Movable Engine Pylon Seal for Thrust Reverser Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Side-mounted gas turbine engines on aircraft often cannot employ thrust reversers that move relative to the engine due to mounting constraints, limiting their ability to generate reverse thrust for improved stopping performance.
Innovation Solution
A pylon system that includes a vehicle pylon with a seal and an engine pylon with an inboard and outboard longeron, allowing the engine pylon to move relative to the vehicle pylon between positions, enabling the deployment of a translating cowl thrust reverser.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a gas turbine engine is side-mounted on an aircraft, then the engine can be installed on certain aircraft configurations, but the thrust reverser cannot move relative to the engine to deploy
Solution Approach 1:
The pylon system transitions from a fixed mounting structure to a dynamic one where the engine pylon can move relative to the vehicle pylon. The engine pylon is equipped with seals that slide along the vehicle pylon, enabling the thrust reverser to deploy while maintaining sealing during motion. This dynamic capability allows the system to achieve both adaptability and controlled complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the engine pylon is made movable to enable thrust reverser deployment, then reverse thrust capability is improved, but the mounting stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a dynamic mounting structure where the engine pylon moves along sealed guides on the vehicle pylon. This controlled mobility enables thrust reverser deployment while the sealing mechanism and guided motion paths maintain mounting stability throughout the range of motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal acts as an intermediary element between the movable engine pylon and the fixed vehicle pylon. This intermediary component enables relative motion while maintaining the sealing interface, thus allowing thrust reverser deployment without compromising mounting stability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If seals are added to enable movable pylon configuration, then thrust reverser deployment becomes possible, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal serves as an intermediary component that enables the engine pylon to move relative to the vehicle pylon while maintaining the sealing interface. This intermediary element is essential for achieving pylon movement capability necessary for thrust reverser deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal system employs flexible sealing elements that can accommodate the relative motion between the engine pylon and vehicle pylon. These flexible seals maintain the sealing interface during movement, enabling pylon mobility while managing the complexity through proven sealing technology.
Data Source
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AI summary
A pylon system for coupling an engine to a vehicle is provided. The pylon system includes a vehicle pylon to be coupled to the vehicle. The vehicle pylon includes a seal along a portion of the vehicle pylon. The pylon system includes an engine pylon including an inboard longeron and an outboard longeron. The inboard longeron is coupled to the outboard longeron at a first end of the engine pylon and is spaced apart from the outboard longeron at a second end of the engine pylon. The engine pylon is to be coupled to the engine, and the engine pylon is slidably coupled to the seal such that the engine pylon is movable relative to the vehicle pylon between at least a first position and a second position.