Aircraft Engine Layout With Offset Axes for Ballistic Debris Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine arrangements for aircraft with closely positioned engines require heavy ballistic protection due to the risk of splintered parts from one engine damaging another, leading to unnecessary weight and additional structural requirements.
Innovation Solution
The engines are arranged in a ballistically effective proximity with offset longitudinal axes, using a ballistic protection element to slow down or retain hazardous drive body parts, reducing the need for extensive protective apparatuses and minimizing the risk of damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If engines are arranged in close proximity to reduce aircraft weight, then weight is reduced, but the risk of engine damage from ballistic hazards increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by offsetting the longitudinal axes of the engines relative to each other. The first engine has a first longitudinal axis and the second engine has a second longitudinal axis that is offset from the first. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that the ballistic hazard areas, which extend radially from each engine's axis, do not overlap, thereby eliminating the risk of engine-to-engine damage while allowing the engines to be positioned in close proximity for weight reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the contradiction by utilizing the longitudinal dimension (axis offset) rather than increasing separation distance in other dimensions. By offsetting the longitudinal axes, the invention creates spatial separation in the hazard areas without increasing the overall proximity of the engines, thus maintaining weight efficiency while ensuring safety.
2Reliability
If powerful ballistic protection apparatuses are used to protect engines from splintered parts, then engine protection is improved, but aircraft weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the protection function from heavy ballistic protection apparatuses and implements it through the asymmetric arrangement of the engines themselves. By offsetting the longitudinal axes, the design inherently prevents ballistic hazards from one engine from affecting the other, eliminating the need for additional protective armor and thereby reducing weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The offset longitudinal axis arrangement acts as an intermediary mechanism that prevents direct interaction between hazardous components of the engines. This geometric configuration serves as a passive protective mechanism that eliminates the need for active or heavy protective systems.
3Reliability
If engines are arranged far enough apart to eliminate damage risk, then engine safety is improved, but aircraft weight increases due to reduced structural efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses asymmetric offsetting of longitudinal axes to achieve engine safety without requiring large separation distances. The first and second longitudinal axes are positioned at different locations, creating non-overlapping hazard areas that allow the engines to remain in close proximity while maintaining safety, thus avoiding unnecessary weight increase.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This arrangement reduces the risk of engine damage by allowing lighter and less powerful ballistic protection, maintaining safety while minimizing weight and noise emissions, and optimizing engine performance.
Implementation Method 1
a ballistic protection element configured to slow down the drive body parts to below a hazard speed
Implementation Method 2
a ballistic protection element configured to slow down the drive body parts to below a hazard speed and/or to retain them
Data Source
AI summary
An engine arrangement includes a first and a second engine arranged in a fuselage of an aircraft, and a ballistic protection element. The first engine has a first main body and a first drive body which rotates. The second engine has a second main body and a second drive body which rotates. The ballistic protection element is arranged on the first main body, on the second main body, and/or therebetween. The first and second engines are arranged in a ballistically effective proximity to one another. If mechanical damage occurs, the first and/or the second drive body output(s) respective drive body parts substantially radially into respective ballistic hazard areas. The first and the second drive body are arranged offset to one another. The ballistic protection element slows down to below a hazard speed and/or retains the drive body parts output by the first drive body and/or by the second drive body.