Mounting Patents (Class 244/54)
  • Patent number: 9945325
    Abstract: An oil cooling system and method are provided for use with respect to a lubricated mechanical system within a bypass configured gas turbine engine. A surface cooler is fluidly linked to the lubricated mechanical system to receive oil from the lubricated mechanical system for cooling and reuse. In an embodiment, the surface cooler is mounted on an existing surface within the bypass airflow path of the bypass configured gas turbine engine to provide effective cooling while avoiding the introduction of additional aerodynamic disturbances in the bypass path. In an embodiment, the surface cooler is mounted on the fan casing or on a fan exit guide vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gary D. Roberge
  • Patent number: 9915225
    Abstract: A method of designing an engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, designing an engine and a nacelle assembly together in an interactive process, the engine including a turbine section configured to drive a fan section and a compressor section. The step of designing the compressor section includes the step of designing a first compressor and a second compressor, with an overall pressure ratio being greater than or equal to about 35. The step of designing the nacelle assembly includes the step of designing the fan section to include a fan nacelle arranged at least partially about a fan, with the fan section having a fan pressure ratio of less than about 1.7. The step of designing the fan section includes configuring the fan section to deliver a portion of air into the compressor section, and a portion of air into a bypass duct, and with a bypass ratio equal to or greater than about 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher A. Eckett, Gabriel L. Suciu
  • Patent number: 9889943
    Abstract: In order to allow better introduction of forces into the box section of an aircraft engine attachment pylon, the subject matter herein discloses a pylon including a primary structure forming a box section on the outside of which a body of the engine attachment is arranged, the latter also being equipped with shackles that are articulated on the body and can be articulated on the engine. According to the disclosure herein, the body has, at at least one of its ends, a one-piece fitting including a first joining portion on which one of the shackles can be articulated, and also a second joining portion that is fixed to the box section and passes into the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: David Ewens, Jonathan Blanc
  • Patent number: 9868539
    Abstract: Pylon mounting assemblies are provided for mounting an engine (e.g., a turbojet engine) to a wing of an aircraft. The pylon mounting assemblies include an upper pylon connection member, and a lower pylon connection box. The upper pylon connection member and the lower pylon connection box respectively define opposed lower and upper mounting surfaces which establish a mounting plane that slopes downwardly and rearwardly relative to aircraft travel direction. At least one connector assembly connects the upper pylon connection member and a lower pylon connection box to one another at the opposed respective lower and upper mounting surfaces thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: EMBRAER S.A.
    Inventors: Alberto Dei Castelli, Clovis Augusto Eça Ferreira, Wanderley Montoro, Aldemiro Lorenzini Filho, Carlos Alberto Bones, Jr., Juliano De Oliveira
  • Patent number: 9868545
    Abstract: A protective assembly and structural element for an aircraft comprising a portion of an attachment pylon primary structure is provided. The attachment pylon primary structure portion is at least partially covered by a protective assembly comprising a layer forming a firewall and a thermally insulating layer, the thermally insulating layer being located between the layer forming a firewall and the attachment pylon primary structure portion. The protective assembly is attached to the pylon primary structure by fasteners axially arranged in pairs, one of each pair extending through the protective assembly and the other of each pair extending through the pylon primary structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Wolfgang Brochard, Sébastien Alby, David Ewens
  • Patent number: 9862497
    Abstract: In order to decrease the overall mass of an assembly for an aircraft, including an engine attachment pylon and an engine attachment, the pylon according to the disclosure herein has a primary structure forming a box section equipped with internal transverse stiffening ribs, one of which is produced in one piece with at least a part of the body of the engine attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: David Ewens, Jonathan Blanc
  • Patent number: 9863273
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bypass turbojet comprising an exhaust housing having a central hub (13) and connecting means (11) that can transmit the forces generated by the turbojet to the structure of the aircraft that it propels, said connection means being two arms extending radially from the central hub in order to cross the cold flow of said turbojet and being characterized in that they are secured to said central hub and positioned in a diametrically opposed manner in relation to each other. An additional connection means (14) extends between the hub (13) and the area (9) for securing the exhaust housing to the structure (12) of the aircraft in order to transmit the exceptional dimensioning loads, said connection means being on standby during normal use, without any transmission of force between said hub and said area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Francois Robert Bellabal, Francois Gallet, Mathieu Ange Poisson
  • Patent number: 9856028
