid protectionVSAvoidproduction time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The pylon is divided into modular components including a core mount, thrust reverser, and pylon fairing that can be manufactured separately and assembled. This segmentation eliminates the need for extensive drilling and fastening between components, reducing production time while maintaining fire and fluid protection through the modular design itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple functions are merged into integrated components. The core mount structure incorporates both structural support and fire barrier functions, while the thrust reverser assembly integrates propulsion control with fire protection. This merging eliminates separate protective structures, reducing assembly complexity and production time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If traditional closed pylon structures are used, then fire and fluid protection is provided, but the part count and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefire and fluid protectionVSAvoidpart count

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each modular component performs multiple functions simultaneously. The core mount provides structural support, engine mounting, and fire barrier functions. The thrust reverser assembly provides propulsion control, structural support, and fire protection. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of parts needed while maintaining comprehensive fire and fluid protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Components are nested within each other to eliminate separate protective structures. The thrust reverser is nested within the pylon fairing, and the core mount is integrated with the engine mounting structure. This nesting approach provides fire and fluid protection through the layered configuration itself rather than requiring additional protective components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Productivity

If open strut structure is used, then production time and cost are reduced, but fire and fluid protection is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction timeVSAvoidfire and fluid protection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Fire and fluid protection is provided locally at critical interfaces rather than through a complete enclosing structure. Fire barrier materials are applied at the core mount and thrust reverser interfaces where protection is most needed, while the rest of the pylon maintains an open modular structure for easy production and assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Strength

If traditional closed pylon structures are used, then structural strength is provided, but inspection and repair become difficult and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidinspection and repair difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The pylon is segmented into removable modular components that can be easily detached and inspected. The core mount, thrust reverser, and pylon fairing can be separated for individual inspection, eliminating the need to disassemble the entire structure. This maintains structural strength through proper connection design while enabling easy inspection and repair of individual components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9027875B2Pylon arrangement for open structure

Publication Date: 2015.05.12 SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS INC

AI summary

An aircraft pylon is disclosed, the pylon including a strut, a modular fluid containment structure and a modular firewall. The strut presents an open structure and connects an aircraft external element to the aircraft. The fluid containment structure is associated with a fluid transfer component, wherein the fluid containment structure contains escaped fluid from the fluid transfer component and channels the escaped fluid away from the aircraft. Both the fluid containment component and the firewall are modular and separable from the strut.