Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100155525 | MONOLITHIC STRUCTURE FOR MOUNTING AIRCRAFT ENGINE - Assembly includes an integral monolithic structure for mounting an engine to an aircraft. The monolithic structure includes a nacelle portion and a support structure. The nacelle portion includes an inlet region and a fan case region defining an annular wall about an axial channel. A ring member disposed in the axial channel is connected through a plurality of radial elements to the annular wall. The support structure portion includes a forward section integral with the nacelle portion and an aft section including at least one aircraft mount region for mounting the monolithic structure to an aircraft. The forward section includes an inlet stiffening region radially outward of the annular wall. When mounted on the aircraft, the nacelle portion and the support structure portion cooperate to form a first load path operable to transmit an applied nacelle maneuvering force directly to the aircraft instead of through the engine core. | 06-24-2010 |
20100192595 | GAS TURBINE ENGINE ASSEMBLY AND METHODS OF ASSEMBLING SAME - A turbine engine assembly includes, a core gas turbine engine, a first low-pressure turbine section in serial flow communication with the core gas turbine engine, the first low-pressure turbine section configured to rotate in a first rotational direction, a first gear assembly coupled to the first low-pressure turbine section, a second low-pressure turbine section coupled to the gear assembly, the second low-pressure turbine section configured to rotate in a second rotational direction, and a fan assembly coupled to the second low-pressure turbine section. | 08-05-2010 |
20120079804 | COWL ASSEMBLY - An assembly for a turbofan engine includes a first cowl member comprising an aft portion and a translatable cowl member comprising a forward portion configured to be received within the aft portion. The translatable cowl member is configured to be moveable with respect to the first cowl member between a first operational position wherein the forward portion is received within the aft portion of the first cowl member, and a second operational position wherein a smaller portion of the forward portion is received within the aft portion than in the first operational position. The translatable cowl member is configured to cooperate with a core cowl of the turbofan engine to define a portion of a fan duct having an exit nozzle, and the translatable cowl member is configured to define a flow control location near the exit nozzle that is associated with a controlling fan duct area. | 04-05-2012 |
20120079805 | THRUST REVERSER ASSEMBLY - A thrust reverser assembly includes a first cowl member and a second cowl member repositionable relative to the first cowl member and operable to open a gap between the first cowl member and the second cowl member. A movable member is in supported connection with the second cowl member. The movable member is passively actuatable to move between a generally axially extending disposition and a generally radially extending disposition to direct bypass airflow of a turbofan engine. | 04-05-2012 |
20120304621 | CLAMPING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THRUST REVERSER ATTACHMENT - A method and system suitable facilitating the connection and disconnection of a thrust reverser assembly to a fan case of a nacelle of a gas turbine engine. The method and system entail operating a clamping system to simultaneously engage and disengage flanges associated with the fan case and flanges associated with the fixed structure of the thrust reverser assembly. The clamping system includes a plurality of over-center clamping mechanisms, each of which is movable to simultaneously clamp together complementary flanges of the thrust reverser assembly and the fan case. | 12-06-2012 |
20120305700 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING AN AIRCRAFT ENGINE - A mounting system and method capable of reducing backbone deflection in a high-bypass turbofan engine. The system includes a rigid structure and a linkage mechanism having at least first and second links that are each pivotally connected to the rigid structure and adapted to be pivotally connected to an engine support structure of the aircraft. The first and second links are configured to define a focal point thereof at a location that is a distance from a centerline of the engine of not more than 15% of an inlet diameter at an inlet of the engine, and is located aft of a vector of an inlet load to which the engine is subjected when the aircraft is in a climb maneuver. The location of the focal point is such that a moment of a thrust load of the engine and a moment of the inlet load oppose each other, thereby reducing backbone bending of the engine during the climb maneuver. | 12-06-2012 |
20130202402 | ARTICULATING SLIDER TRACK - A variable fan nozzle assembly includes a cowl member mounted on a slider track. The slider track may be articulated relative to a support member to slightly modify the position of the cowl member to vary the fan nozzle exit area. At least one 4-bar linkage may be utilized to allow articulation of the slider track responsive to an actuator. A method for varying a fan nozzle exit area includes mounting a first slider track in articulatable relationship with a support member; mounting a first cowl member in slidable relationship with a first slider track such that a fan nozzle is at least partially defined by a surface of the first cowl member; varying the operational position of the first cowl member by articulating the first slider track without sliding the first cowl member with respect to the first slider track to vary the fan nozzle exit area. | 08-08-2013 |
20140119885 | TURBINE ENGINE ASSEMBLY AND METHODS OF ASSEMBLING SAME - A turbine engine assembly is provided. The turbine engine assembly includes a core gas turbine engine including a first rotatable drive shaft, a first low-pressure turbine section in serial flow communication with the gas turbine engine, a gear assembly coupled to the first low-pressure turbine section through a second rotatable drive shaft, and a second low-pressure turbine section in serial flow communication with the core gas turbine engine. The first low-pressure turbine section is configured to rotate in a first rotational direction, and the second low-pressure turbine section is configured to rotate in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. The first and second low-pressure turbine sections are spaced axially apart from each other. The turbine engine assembly also includes a fan assembly coupled to the first low-pressure turbine section through the gear assembly, and coupled to the second low-pressure turbine section through a third rotatable drive shaft. | 05-01-2014 |
20140150403 | THRUST REVERSER SYSTEM WITH TRANSLATING-ROTATING CASCADE AND METHOD OF OPERATION - A thrust reverser system and operation suitable for high-bypass turbofan engines. The thrust reverser system includes a cascade system adapted to be translated with a translating cowl in an aft direction of an engine to expose a circumferential opening. The cascade system is deployed from a stowed position as the translating cowl and the cascade system are translated in the aft direction. During deployment of the cascade system, a fore end thereof translates in the aft direction and an aft end thereof initially translates in the aft direction and then subsequently rotates about the fore end so that further translation of the cascade segment in the aft direction causes the cascade segment to move to a deployed position and divert bypass air within a bypass duct of the engine through the circumferential opening. | 06-05-2014 |
20140353399 | THRUST REVERSER SYSTEM WITH TRANSLATING-ROTATING BLOCKER DOORS AND METHOD OF OPERATION - A thrust reverser system and operation suitable for turbofan engines. Blocker doors of the thrust reverser system have stowed positions in which each door is disposed between a fixed structure and a translating cowl of the engine. The translating cowl is translated in an aft direction of the engine to define at least one opening with the fixed structure, after which the translating cowl is further translated aft to deploy linkage mechanisms that are received in slots recessed into the blocker doors and pivotably connect the doors to the fixed structure. Deployment of the linkage mechanisms from the slots causes the blocker doors to rotate to a deployed position in which each door extends across a bypass duct of the engine and diverts bypass air within the duct through the opening. | 12-04-2014 |