    Abstract: An integrated pylon structure for a propulsion system is suitable for one end to be connected to an aircraft wing and the other end to be connected to an aircraft engine. The pylon structure includes a pylon box section (110) formed from an upper and a lower bean, a frame (100) and a side wall panel. The pylon structure has a thrust reverser hood connection structure, provided on the side wall and connected with a nacelle thrust reverser hood having a front fixed hood (301) and a rear movable hood (302). A guide rail allows the rear movable hood to slide and open relative to the pylon box section. The engine thrust reverser hood is directly connected to the side wall of the pylon box section and a guide rail on the side wall guides the opening of the thrust reverser hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, LTD, COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT CORPORATION OF CHINA, LTD SHANGHAI AIRCRAFT DESIGN AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Guanghui Wu, Kecen Han, Liangdao Zhou, Qifeng Yu, Guozheng Lin, Hongjie Zhang, Shibiao Zhang, Haojie Weng, Haisha Guo, Pengfei Zhang, Xiaonan Li, Shiwei Ma, Yinyin Hu, Sen Peng, Honggang Tang, Mingpeng Yan
  • Patent number: 9828105
    Abstract: A nacelle assembly for a gas turbine engine includes an integrated afterbody mount case. The integrated afterbody mount case includes an outer ring and a plurality of spokes that extend radially inwardly from the outer ring. The outer ring includes a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface. The plurality of spokes are circumferentially disposed about the radially inner surface and extend radially inwardly from the radially inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Thomas G. Cloft
  • Patent number: 9809317
    Abstract: An aircraft including a pylon attached to a gas turbine engine and a mounting system attaching the engine to the pylon. The mounting system including a first and a second frame each of three elongate members arranged in a triangle, each frame respectively arranged such that a core of the engine is positioned extending through an area defined between the three elongate members of each frame. Each frame forming at least part of a load bearing connection between the pylon and the engine. Each frame consisting of two portions, each portion corresponding to each side of the engine as attached to the pylon. The triangle formed by each frame being symmetrical about a plane separating the two portions. The engine is attached to the mounting system such that both frames are positioned axially forward of a radially extending projection of a first turbine stage in the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard Geoffrey Stretton, Kenneth Franklin Udall
  • Patent number: 9784135
    Abstract: Turbine engine, comprising means for absorbing the thrust forces from its engine, which comprise longitudinal connecting rods, the ends of which are connected to structural annular casings of the turbine engine, characterized in that it comprises means for supporting at least one item of equipment on said thrust-absorbing connecting rods and/or for suspending at least one item of equipment from said thrust-absorbing connecting rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Carmen Gina Ancuta, Jeremy Edmond Fert
  • Patent number: 9776287
    Abstract: Method for replacing, inspecting, and/or repairing components in front bearing region of gas turbine, the gas turbine having at least one fan module, housing, low-pressure system, and high-pressure system, the low-pressure system having low-pressure compressor, low-pressure turbine, connecting shaft, stub shaft, and an N1 shaft connected to the low-pressure compressor via the stub shaft and the connecting shaft, the connecting shaft supported in the housing via first bearing unit, and the stub shaft supported in the housing via second bearing unit, the method including dismounting the fan module, fixing the N1 shaft in an axial direction relative to the housing using fixing device, and dismounting the stub shaft using guide device, the orientation of which relative to the gas turbine in at least one spatial direction is determined by a component of the remaining gas turbine, this taking place after fixing the N1 shaft and after dismounting the fan module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: LUFTHANSA TECHNIK AG
    Inventors: Rainer Albert, Tanja Pinkowsky, Andina Hoehn, Dennis Bobsien
  • Patent number: 9765641
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a system includes a first housing, a second housing, a seal, and a spring system. The first housing includes a first volume of fluid. The first housing is capable of connecting to a first element and to a second element, and is also capable of reducing an amount of movement transferred from the first element to the second element. The second housing is connected to the first housing. The second housing includes a second volume of fluid and a volume of gas. The first volume of fluid is in fluid communication with the second volume of fluid. The seal is capable of separating the second volume of fluid from the volume of gas. The spring system is capable of applying pressure to the first volume of fluid and the second volume of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Smith, Frank B. Stamps, Maurice D. Griffin
  • Patent number: 9745072
