Highspeed Fluid Intake Means (e.g., Jet Engine Intake) Patents (Class 137/15.1)
  • Patent number: 8984855
    Abstract: A rotating inlet cowl for a turbine engine, having a rotation axis and for which the forward end is arranged to be eccentric relative to this rotation axis. Furthermore, a forward cone of the cowl is truncated by a truncation surface defining the forward end of the inlet cowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Mickael Delapierre, Herve Gignoux, Gael Loro, Sylvie Wintenberger
  • Patent number: 8973370
    Abstract: A supersonic nacelle design employing a bypass flow path internal to the nacelle and around the engine is disclosed herein. A set of aerodynamic vanes may be used to shape a supersonic airflow within a bypass around an engine. The vanes may be capable of compressing the supersonic airflow into a subsonic airflow, direct the subsonic airflow around the engine, and then expand the subsonic airflow into a supersonic exhaust. The vanes may shape the airflow by reducing sonic boom strength, cowl drag, and airframe interference drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy R. Conners
  • Patent number: 8960596
    Abstract: Systems, equipment, and methods to deposit energy to modify and control shock waves and hypersonic or supersonic fluid flow, including systems for controlling, mitigating, and/or effecting air flow in relation to air vehicles, wind tunnels, or other assets, or the like, as well as systems, equipment, and methods for disrupting the shock structure at the inlet for the engine of an air vehicle traveling at supersonic or hypersonic speed; mitigating blast effects on vehicles; mitigating heating of throats in supersonic and hypersonic wind tunnels, as well as control the flow parameters and Mach number in their test sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventor: Kevin Kremeyer
  • Patent number: 8950191
    Abstract: Variable speed drive controlled discharge pumps are used for pumping chilled water from a chilled water storage tank to coils operatively associated with the air inlet of a gas turbine, wherein the gas turbine is used to generate electricity. Use of the variable speed drive controlled discharge pumps aids is protecting the temperature distribution in the chilled water storage tank so that a thermocline rises with the addition of chilled water during charging of the tank with chilled water, and lowers during discharge of the tank when using the chilled water to cool inlet air at one or more gas turbines operated at a facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Bicent Power LLC
    Inventors: Frank Landis, James Nolan
  • Publication number: 20150027545
    Abstract: An apparatus for suppressing shock-induced separation of high speed airflow from a relatively low-energy boundary layer. The apparatus may include an actuator or array of actuators configured to alternately inhale and exhale fluid and positioned to alternately inhale fluid from and exhale fluid into a boundary layer of a fluid mass flowing along the wall. The actuator may be positioned to inhale fluid from a boundary layer separation bubble induced by a supersonic shock wave propagated in the fluid mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Dan J. Baruzzini, Daniel N. Miller, Neal D. Domel, Jeff G. Hakes
  • Publication number: 20150030445
    Abstract: A nacelle for a turbojet engine has a longitudinal axis and a rear section including an annular vein formed by a wall of a fixed internal structure and a wall of an external structure. The nacelle includes a device for modulating the cross-section of a space formed by the annular vein. The device includes an injector to inject an auxiliary flow of a gas so as to vary the orientation or speed of the auxiliary flow, a suction orifice for drawing in part of the injected auxiliary flow, and an internal auxiliary flow return area in one or more walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: AIRCELLE
    Inventors: Patrick GONIDEC, Laurent Albert Blin
  • Publication number: 20150030446
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a nacelle for a turbojet engine, including an upstream section forming an air intake lip and defining a space for the circulation of a main air flow. The nacelle includes a device for modulating the cross-section of the space and has means for injecting an auxiliary flow of a gas by means of an induced ejector effect; suction means for drawing in the injected auxiliary flow; and an internal auxiliary flow return area in one or more walls, the area being configured to allow the circulation of the injected auxiliary flow and the drawn-in auxiliary flow and to bring part of the injected auxiliary flow into contact with the main air flow. The internal return area includes an outer front part forming an area in which the thickness of the internal return area is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Aircelle
    Inventors: Patrick Gonidec, Laurent Albert Blin
  • Publication number: 20150007895
