Propulsor Mounting With Spherical Joints For Side Load Handling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in effectively mounting propulsor units in the tail section of advanced aircraft with a wide fuselage, where the propulsors' location raises issues due to their orientation and the need for a stable and efficient mounting structure that can handle side loads and rotational movements.
Innovation Solution
A propulsor and mount arrangement featuring a propulsor rotor surrounded by a fan casing with side mounts and a thrust link, where the side mounts are positioned at circumferentially opposed locations within a specific angular range, and the thrust link is pivotally attached to the fan casing, allowing for reaction against vertical and side loads, with at least a portion of the mounts and pivot point in a common plane perpendicular to the propulsor's rotational axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If propulsors are mounted in the tail section on top of the fuselage to ingest boundary layer air, then propulsor efficiency is improved, but mounting stability and structural support become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure is divided into multiple independent components: fan casing, side mounts, thrust link, and spherical members. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while collectively providing stable support for the propulsor in the tail section location.
Solution Approach 2:
Spherical members are used at the interface between the side mounts and the fan casing. These spherical elements provide curved, multi-directional support that accommodates the complex loading conditions and rotational movements of the propulsor while maintaining mounting stability.
2Power
If propulsors are positioned to ingest boundary layer air, then propulsor performance is improved, but handling side loads becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The side mounts are positioned at asymmetric angular locations (one at approximately 45° and the other at approximately 135° relative to the thrust link pivot point). This asymmetric arrangement optimizes the distribution of side loads across the mounting structure while maintaining propulsor performance for boundary layer air ingestion.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical members act as intermediary elements between the side mounts and the fan casing, providing a mechanical interface that effectively transfers and distributes side loads across the mounting structure while allowing for rotational movement.
3Use of energy by moving object
If propulsors are mounted with specific angular positioning for optimal air ingestion, then aerodynamic efficiency is improved, but mounting structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side mounts serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide structural support for the fan casing, accommodate rotational movements, handle side loads, and maintain the optimal angular positioning for aerodynamic efficiency. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical members provide a universal joint mechanism that naturally accommodates multi-directional movements and rotations while maintaining structural integrity. This curved geometry simplifies the mounting structure by eliminating the need for complex mechanical joints while achieving the required degrees of freedom.
Data Source
Figure 1A~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
A propulsor and mount arrangement comprises a propulsor rotor (36) and a fan casing (38) surrounding the propulsor rotor (36). The fan casing (38) receives two side mounts (40, 50) and a thrust link (44) pivotally attached to the fan casing (38) at a location that will be within 10° of a vertically lowermost location when the propulsor (24) is mounted on an aircraft (20), and the side mounts (40, 50) being at circumferentially opposed positions, and within a lower 270° when the propulsor (24) is mounted on an aircraft (20). At least a portion of both the side mounts (40, 50), and a pivot point (48) connect the thrust link (44) to the fan casing (38) in a common plane (P) defined perpendicular to a rotational axis of the propulsor rotor (36).