    Abstract: A front installation node is suitable for integral forming with a front end frame of an aircraft pylon and includes a first lug and a second lug, each respectively protruding outwardly from one of the two sides of the frond end frame; a first connecting rod and a second connecting rod, one end thereof being respectively connected to the first lug and the second lug, and the other end thereof being respectively suitable for connecting to an aircraft engine. The first connecting rod can pivotally connect to the first lug at a first connection point. The second connecting rod and the second lug are respectively connected at a second connecting point and a third connecting point. Using the front installation node to transmit torque is beneficial in reducing the external width of a rear installation node, reducing engine fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignees: COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT CORPORATION OF CHINA, LTD, COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT CORPORATION OF CHINA, LTD SHANGHAI AIRCRAFT DESIGN AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Guozheng Lin, Yinyin Hu, Sen Peng, Qifeng Yu, Yaoyu Fan
  • Patent number: 9708071
    Abstract: The invention proposes to protect a rear part of a floor of an aft fairing of a pylon of an aircraft bypass turbojet engine using a film of cool air formed of part of a bypass flow of the jet engine which is guided under the floor by two lateral wall portions of this fairing which have been profiled for this purpose. To do that, these two lateral wall portions delimit respective air passage spaces formed between a forward part of the floor and a jetpipe of the turbojet engine and which open laterally and towards the rear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Thierry Surply, Cyril Bonnaud, David Grossein, Stéve Bedoin, Amadou AndréSylla, Guillaume Drochon, Marjorie Clottes
  • Patent number: 9708982
    Abstract: A method for mounting an aircraft engine on a pylon includes positioning at least a first shear pin either in a first opening provided in a front engine fastener which is previously attached to the engine using connecting rods, or in a first bore provided in a front surface of the pylon; prepositioning the assembly including the engine and the front engine fastener relative to the pylon by placing the first shear pin opposite a receiving cavity, the receiving cavity being either the first bore, if the first shear pin has been positioned in the first opening, or the first opening, if the first shear pin has been positioned in the first bore; and inserting the first shear pin into the receiving cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Pierre-Alain Jean-Marie Philippe Hugues Chouard, Maryline Besnard
  • Patent number: 9701412
    Abstract: An engine mount, for mounting the casing of an aircraft engine to the fuselage or wing of an aircraft, e.g. via a pylon, including first and second links having connector formations for connection to respective mounting and support formations on the engine casing and aircraft mounting structure. Each of the first and second links is typically connected by a pin between the mounting and support formations. Each link has a further connector formation arranged such that the connector formation of the first link is offset from the connector formation of the second link. The connector formations are joined by an intermediate link. The mount allows lateral forces and torque to be resolved in such a way as to substantially avoid lateral displacement of the engine away from a central plane. The intermediate link may also provide a failsafe catcher arrangement in the event that the first or second link fail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard Geoffrey Stretton, Kenneth Franklin Udall
  • Patent number: 9701395
    Abstract: A disclosed aircraft propulsion system includes a gas turbine engine supported within an aircraft fuselage, a main drive driven by the gas turbine engine and an open rotor propeller system supported outside of the aircraft fuselage separately from the gas turbine engine. A secondary drive that is driven by the main drive drives the open rotor propeller system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Leo J. Veilleux, Jr., Lubomir A. Ribarov
  • Patent number: 9688395
    Abstract: A boundary layer ingesting (BLI) blade having a span is provided and includes a root section connectable to a hub, a tip section disposable at a distance from the hub and having a pitch and a body extending in a spanwise dimension from the root section to the tip section. The root section has a local pitch from the root section to about a 70% span location, which is less than the pitch at the tip section, to thereby reduce local angles of attack in a boundary layer region defined in and around the root section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Blake Almy Moffitt, Thomas G. Tillman, Brian E. Wake, Byung-Young Min, Claude G. Matalanis
  • Patent number: 9676489
    Abstract: A device for attaching an aircraft engine to a pylon secured to the aircraft, the attachment device comprising a beam secured to the pylon and a first clevis mount comprising two cheeks connected to one another by a first clevis pin. A second clevis mount is secured to the engine and comprises two cheeks connected to one another by a second clevis pin. A shackle is rotatably connected to the first and second pins by first and second spherical joints. The attachment device further comprises at least one pair of washers positioned around one of the pins, one washer on each side of the shackle, and separating the shackle from the cheeks of the clevis mount bearing the one of the pins. The shackle, in its extreme positions of rotation about the one of the pins passing through the two spherical joints, coming into contact with the washers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Bruno Serra, Richard Garrigues
  • Patent number: 9669938