    Abstract: The present application relates to a splitter nose of an axial turbomachine configured to separate an annular flow into the turbomachine into a primary flow and a secondary flow, and including: a generally circular leading edge, an annular wall extending from the leading edge and bounding the secondary flow, and at least one duct for a de-icing fluid for the splitter nose extending substantially axially along the wall and opening out into the primary flow. The external surface of the wall is formed by a sheet bounding the de-icing duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Ghislain Herbaut, Benoit Baldewijns
  • Publication number: 20150007896
    Abstract: An air intake structure for a turbojet engine nacelle includes an inner panel to be attached to a fan casing, and an external panel capable of a translational movement in a longitudinal direction of the nacelle. The external panel incorporates a portion of an air inlet lip able to provide a junction between the inner panel and the external panel, and each of the air inlet lip portion and the inner panel is equipped, at least in the region of a joining end, with an acoustic attenuation structure. In particular, at least one of the joining ends is equipped with a radial buffer able to come into contact with a corresponding joining flange exhibited by the other joining end when the external panel is in a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe JORET, André BAILLARD
  • Publication number: 20150000252
    Abstract: A propulsion system and methods are presented. A substantially tubular structure comprises a central axis through a longitudinal geometric center, and a first fan rotates around the central axis, and comprises a first fan hub and first fan blades. The fan hub is rotationally coupled to the substantially tubular structure, and the first fan blades are coupled to the first fan hub and increase in chord length with increasing distance from the first fan hub. A second fan is rotationally coupled to the substantially tubular structure and rotates around the central axis and contra-rotates relative to the first fan. Second fan blades are coupled to the second fan hub, and a nacelle circumscribing the first fan and the second fan is coupled to and rotates with the first fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Matthew D. Moore, Kelly L. Boren
  • Publication number: 20140373927
    Abstract: A supersonic nacelle design employing a bypass flow path internal to the nacelle and around the engine is disclosed herein. A set of aerodynamic vanes may be used to shape a supersonic airflow within a bypass around an engine. The vanes may be capable of compressing the supersonic airflow into a subsonic airflow, direct the subsonic airflow around the engine, and then expand the subsonic airflow into a supersonic exhaust. The vanes may shape the airflow by reducing sonic boom strength, cowl drag, and airframe interference drag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Timothy R. Conners
  • Patent number: 8915061
    Abstract: A propulsion system and an aircraft that includes the propulsion system are provided. The propulsion system includes an engine and a cowling that surrounds at least a portion of the engine. The propulsion system also includes an inlet. The inlet includes a compression surface that is upstream and external to the cowling. The compression surface can slow air flow from a supersonic speed to a subsonic speed before the air flow enters the cowling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Jon Thomas Anderson, John D. Klinge, Kenneth J. Hajic, Zachary S. Davis
  • Publication number: 20140352797
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a jet engine, as described herein, may include a fan case, a fan cowl, and an air inlet. Further, in various embodiments, at least one of the fan case and the fan cowl may be directly coupled to the air inlet. In addition, in various embodiments, the fan case, the fan cowl, and the air inlet may be manufactured as a single, unitary, engine part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Aten, Aleksandar Ratajac
  • Publication number: 20140352795
    Abstract: An air inlet deflector for a structure having an air inlet. The deflector may be retractable within the structure, may be integrally formed with the structure, and may prevent the structure from ingesting foreign matter, such as birds. The deflector may include a series of ribs, spokes, or vanes that may vary in width and/or thickness from fore to aft, and/or may be curvilinear in one or more planes of view, and/or may serve double duty as inlet vanes for redirecting inlet air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: Michael J. Kline
  • Patent number: 8899255
    Abstract: A turbojet engine nacelle, including an air intake structure for directing an airflow towards a fan of the turbojet engine, a middle structure attached to the air intake structure for surrounding the fan of the turbojet engine, the air intake structure including an inner panel attached to the middle structure and defining a fixed structure with the middle structure, and an outer panel including an air intake lip at the end thereof opposite the middle structure, the outer panel being longitudinally translatably movable relative to the inner panel. The nacelle further includes at least one rod having one end attached onto a flange of the air intake lip and a mechanism rigidly connected to the middle structure for securing and locking the other end of each rod by applying a traction force thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Herve Jean Albert Mouton, Thomas Alain Christian Vincent
