Turbine Engine Mounting Thrust Pin Linkage Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine engine mounting to an aircraft airframe results in increased internal stresses due to opposing axial thrust loads, requiring over-engineering and increased weight to manage these stresses and accommodate shifting during operational conditions like high impact landings and turbulence.
Innovation Solution
A thrust pin linkage connects the core and exhaust thrust pins, allowing for pivotal and radial slidable connections to the engine mounts and airframe, reducing stress transfer and enabling axial shifting without significant radial load transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate core and exhaust thrust pins are used to maintain structural independence, then the engine can accommodate axial and transverse shifting during operational conditions, but opposing axial thrust loads significantly increase internal stresses in the airframe
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the core thrust pin and exhaust thrust pin into a single integrated thrust pin structure that simultaneously supports both the engine core and exhaust. This merging eliminates the opposing load paths that caused increased internal stresses in the airframe, while still allowing the engine to accommodate operational shifting through the flexible seal and bearing mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate core and exhaust thrust pins are used to maintain structural independence, then the engine can accommodate axial and transverse shifting during operational conditions, but this requires over-engineering and increased airframe weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the core thrust pin and exhaust thrust pin into a single integrated thrust pin structure that simultaneously supports both the engine core and exhaust. This merging eliminates the opposing load paths that caused increased internal stresses in the airframe, while still allowing the engine to accommodate operational shifting through the flexible seal and bearing mechanisms.
3Force
If a rigid connection is used between core and exhaust mounts, then thrust loads are efficiently transferred to the airframe, but axial and transverse shifting during operational conditions cannot be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic mounting system where the engine core and exhaust can pivot relative to the thrust pin through bearings. This allows the engine to accommodate operational shifting during conditions like high impact landings and severe turbulence while still efficiently transferring thrust loads to the airframe through the integrated thrust pin structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible seal between the engine core and exhaust that allows axial, transverse, and angular shifting without significant load transfer. This flexible sealing mechanism enables the engine to adapt to operational conditions while maintaining structural integrity and efficient thrust load transfer through the integrated mounting system.
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly is provided for mounting a turbine engine to an airframe. The turbine engine extends along an axial centerline and includes an engine core mount and an engine exhaust mount. The assembly includes a thrust pin linkage connecting and extending axially between a core thrust pin and an exhaust thrust pin. The core thrust pin is adapted to connect to the engine core mount, and the exhaust thrust pin is adapted to connect to the engine exhaust mount. One of the core thrust pin, the exhaust thrust pin and the thrust pin linkage is also adapted to connect to the airframe.