    Abstract: An upper bifi frame for preventing air leakage in a gas turbine engine including an engine casing and a fan case is provided. The upper bifi frame includes a forward fairing having a forward fairing midsection extending between the engine casing and the fan case. The forward fairing has a forward fairing first end including a flange configured to couple to the engine casing. The forward fairing has a forward fairing second end extending from the forward fairing midsection and configured to couple to the fan case. At least one aft seal is secured to the forward fairing and forms a seal therewith. A wedge seal is coupled to the forward fairing and the at least one aft seal and is operative to prevent air leakage to a pylon that is secured to the engine casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph Rios, John C. Ditomasso
  • Patent number: 9663235
    Abstract: In an embodiment the system includes a method of mounting an engine in a rotary wing aircraft. The method includes providing a rotary wing aircraft having an aircraft body supported in flight through an exterior air space by a rotary wing system rotating with an operational rotating frequency (P) with a plurality of (N) rotary wings, the rotary wing aircraft body having a persistent in flight operational rotating frequency vibration. The method includes providing a first engine, the first engine for providing power to rotate the rotary wing system at the rotary wing system operational rotating frequency (P).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: LORD Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Zameroski
  • Patent number: 9664112
    Abstract: A turbojet is suspended by attachments including hinged links. An attachment includes a support including three branches with passages through which a pin passes, the pin being oriented generally parallel to a direction that is tangential to a casing and being hinged to a central branch of the support by a ball joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Wouter Balk, Thomas Alain Christian Vincent
  • Patent number: 9656736
    Abstract: In the case of an aircraft aft portion equipped with an engine mounting structure passing across the fuselage, assembly of the aft portion presents problems caused by the moving of the box structure of the mounting structure through lateral openings in the fuselage. In order to overcome these problems, a method of assembling an aircraft aft portion is proposed, in which method the box structure of the engine mounting structure is inserted into the fuselage through a top opening extending from one side of the fuselage to the other across a vertical midplane of the fuselage such that the top opening opens to the top and to the sides of the fuselage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignees: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.), Airbus Operations SL
    Inventors: Julien Guillemaut, Esteban Martino Gonzalez, Diego Folch Cortes, Jerome Colmagro, Jonathan Blanc
  • Patent number: 9637241
    Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a frame, a first linking system connected to the frame, and a second linking system connected to the frame. The frame may be configured to be connected to a support structure for an engine of an aircraft. The first linking system may be configured to be connected to a fan case in the engine. The second linking system is configured to be connected to an engine core case in the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: James Robert Schnelz
  • Patent number: 9617009
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core, a first annular portion, a rail, and a second annular portion. The first annular portion is stationary and adapted for partially surrounding an engine core. The first annular portion includes a fore pylon connecting portion, and a fore bi-fi. The rail is coupled to the fore pylon portion and extending in the aft direction from the stationary portion. The second annular portion is arranged aft of the first portion and coupled to the rail. The second annular portion is movable along an engine core centerline between a closed position and at least one open position. The second annular portion comprises an aft bi-fi configured to engage with the fore bi-fi when the gas turbine engine is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Jesse M. Chandler
  • Patent number: 9604727
    Abstract: An aerodynamic fairing for a pylon of a turbojet engine, the fairing including: a frame oriented in a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the pylon, wherein the frame includes an upper edge, opposite side edges and a lower edge; a deck attached to the lower edge of the frame; a downstream portion of the deck includes a front edge region overlapping a rear edge portion of an upstream portion of the deck, wherein an upper surface of the front edge region is joined to the lower edge of the frame such that the front edge portion is sandwiched between the lower edge of the frame and the rear edge region of the upstream portion of the deck, and a flange extends between and attaches the upstream portion of the deck and the frame and a gap is between the lower edge of the frame and the upstream portion of the deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventor: Amaury Delbosc
  • Patent number: 9592917
    Abstract: An assembly having an articulation spindle mounted in a first sleeve inserted into a first arm of a clevis and in a second sleeve inserted into a second arm of said clevis. The assembly comprises a blocking device which comprises a cylindrical stop housed in an extension of the second sleeve and comprising a front face against which a second end of the articulation spindle can come to bear, and a bolt-and-nut able to adopt a locked state, in which it passes through the stop and the extension so as to immobilize the stop in the extension, and an unlocked state, in which it does not pass through the stop and allows the stop to be removed from the extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (SAS)
    Inventors: Jerome Cassagne, Thomas Deforet
  • Patent number: 9573694