  • Patent number: 8887486
    Abstract: A ram air fan inlet housing for containing a ram air fan rotor. The inlet housing includes a flanged surface and an interior surface. The flanged surface is perpendicular to an axis of the inlet housing and defines a flange plane at an axial end of the inlet housing. The interior surface is symmetric about the axis of the inlet housing and includes a flange section, a transition section, an outlet section, a rotor section, and an inlet section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Seth E. Rosen, Eric Chrabascz, Victoria S. Richardson
  • Publication number: 20140311580
    Abstract: An air intake guide for a jet propulsion power plant for a supersonic aircraft comprises an intake aperture, an intake centre body and an intake adjustment device. The intake aperture has an intake lip, an intake centre body is positioned within the aperture, and an intake adjustment device is positioned on a radially inwardly facing surface of the air intake guide downstream of the intake lip. The intake adjustment device comprises a flexible panel and an actuator with the actuator being adapted to deflect the flexible panel in a radially inwardly direction so as to reduce a cross-sectional area of the intake aperture and thereby to position a shock wave at the intake lip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Nicholas HOWARTH
  • Patent number: 8844553
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine system includes a nacelle having a pressure side and a suction side. A passage extends between the pressure side and the suction side that permits airflow from the pressure side to the suction side. The passage receives turbulent airflow over the nacelle to produce a laminar airflow over the nacelle aft of the passage to thereby reduce drag on the nacelle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Steven H. Zysman, Wesley K. Lord, Robert M. Miller, Oliver V. Atassi
  • Publication number: 20140283921
    Abstract: An airplane having at least one turbojet and means for taking at least a portion of the boundary layer (30) of the flow of air over a surface of the airplane and for guiding the air that has been taken to an air inlet (54, 80) of the turbojet, the airplane being characterized in that the means for guiding air include means for diffusing the air that has been taken circumferentially in uniform manner over 360° at the air inlet of the turbojet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventor: SNECMA
  • Patent number: 8839805
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine system includes a nacelle having a pressure side and a suction side. A passage extends between the pressure side and the suction side that permits airflow from the pressure side to the suction side. The passage receives turbulent airflow over the nacelle to produce a laminar airflow over the nacelle aft of the passage to thereby reduce drag on the nacelle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Steven H. Zysman, Wesley K. Lord, Robert M. Miller, Oliver V. Atassi
  • Patent number: 8840059
    Abstract: This assembly comprises a first component (9), a second component (3), and a connecting device (19) for connecting these two components together, this device (19) being of the type that maintains the integrity of the surface of said second component (3), and the assembly being noteworthy in that said connecting device (19) comprises a structural skin (21) fixed to said first component (9) and a porous material (23) attached to this structural skin and fixed by contact to said second component (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Aircelle
    Inventors: Guy Bernard Vauchel, Guillaume Ruckert
  • Publication number: 20140260325
    Abstract: A fluid plenum including a body defining an internal cavity having an inlet and an outlet. The fluid plenum further includes at least one wall positioned in the internal cavity that divides the internal cavity into first and second passageways, and which also divides the inlet into first and second inlet portions, and divides the outlet into first and second outlet portions. The first passageway receives fluid through the first inlet portion and directs fluid to the first outlet portion, and the second passageway receives fluid through the second inlet portion and directs fluid to the second outlet portion. The first and second passageways extend first and second lengths that are different from one another, and also generate a substantially common back-pressure at the first and second inlet portions during flow of a fluid stream through the inlet, including a first sub-stream of the fluid stream through the first passageway and a second sub-stream of the fluid stream through the second passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: John M. Roach, III
  • Patent number: 8820344
