Overwing Engine Struts for Aircraft Clearance and Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low wing aircraft designs face challenges with limited vertical clearance due to engine positioning, leading to increased drag, architectural changes, and thermal exposure issues, particularly with open rotor engines.
Innovation Solution
The aircraft design positions engines over the wings using struts that extend outward from the underside, maintaining a conventional strut architecture while keeping the top side of the wing clean and allowing for various engine types, including open rotor engines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If engines are raised to increase vertical clearance, then ground clearance is improved, but larger overwing fairings are required which increase drag and reduce aircraft performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions engines from the traditional underwing location to an overwing location, utilizing the space above the wing rather than increasing vertical clearance below. This dimensional repositioning allows engines to be mounted on the upper surface of the wing, eliminating the need for large overwing fairings and associated drag penalties while maintaining adequate ground clearance.
2Length of stationary object
If gear height is increased to address low ground clearance, then vertical clearance is improved, but significant impacts to aircraft architecture, wing planform, and potential tail size occur
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing gear height, the patent relocates engines to the overwing position, utilizing the three-dimensional space above the wing. This approach maintains conventional gear dimensions while providing adequate vertical clearance through the repositioned engine location, thereby avoiding significant architectural changes to the aircraft structure.
3Power
If turbofan engines are mounted under the wing, then propulsion is provided, but heated exhaust requires shielding on the underside of the wing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional engine mounting location by positioning engines on the upper surface of the wing rather than the underside. This inversion naturally directs the hot exhaust away from the wing structure, eliminating the need for thermal shielding on the wing underside while maintaining effective propulsion.
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft that includes a fuselage, right and left wings coupled to the fuselage, struts that are connected to and that extend outward from an underside of the wings, and engines mounted to the struts. The struts are configured to locate the engines in an overwing position.