    Abstract: An engine fastener for an aircraft, to secure an engine to a pylon and comprising a fastener body fixed to the pylon and having a cylindrical extension, and a fixing assembly comprising a paddle fixed to the engine and a connection arrangement joined to the paddle and arranged on the cylindrical extension to form a ball-and-socket joint between the cylindrical extension and the paddle. The connection arrangement comprises a ball, formed in one piece, having a central bore in which the cylindrical extension fits, and of which the outer surface is a spherical portion, a fixing element fixing the ball on the cylindrical extension, and two cages, each having an inner surface assuming the form of a spherical portion. The two inner surfaces are arranged opposite one another to house the ball, and for each cage, a joining element joins the cage to the paddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Jerome Cassagne, Antoine Cousin, Thomas Deforet
  • Patent number: 9567089
    Abstract: A hybrid beam for support of a nacelle panel of a jet engine is disclosed. The beam is comprised of a first longitudinal composite panel and a second longitudinal composite panel, wherein the first longitudinal composite panel is integrally affixed to the second longitudinal composite panel along a longitudinal edge. The composite panels form a composite beam structure that is substantially open with a cross-section that is generally “L-shaped”. A plurality of hinge stations are affixed to a first side of the first longitudinal composite panel and at least one track guide is disposed on a second side of the first longitudinal composite panel. The track guides receive a head portion of a slider that is fixed to the translating jet engine nacelle panel. Each hinge station further comprises a bushing for defining a center of rotation for the jet engine nacelle panel relative to the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Layland, Norman J. James, David Forsey, Christian Soria
  • Patent number: 9567090
    Abstract: A system for pylon attachment for mounting an engine on a structure of an aircraft, or to wings of the aircraft, is provided. The system includes a first attachment mechanism that can be secured to the pylon and a second attachment mechanism that can be secured to the structure of the aircraft. A connection mechanism connects the first and second attachment mechanism. The connection mechanism allows movement of the first attachment mechanism in relation to the second attachment mechanism between first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Francois Gallet, Patrick Joyez
  • Patent number: 9533768
    Abstract: An aircraft includes an engine mounted to a wing by a first support, such as a strut, configured to secure the engine to the wing in a position above the wing. A second support, secured to a fuselage portion of the aircraft, is defined by a bridge structure configured to separately and independently secure the engine to the fuselage. The engine is thus secured by the first support directly to the aircraft wing, and via the second support, in concert with the first, to a portion of an aircraft fuselage spaced laterally of the engine-to-wing attachment. In one embodiment the bridge structure, which extends between the engine and fuselage, may be bowed upwardly so as to define a convex curvature when viewed along the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. Such a curvature may, inter alia, optimize aerodynamic spacing of the bridge from the wing to minimize undesirable shock waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Sergey D. Barmichev, David W. Kirkbride, Mithra M. K. V. Sankrithi
  • Patent number: 9527599
    Abstract: An engine fastener includes a fixing assembly having a connection element provided with a shaft and holding two pins, which are configured to participate in the implementation of a fail-safe function, the fixing assembly including a shear pin surrounding the shaft of the connection element with a clearance , the shear pin being arranged between the two pins and being adjusted so as to be in contact with two joined fitting parts at a junction zone therebetween, the shaft of the connection element also being mounted with clearances relative to the two pins and the two fitting parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Thomas Deforet, Arnold Wysocki
  • Patent number: 9527598
    Abstract: In an embodiment the invention includes an aircraft engine mounting system (20) for mounting an aircraft engine to an aircraft. The aircraft engine mounting system preferably includes an airframe structure member having a first engine end (28) and a distal second engine end (30), with an aircraft attachment between the first engine end and the distal second engine end, the aircraft attachment for interfacing the airframe structure member with the aircraft, the airframe structure member having an airframe structure member length (YL) from the first engine end to the distal second engine end. The aircraft engine mounting system preferably includes a first engine attachment structure member (36), the airframe structure member first engine end (28) contained by the first engine attachment structure member, with the first engine attachment structure member having an outer engine mount member (38) grounded to the aircraft engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: LORD Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald P. Whiteford, Daniel Zameroski
  • Patent number: 9522739