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turbojet engine nacelle (1) comprising: an outer structure including an annular lip defining an air inlet and a cowl (9) extending as a continuation of the annular lip, and an inner fixed structure (19) extending as a continuation of the air inlet and including a region equipped with at least one piece of equipment requiring maintenance or monitoring. The aforementioned outer structure can move in relation to the inner structure between an operating position in which the cowl (9) covers the region equipped with the equipment and a maintenance position in which the cowl (9) reveals said region so as to allow access to the equipment from outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Aircelle
    Inventors: Guy Bernard Vauchel, Stephane Beilliard
  • Patent number: 8783039
    Abstract: A supersonic nacelle design employing a bypass flow path internal to the nacelle and around the engine is disclosed herein. A set of aerodynamic vanes may be used to shape a supersonic airflow within a bypass around an engine. The vanes may be capable of directing the subsonic airflow around the engine, and then expanding the subsonic airflow into a supersonic exhaust. The vanes may shape the airflow by reducing sonic boom strength, cowl drag, and airframe interference drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy R. Conners
  • Patent number: 8769924
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine assembly includes an inlet lip assembly, a fan containment case, and a front flange. The fan containment case surrounds a fan section and is positioned downstream from the inlet lip assembly. The front flange is mounted between the inlet lip assembly and the fan containment case and is positioned upstream from the fan section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas G. Cloft
  • Publication number: 20140182697
    Abstract: The invention relates to aeronautical engineering and, more specifically, to air intakes for supersonic aircraft propulsion systems. The technical result to be achieved by the invention consists in ensuring stable operation of the engine in all flight regimes up to the maximum Mach number of M=3.0 by adjusting the apex angle of stages of one of swept wedges and minimum area of the flow passage of the air intake. An adjustable supersonic air intake comprises an entrance in the form of a flow deceleration system—a supersonic diffuser (22) consisting of two multi-stage swept decelerating wedges (7) and (20) which form a dihedral angle; a shell, which also forms a dihedral angle, all edges of the entrance lying in the same plane; an air intake throat situated downstream of the deceleration system, and a subsonic diffuser (23), downstream thereof. As seen from the front, the entrance of the air intake has the shape of a rectangle or a parallelogram.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: OTKRYTOE AKCIONERNOE OBSCHESTVO "AVIACIONNAYA HOLDINGOVAYA KOMPANIYA "SUHOI"
    Inventors: Aleksandr Nikolaevich Davidenko, Mihail Yurievich Strelets, Vladimir Alexsandrovich Runishev, Sergey Yurievich Bibikov, Natalya Borisovna Polyakova, Anatoly Isaakovich Sutskever, Aleksandr Anatolevich Kositsin, Andrey Yurievich Gavrikov, Vladimir Alekseevich Stepanov
  • Patent number: 8756909
    Abstract: A jet engine intake guard includes an engine sleeve located within the nacelle of the engine; a primary deflection screen located at a front portion of the sleeve and having a first circular frame formed of a tubular fabric member and a plurality of fiber yarn strings disposed across the diameter of the primary frame and attached to one another in a tri-axel weave pattern. The guard also includes a secondary deflection screen located behind the primary deflection screen in the direction of air flow through the engine and having a second circular frame formed of a tubular fabric member and a plurality of fiber yarn strings disposed across the secondary frame and attached to one another in a tri-axel weave pattern. The guard further includes a capture basket located between the primary and secondary deflection screens. The capture basket has a first wall located toward the primary deflection screen, a center portion and a second wall located toward the secondary deflection screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: The CTFOT Group LLC
    Inventor: Donna Avery
  • Patent number: 8739514
    Abstract: A supersonic nacelle design is disclosed herein that employs a bypass flow path internal to the nacelle and around the engine. By shaping the nacelle, the nacelle may function to reduce sonic boom strength, cowl drag, and /or airframe interference drag. The nacelle may also function to improve total pressure recovery and/or total thrust of the primary flow path through the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy R. Conners
  • Publication number: 20140144519
    Abstract: An aircraft nacelle comprising a first duct secured to an air intake and a second duct secured to a powerplant, the first duct comprising an exterior surface and an end portion connected to the second duct. The nacelle includes a hollow section piece in contact with the exterior surface of the first duct which extends over at least part of the circumference of that end portion of the first duct that is connected to the second duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventors: Alain Porte, Matthieu Fargues, Martial Marro
