Aircraft Nacelle Lip Panel Nesting Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connections between the air intake lip and the outer panel in aircraft propulsion nacelles create geometric irregularities, disrupting the laminar flow of air and increasing parasitic drag, which reduces energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A connection configuration where the front edge of the outer panel and the rear edge of the air intake lip are shaped to overlap radially and nest, eliminating the need for fully penetrating elements, allowing for a continuous surface and using adhesives like glue or solder to ensure a rigid and seamless interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional riveting connections are used to fasten the air intake lip to the outer panel, then structural strength and reliability are improved, but geometric irregularities are created on the surface that disrupt laminar air flow and increase parasitic drag
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the harmful riveting connection method from the air intake lip to outer panel assembly. By eliminating the rivets that create surface irregularities, the patent achieves a smooth continuous surface that maintains laminar air flow while reducing parasitic drag and improving energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical riveting system with an alternative connection method that does not penetrate the air intake lip. This substitution eliminates the geometric disruptions caused by rivet holes and protrusions, allowing the outer panel to be fastened to the lip without compromising the aerodynamic surface quality.
2Strength
If rivets are used to create a rigid connection between the air intake lip and outer panel, then structural strength is improved, but the continuous surface required for laminar flow is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the rivet element from the connection system, removing the source of surface disruption. The outer panel is fastened to the air intake lip without penetrating rivets, thereby preserving the continuous smooth surface shape required for laminar air flow while maintaining connection strength through alternative means.
3Device complexity
If a common connection (single orbital seam) is used between the air intake lip, front frame, and outer panel, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision and surface continuity become more difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the connection approach by treating the air intake lip to outer panel connection as a distinct assembly step from the front frame connections. This segmentation allows for specialized attention to the aerodynamic surface quality at the lip-panel interface, achieving high manufacturing precision for surface continuity while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through modular assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
An anterior part of an aircraft propulsion assembly nacelle, having an air intake lip disposed at a front end and an outer panel, of which an outer face extends an outer part of the air intake lip. A front edge of the outer panel and a rear edge of the air intake lip are shaped so as to overlap radially and to nest so as to ensure a continuous surface between the outer surface of the outer part of the air intake lip and the outer face of the outer panel. Moreover, the front edge of the outer panel is connected to the rear edge of the air intake lip with no added rigid element. This permits a rigid connection while avoiding creating local irregularities on the outer surface of the nacelle, which irregularities might disrupt the flow of air around the nacelle, giving rise to additional drag.