    Abstract: An attachment structure for attaching a power plant including unducted propellers to a fuselage of an aircraft, the attachment structure being connected by first and second fasteners to respective front and rear spars penetrating into the fuselage and fastened to a carrier structure of the aircraft, and including a central longitudinal beam secured at its front end to a first frame, arranged in the plane of the front spar, that is secured at its rear end to a second rear frame, cantilevered out and arranged upstream from the unducted propellers, and that is secured to a third intermediate frame, arranged in the plane of the rear spar between the first and second frames. The first, second, and third frames are connected together by force-takeup beams, an assembly as constituted in this way forming a cradle for receiving the power plant via a standard attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Pierre-Alain Jean-Marie Philippe Hugues Chouard, Thomas Alain Christian Vincent
  • Patent number: 9518533
    Abstract: An assembly device includes a framework resting on a planar support, a support element mounted movably in rotation relative to the framework, an immobilizing device, and a positioning assembly mounted in rotation on the support element. A front frame of the fixed structure is positioned on the positioning assembly, and the immobilizing device is arranged to immobilize the front frame on the positioning assembly. In particular, the assembly device allows, in the immobilizing position on the positioning assembly, for the front frame to extend transversely to the planar support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: AIRCELLE
    Inventors: Xavier Holay, Florine Duquenoy
  • Patent number: 9499274
    Abstract: To provide an aircraft pylon capable of being mounted to a wing without exertion of preload while ensuring that redundancy is provided in the pylon. An aircraft pylon 50 includes: a pylon strut 11 for supporting an engine of an aircraft; a pin joint mechanism for connecting the pylon strut 11 to a main wing of the aircraft; a link member 15 disposed between the pylon strut 11 and the main wing of the aircraft, wherein the link member 15 includes a collection of plural independent link elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9481470
    Abstract: An intermediate structure of an aircraft configured to mechanically attach an engine core and an engine fan module to each other and to the aircraft. The intermediate structure may have a ring-shaped portion and/or an elongated mount beam extending substantially perpendicularly from the ring-shaped portion. The ring-shaped portion may have a forward edge and an aft edge opposite of the forward edge, and may include a first attachment portion for attaching to a flange of the engine core, a second attachment portion for attaching to a flange of the engine fan module, and a mounting portion configured for mounting directly to a pylon or airframe of an aircraft. The engine core and/or the engine fan module may independently mechanically attach to and detach from the intermediate structure. The intermediate structure may have a gearbox mounted thereto for interfacing with rotary components of the engine core and the engine fan module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall Ray West
  • Patent number: 9469412
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit mounting system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a plurality of linkages to support an auxiliary power unit, and a redundant mount to selectively support said auxiliary power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Andrew Nager, David Lau
  • Patent number: 9388769
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a holding assembly to hold a front frame of a thrust reverser to a turbojet engine casing. The assembly includes at least one connecting flange connecting the front frame to the turbojet engine casing, and also a system for locking the connecting flange. The system includes an actuating handle pivotally mounted on one of two facing ends of the connecting flange, and a connecting rod interposed between the other end of the two facing ends and a portion of the actuating handle. The system locks together the two facing ends, and the actuating handle includes a support provided with a groove and a screw for adjusting a free length of the groove. Furthermore, the connecting rod has, at its one end, an axis pivoting and sliding in the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: AIRCELLE
    Inventor: Fabrice Provost
  • Patent number: 9365278
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve. The outer sleeve has a first channel with an inner wall with a first number of substantially planar surfaces. The inner sleeve has a second channel and an outer wall with a second number of substantially planar surfaces. The outer wall is configured to be received within the first channel. At least one of the second number of substantially planar surfaces on the outer wall of the inner sleeve is configured to slide against at least one of the first number of substantially planar surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Ross Mitchell Blanton, Tracy L. Bagwill
  • Patent number: 9359954
    Abstract: A heat shield device for a yoke suspending an engine from an aircraft is provided. The device includes panels able to be fixed to the yoke, at least one of the panels extending radially in the direction of the axis of the engine, and a component configured to be fixed to the engine and including a groove shaped in such a way that the lower end of the panel can be inserted into it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Lambert Olivier Marie Demoulin, Julien Pavillet, Guilhem Seize
  • Patent number: 9353559
    Abstract: A latching system for selectively securing together two components, such as the fan cowl doors of a nacelle of an aircraft, closed. The latching system generally includes an anchor and a latch. The latch has a handle movable from an open and a closed position. The handle is precluded from reaching the closed position unless the anchor and latch are secured. Also, the positioning of a keeper portion of the anchor may be adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (SAS)