  • Patent number: 8726673
    Abstract: Apparatuses are provided for reducing noise generation from a dead ended conduit in a gas turbine engine. In particular A scooped bellmouth is provided that comprises a bellmouth within a surface having an outer perimeter an inner perimeter and a ramp diverging from the surface at a first end, the ramp extending radially through the outer perimeter of the bellmouth at a second end. The ramp diverts an airflow away from the bellmouth thereby preventing the development of a low pressure area at the bellmouth without affecting the efficiency of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Peters, Justin C. Mickelsen, Robert Romano, Matthew D. Greenman
  • Publication number: 20140130889
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an air inlet structure for a turbojet engine nacelle. The air inlet structure has a stationary internal wall to be attached to one element of a mid-section of the nacelle, and a longitudinal external wall extended by an air inlet lip connected to the stationary internal wall. In particular, one portion forming the air inlet lip is provided with depressurizing openings for a part of the air inlet lip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: AIRCELLE
    Inventor: Nicolas DEZEUSTRE
  • Patent number: 8702042
    Abstract: A flow body is disclosed, particularly for aircraft. The flow body includes an outer side impinged on in a predetermined manner by a fluid in a direction of impinging flow, the flow body having on its outer side at least one flow control device including micro-perforations arranged in at least one segment of the outer side, at least one connecting passage communicated with the micro-perforations via at least one suction chamber so fluid flowing through the micro-perforations flows via the suction chamber into the connecting passage, at least one suction device having a first inlet communicated with the connecting passage, a second inlet communicated with at least one ram fluid feed line, wherein the ram fluid feed line is in a region of the flow body opposite to the direction of impinging flow of the flow body, and an outlet device for discharging the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Gerber, Geza Schrauf
  • Patent number: 8684302
    Abstract: An airplane provided with dual-flow turbojet engines having nacelles at least partially encased in the fuselage, wherein the air intake of each engine is connected to the fuselage by two boundary layer guiding walls, the walls extending towards the upstream side of the air intake and being spaced apart towards the upstream side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Philippe Gerard Chanez, Jean-Loic Herve Lecordix, Stephane Jacques Francois Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140083518
    Abstract: An air vehicle powered by a gas turbine engine, particularly, but not exclusively, an air vehicle having a blended wing body includes a gas turbine engine disposed in the body of the vehicle including an inlet face. An inlet channel having a convoluted geometry is configured such that air flow incident on the inlet face during operation is disordered. A structural element associated with the inlet channel and locate upstream of the inlet face is provided. The element is configured to modulate air flow, at least partially, to improve flow ordering in the incident air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventor: Ian Whitmore
  • Publication number: 20140064927
    Abstract: A nacelle inlet for an aircraft engine of a type having an engine fan case with a forward flange includes an acoustic inner barrel having a forward edge and an aft edge, an outer shell having a nose lip portion with a trailing inner edge, and an outer barrel portion having an aft portion. The nacelle inlet also includes an aft attachment flange configured to attach the inlet to the forward flange of the engine fan case, and an aft bulkhead having an aft end and connecting the outer barrel portion of the outer shell to the aft attachment flange. The forward edge of the acoustic inner barrel is connected to the trailing inner edge of the nose lip portion, and the aft portion of the inner barrel is attached to the aft attachment flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventors: ALAN BINKS, NORMAN JOHN JAMES, MICHAEL JOHN LAYLAND
  • Publication number: 20140053532
    Abstract: A scoop inlet for use in a gas turbine engine nacelle has a scoop inlet, and a tab extending forwardly of the scoop inlet. The scoop communicates with a downstream flowpath. The tab has at least one opening at a location upstream of the scoop inlet. A nacelle and a gas turbine engine are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventor: Steven H. Zysman
  • Publication number: 20140026974
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a nacelle air intake lip including a plurality of components includes the following steps. The first step is positioning, inside a mold, two components within a set of fibrous layers encompassing all or part of the components so that a preform is formed. Next step is performing impregnation of the obtained preform to obtain molding of the nacelle air intake lip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: AIRCELLE
