Pivotable Aircraft Engine Inlet Barrier Filter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aircraft engine inlet barrier filter systems with bypass doors are costly and complex, and their design can draw particles and debris into the engine when the filter is clogged, causing damage.

Innovation Solution

A pivotable filter panel system with a hinge mechanism that opens rearward of its forward edge, allowing air to bypass the filter while minimizing the intake of debris, and is mounted adjacent to the aircraft's outer contour to prevent particle ingress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a bypass door is added to the filter system, then airflow to the engine is increased when the filter is clogged, but the cost and complexity of the filter system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairflow to engineVSAvoidfilter system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter panel is divided into a filter portion and a bypass portion that can be independently controlled. The bypass portion includes a bypass door that can be opened to create a bypass passage, allowing airflow to be segmented between the filter and bypass paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The filter panel is made pivotable about a hinge mechanism, allowing it to dynamically change position between a closed position (filtering airflow) and an open position (bypass airflow). This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt to different operational conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the filter panel pivots upward about its rearward edge to open toward the front of the aircraft, then bypass airflow is achieved, but particles and debris are drawn into the intake and cause damage to the engine

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebypass airflowVSAvoidparticle ingress to engine

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The filter panel is positioned adjacent to the outer contour of the aircraft, and the bypass passage is configured to open toward the rear of the aircraft rather than the front. This local configuration change ensures that the bypass airflow does not draw particles and debris into the intake, while still providing adequate bypass airflow when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If the filter panel is positioned under a cowling rather than adjacent to the outer contour, then installation is simplified, but the bypass design becomes more complicated and particles can enter the intake

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilter panel installationVSAvoidbypass design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter panel is pre-positioned adjacent to the outer contour of the aircraft during design and manufacturing. This preliminary positioning simplifies the overall system design and reduces the need for additional structural modifications, while also enabling a simpler bypass passage configuration that opens toward the rear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8439295B2Aircraft engine inlet pivotable barrier filter

Publication Date: 2013.05.14 DONALDSON CO INC

AI summary

An inlet barrier filter system for an aircraft engine includes a filter panel (35) including filter media for filtering air prior to intake (15) into the engine. The filter panel has a forward edge (F). The system further includes an actuator for selectively pivoting the panel to form an opening around the panel for allowing air to bypass the filter. The opening is rearward of the forward edge of the filter panel.