    Inventors: Christian Fabre, Alain Bignolais
  • Patent number: 9328630
    Abstract: A propulsion unit for an aircraft, comprising one turbine engine and a mounting device for a turbine engine designed to be added laterally on an aircraft structure and comprising a rigid mounting structure. The rigid mounting structure supports at least one arch which is concave towards the longitudinal axis of the propulsion unit and which has a distal end at an angular distance of between 45 and 120 degrees from a vertical plane passing through the axis, on the other side of the structure, and supporting a distal connecting element connecting the turbine engine to the arch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (SAS)
    Inventors: Wolfgang Brochard, Romain Terral
  • Patent number: 9321522
    Abstract: A plain journal bearing couples first and second components. A pin passes through the components. A clamping bush surrounds the pin. A clamping member is mounted on the pin and provides a clamping force to urge the clamping bush into clamping engagement with the first component. During normal operation, when the components rotate relative to each other, the second component and the clamping bush rotate relative to each other about a primary slip path, and the clamping bush remains in clamping engagement with the first component. During degraded operation, when the components rotate relative to each other and the coefficient of friction of the primary slip path has increased to overcome the clamping force, the pin and the clamping bush or the pin and the first component rotate relative to each other about a subsidiary slip path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Paul Blades
  • Patent number: 9284039
    Abstract: A rudder system for an aircraft includes a center box, a rudder and actuators, wherein the rudder is pivoted around a hinge line relative to the center box. The actuators are arranged at an acute angle relative to the hinge line, and connected with at least one pivoted pivot lever, wherein the pivot lever is fastened to the rudder by way of a first push rod. This provides considerably more installation space in a vertical stabilizer of an aircraft for a center box, so that the latter can comprise a distinctly smaller wall thickness than usual in prior art to absorb air load-induced torsion and bending stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Maenz
  • Patent number: 9238511
    Abstract: A pylon structure for mounting an aircraft engine to a wing. The pylon structure comprises a torque box having a wing mount on the aft portion, a first engine mount on the fore portion and second engine mount on the aft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: MRA SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Allen Madsen Woolley, Brian Kelby Clegg, Michael Scott Just, Rameshchandra Dahyabhai Patel
  • Patent number: 9238510
    Abstract: A boomerang link for aircraft engine mounts, including a first orifice and a second orifice both designed to connect the boomerang link to an aircraft pylon, and a third orifice designed to connect the boomerang link to an aircraft engine. The third orifice is offset relative to a plane passing simultaneously through an axis of the first orifice and through an axis of the second orifice. When the boomerang link is seen in section in any plane orthogonal to the axes, a straight line segment extending from the axis of the second orifice to an axis of the third orifice crosses a region external to the boomerang link. This conformation confers on the boomerang link a flexibility enabling it to filter transverse vibrations between an engine and an aircraft pylon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Wolfgang Brochard, Romain Terral
  • Patent number: 9227734
    Abstract: A waiting link to support an engine on an aircraft includes a body portion including a first body portion opening, a second body portion opening, and a space therebetween. A first bearing is received in the first body portion opening and moveable in a generally vertical direction. A second bearing is received in the second body portion opening. The first and second bearings include a first and second bearing opening, respectively, that receives a first and second attachment member, respectively, that secures the body portion to a first and second structure, respectively. A cam is located in the space. The cam is pivotable between a first position and a second position. The waiting link does not provide a load path when the cam is in the first position, and when a primary load path fails, the waiting link provides the load path when the cam is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Zhijun Zheng, David F. Sandy
  • Patent number: 9212607
    Abstract: An intermediate structure of an aircraft configured to mechanically attach an engine core and an engine fan module to each other and to the aircraft. The intermediate structure may have a ring-shaped portion and/or an elongated mount beam extending substantially perpendicularly from the ring-shaped portion. The ring-shaped portion may have a forward edge and an aft edge opposite of the forward edge, and may include a first attachment portion for attaching to a flange of the engine core, a second attachment portion for attaching to a flange of the engine fan module, and a mounting portion configured for mounting directly to a pylon or airframe of an aircraft. The engine core and/or the engine fan module may independently mechanically attach to and detach from the intermediate structure. The intermediate structure may have a gearbox mounted thereto for interfacing with rotary components of the engine core and the engine fan module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Randall Ray West