    Inventors: Bertrand DESJOYEAUX, Olivier Hubier
  • Patent number: 8622340
    Abstract: An air intake for an aeroplane engine of type with unducted propellers, which intake can be connected by a pylon to a fuselage of an aeroplane, a local length of the air intake, measured parallel to the axis of the engine between a point on a leading edge of the air intake and a transverse plane situated at an inlet impeller of the engine compressor, is longer in a region of the air intake connected to the pylon and shorter in a region of the air intake opposite the pylon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Stephane Emmanuel Daniel Bensilum
  • Publication number: 20130291553
    Abstract: An air intake system suitable for a supersonic vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a channel comprising an inlet and a side wall and a plenum coupled to the side wall. The plenum is configured to accept a flow of coolant. In certain embodiments, the coolant is the waste coolant from an on-board electronics cooling system. The system also includes a porous region in the side wall configured to allow a flow of bleed air from the channel through the porous region of the side wall into the plenum so as to aid the transition to supersonic flow. In certain embodiments, the flow of the bleed air is reduced at supersonic speeds by pressurization of the plenum with the coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Brad C. Leland, Andrew J. Tworek, Chan Cho
  • Publication number: 20130284279
    Abstract: A missile comprises a propulsion system, a passageway for delivering air to the propulsion system and a ducting element associated with the passageway. The ducting element has a ducting surface for ducting air into the passageway, and the ducting element is rotatable, about an axis that is aligned, or more preferably co-axial, with the axis of the passageway, from a stowed position in which the ducting surface is received in the passageway, to a deployed position in which the ducting surface protrudes from the passageway to duct air into the passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: MBDA UK LIMITED
    Inventor: Clifford John Richards
  • Patent number: 8544793
    Abstract: The adjustable angle inlet for turbojet engines provides for the adjustment of the nacelle inlet as the angle of attack of the aircraft changes. The adjustable inlet system thus assures that the nacelle inlet is always oriented directly into the relative wind as the angle of attack of the aircraft changes, e.g., during takeoff, landing, and high-G maneuvers where the aircraft reaches relatively high angles of attack. The adjustable angle inlet is adaptable to most turbojet-powered airplanes, but is particularly well suited for use with aircraft having their engines mounted on lateral pylons on the rear of the fuselage. The system operates according to signals received from an angle of attack sensor. The sensor controls an actuator, which rotates a shaft that is connected to the pivotally mounted inlet of the engine nacelle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventor: Ali A. A. J. Shammoh
  • Patent number: 8539748
    Abstract: A method for assembling a turbine engine including a compressor is disclosed. The method includes coupling an inlet including an inertial particle separator (IPS) and a first surface that is defined using a segment angle, to a gas turbine engine, and coupling the first surface substantially flush against a fuselage of an aircraft to reduce drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Paul Petrowicz, Timothy Joseph Higgins, Walter Jackson Tingle
  • Patent number: 8528318
    Abstract: A propulsion system includes an engine with a fan and a nacelle that circumscribes the engine. The engine defines an axis. A distance between a forwardmost point at the top of the nacelle and at the front of the nacelle to a forwardmost point of the fan is greater than a distance between a forwardmost point at the bottom of the nacelle and at the front of the nacelle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Gavin Hendricks
  • Publication number: 20130220435
    Abstract: A nacelle includes at least a first cowling which at least partially defines an inlet of the nacelle and which at least partially defines an outlet of the nacelle. The first cowling can include a unitary portion that extends continuously from the inlet to the outlet. The nacelle also includes a second cowling that at least partially defines the inlet and which translates relative to the first cowling. The nacelle can include a third cowling that at least partially defines the outlet and translates relative to the first cowling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman John James
  • Patent number: 8516785
    Abstract: A jet engine air intake guard system wherein direct axial air flow into an engine during takeoff and landing may be temporarily closed off while air intake is provided laterally through screened air intake ports located on a cylindrical housing that extends forward of the conventional air intake cowling openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Tojali Corporation, Inc.
