Aircraft Engine Pylon With Planar Wings For Vibration Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aircraft engine mounting pylons face manufacturing complexity due to complicated shapes and poor transmission of thrust forces, leading to bending moments and vibrations.

Innovation Solution

A simplified aircraft engine mounting pylon design featuring a linear main part with laterally extending planar wings forming an angle, an attachment flange that absorbs forces over a sector of a circle, and optional flexible connections to filter vibrations, allowing for better force transmission and reduced manufacturing complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a half-barrel shaped connecting part is used to attach the engine, then the engine can be mounted on the fuselage or wing, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to the complicated shape and its junction with the main part

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidconnecting part shape complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting part is divided into two planar wings extending laterally from the main part, with each wing being a separate manufacturable element. This segmentation allows each wing to be produced independently using standard manufacturing processes, reducing the overall manufacturing complexity compared to a monolithic half-barrel shape.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting part transitions from a three-dimensional half-barrel shape to a configuration with two planar wings extending laterally. This dimensional change simplifies the geometry by using flat surfaces instead of complex curved surfaces, making manufacturing easier while maintaining the necessary structural function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Force

If a half-barrel shaped connecting part is used, then the engine can be attached, but the transmission of thrust forces deteriorates producing large bending moments and vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethrust force transmissionVSAvoidbending moments and vibrations
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting part is segmented into two planar wings that can independently absorb and distribute thrust forces. This segmentation allows forces to be transmitted more evenly through the structure, reducing concentrated bending moments and vibrations that occur in monolithic designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each planar wing is designed with specific local properties to handle forces in particular directions. The wings can be optimized locally to absorb thrust forces more effectively, reducing the transmission of harmful bending moments and vibrations to the main structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the wings are made shorter and shorter away from the mounting flange, then engine exposure is improved, but an overhang exists between the main part and the engine attachment flange

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine exposureVSAvoidoverhang configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The wings are designed with asymmetric lengths, being shorter away from the mounting flange to improve engine exposure. This asymmetric configuration is intentionally created to balance the competing requirements of engine accessibility and structural integrity, accepting the resulting overhang as a trade-off.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP2480455B1Aircraft engine pylon, assembly comprising said pylon and related aircraft
Publication Date: 2014.04.30 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)
  • EP2480455B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2480455B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2480455B1 patent drawingFigure 5~8

AI summary

The invention relates to an engine (22) suspended from the linear main portion (23) of a pylon attached to an airplane fuselage or wing. The coupling comprises flat, symmetrical flanges (25a, 25b) forming an angle, for supporting a bracket (29) to which the engine (22) is connected either directly or by means of a connection element (39). The flat shape of the flanges simplifies the production thereof and provides good stress resistance. The above-mentioned intermediate connection element (39) provides good resistance to the stresses produced by the overhang of the connection. In addition, flexible links (43, 45) filter engine vibration and prevent the transmission of irregular stresses.