Top-Mounted Aircraft Engine Support with Horseshoe Hoop Load Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing engine mounting methods for aircraft are costly and require complex support structures, necessitating a more efficient and cost-effective design for supporting engines atop aircraft.

Innovation Solution

The use of a horseshoe-shaped hoop structure as an engine support structure mounted on top of the aircraft fuselage, which provides a vertical engine mount and transfers the engine's weight to the rear spar, allowing for a more open-ended engine mounting system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional engine mounting methods are used, then engine support is achieved, but cost and structural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidsupport structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The engine support structure is divided into multiple hoop structures (first hoop structure, second hoop structure, etc.) that are distributed along the fuselage. Each hoop structure independently supports the engine, allowing for modular manufacturing and assembly, which reduces overall complexity and cost while maintaining support functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of supporting the engine from the top using complex mounting structures, the patent inverts the approach by using hoop structures that wrap around or position the engine from the sides and bottom, transferring weight to the rear spar. This inversion simplifies the support mechanism and reduces manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Strength

If traditional engine mounting methods are used, then engine support is achieved, but structural integrity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidmounting structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hoop structures are integrated with the fuselage and rear spar to form a unified support system. The first hoop structure, second hoop structure, and rear spar work together as a combined system to bear the engine weight, distributing loads more effectively than traditional isolated mounting structures, thereby enhancing structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The hoop structures are pre-configured to engage with the rear spar and fuselage at specific predetermined locations, ensuring proper load distribution and structural integrity are established before engine installation. This preliminary structural preparation guarantees strength without requiring complex adaptive mounting systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250242933A1Aircraft with an engine support structure

Publication Date: 2025.07.31 JETZERO INC

AI summary

An aircraft with an engine support structure, the aircraft including at least an engine wherein the at least engine is top mounted to an aircraft, a main body, and an engine support structure including a plurality of hoop structures, wherein at least one horseshoe structure is located forward of the center of gravity to the at least engine.