    Inventor: Myron L. Brown
  • Publication number: 20130213481
    Abstract: A dual-compression stage inlet for supersonic applications is developed by defining a first inlet model, defining a second inlet model and blending, with a processor, the first inlet model and the second inlet model to derive a third inlet model, which models the desired dual-compression stage inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: GOHYPERSONIC, INC.
    Inventor: GOHYPERSONIC, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130199621
    Abstract: Embodiments of an inlet, aircraft, and propulsion system includes an inlet spike with a compression surface configured to decelerate air flow from supersonic speed to subsonic speed before the air flow enters a cowling throat and diffuser section of the propulsion system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventors: Jon T. Anderson, John D. Klinge, Kenneth J. Hajic, Zachary S. Davis
  • Publication number: 20130199624
    Abstract: A method of designing a nacelle for a gas turbine engine includes defining an initial geometry for the nacelle, pivoting, at each of one or more positions on a highlight and in a plane of a respective longitudinal section, a front portion of a section of an intake lip lying in the respective longitudinal section about the highlight, and obtaining an altered geometry for the nacelle by adjusting surfaces of the intake neighbouring the pivoted front portion to smoothly blend the surfaces of the pivoted front portion to unadjusted surfaces of the intake further removed from the pivoted front portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Rolls-Royce PLC
  • Publication number: 20130167527
    Abstract: An exhaust gas turbocharger housing (10) for an engine includes a main turbine housing portion (14) and a throat portion (12) defining an exhaust gas passageway (20) that is in upstream fluid communication with the main turbine housing. The exhaust passageway (20) communicates exhaust gases (EG) to the main turbine housing portion (14). A flow divider (22) generally bisects the exhaust gas passageway (20) forming a first inlet passageway (24A) and a second inlet passageway (24B). A flow hole (26) is disposed through the flow divider (22) for permitting the fluid communication of exhaust gas (EG) from the first inlet passageway (24A) to the second inlet passageway (24B).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Luis Carlos Cattani, John Zagone, Paul Gottemoller, James P. Burke, Michael D. Bartkowicz
  • Publication number: 20130164488
    Abstract: An airfoil and method of fabricating an airfoil including a first and a second side coupled together at a leading and a trailing edge and extending there between. The airfoil includes a plurality of first chord sections having a first chord length and extending outward from one of the first side or second side of the airfoil at the leading edge and a plurality of second chord sections having a second chord length and extending outward from the one of the first side or the second side of the airfoil at the leading edge. The leading edge including spaced-apart wave-shaped projections defining a waveform. The configuration defining a three-dimensional crenulated airfoil configured to facilitate desensitization of an airfoil unsteady pressure response to at least one impinging upstream generated wake or vortex by decorrelating spatially and temporally and reducing in amplitude an unsteady pressure caused by interaction of the airfoil with the upstream generated wake or vortex.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Trevor Howard Wood, Kishore Ramakrishnan, Umesh Paliath