Aircraft Propulsion Assembly Load Support and Pylon Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft propulsion assemblies are bulky due to the positioning of the front engine attachment above the fan casing, which restricts space and requires the pylon to be placed above the fan casing.
Innovation Solution
A propulsion assembly with a pylon positioned below the wing, featuring a turbomachine with a fan casing and nacelle, and attachments that allow for the distribution of the engine load between the load support and pylon, including rotational systems and clevises for flexible attachment points, enabling rotation and force transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the front engine attachment is positioned on top of the fan casing, then the engine can be securely fastened to the pylon, but the pylon must be positioned above the fan casing, increasing overall bulk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional attachment arrangement by positioning the load support inside the nacelle rather than having the pylon directly support the engine from above. The front fan attachment connects the fan casing to the load support within the nacelle, while the rear pylon attachment connects the pylon to the load support, effectively reversing the traditional attachment topology to reduce external bulk
Solution Approach 2:
The load support is nested within the nacelle structure, with the fan casing and engine components arranged around it. The front fan attachment and rear pylon attachment both connect to this internal load support, creating a nested configuration where attachment points are integrated within the existing nacelle volume rather than requiring external space
2Ease of manufacture
If the pylon is positioned above the fan casing, then the engine attachment is simplified, but space utilization is reduced and the assembly becomes bulkier
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning the pylon above the fan casing for simplified attachment, the patent inverts this arrangement by placing the load support inside the nacelle and connecting both the fan casing (via front fan attachment) and pylon (via rear pylon attachment) to this internal load support, thereby improving space utilization while maintaining attachment functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a vertical attachment arrangement (pylon above fan casing) to a distributed three-dimensional configuration where the load support is positioned within the nacelle volume, allowing attachments to connect from multiple directions (front fan attachment from the fan casing, rear pylon attachment from the pylon) to the internal load support
Data Source
AI summary
A propulsion assembly having a pylon, a turbomachine comprising an engine and a fan that is enclosed by a fan casing, a nacelle surrounding the engine and the fan casing and having a load support disposed in the top part of the nacelle, a front engine attachment between the pylon and a front part of the engine, a rear engine attachment between the pylon and a rear part of the engine, a front fan attachment between the fan casing and the load support, and a rear pylon attachment between the pylon and the load support. Such a propulsion assembly allows a reduction in bulk since the load of the turbojet engine is distributed between the load support and the pylon, and the pylon is attached to the engine.