Aircraft Engine Pylon Mass Reduction via Integrated Rear Sub-Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft engine mounting pylons have a high overall mass due to the presence of backup lugs and their fastening means, which are necessary for redundancy but increase weight, necessitating a design optimization to reduce mass while maintaining structural and safety integrity.
Innovation Solution
The primary structure of the pylon incorporates a rear sub-structure made in one piece with aligned linking portions that eliminate the need for backup lugs and their fastening means, providing redundancy through a single-piece composite rear sub-structure that narrows in the rearward direction and is fastened to the lateral panels and spars, allowing forces to be transmitted in case of failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If backup lugs and fastening means are installed on the pylon to ensure redundancy and meet fail-safe requirements, then reliability is improved, but weight increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the backup lug and its fastening means into an integrated rear sub-structure made from a single piece of material. This sub-structure is fastened to the lateral panels and provides the necessary redundancy through its monolithic construction, eliminating the need for separate backup lug components and their associated fasteners, thereby reducing overall mass while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The rear sub-structure is constructed as a single piece, potentially using composite materials or optimized metal construction, which provides both structural integrity and weight reduction. This monolithic approach maintains strength and redundancy requirements while eliminating the mass penalty of multiple discrete fastening components
2Strength
If multiple fastening elements are used to secure the rear sub-structure to lateral panels and spars, then structural integrity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pylon structure into distinct functional zones: the box structure, the rear sub-structure, and the linking portions. Each segment is optimized for its specific function, with the rear sub-structure being a separate one-piece component fastened to the box. This segmentation allows for simplified connection interfaces while maintaining overall structural integrity through strategic placement of fastening elements at key locations
Data Source
AI summary
In order to reduce the mass of a primary structure of a mounting pylon for an engine of an aircraft, the mounting pylon includes a box and a rear sub-structure fastened to the box which includes two lateral panels, each equipped at its rear end with a first linking portion through which passes a first connection orifice that is designed to receive a connection pin of a lateral front wing attachment. The rear sub-structure is made in one piece and includes two opposite lateral flanks that are respectively fastened to the two lateral panels of the box by fastening elements. Each lateral flank has a second linking portion through which passes a second connection orifice that is aligned with the first connection orifice, and is also designed to receive the connection pin of the lateral front wing attachment.