Aeronautics and astronautics – Aircraft power plants – Mounting
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-03
2002-11-05
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Aircraft power plants
Mounting
C244S055000, C244S056000, C244S131000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06474596
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a suspension system attaching a powerplant to an aircraft frame, whether laterally to the fuselage or suspended from the wing.
2. Related Art
More specifically the present invention relates to a suspension system wherein a bearing is mounted on a bearing cage affixed to a powerplant housing. The bearing is slidable on a spindle that has an axis that is perpendicular to the powerplant axis and is mounted on a spindle support solidly joined to the airframe. Two lateral linkrods each link the housing and one of two suspension arms supported by the spindle support.
Loads along the longitudinal axis are absorbed by the spindle. When the powerplant is mounted laterally to the fuselage, the spindle also absorbs vertical loads along the vertical or Z-axis, whereas the linkrods absorb the lateral loads along the Y-axis. If the powerplant is suspended underneath the wing, the spindle also absorbs the lateral loads along the Y-axis, whereas the vertical loads are absorbed by the linkrods. In both assembly modes, the torque due to engine rotation is absorbed by the bearing and the linkrods.
When the powerplant operates under certain flight conditions, in particular at takeoff, the spindle and the linkrods are subjected to considerable loads. To prevent the powerplant from becoming disengaged, engine aircraft manufacturers must either oversize the suspension components or reinforce certain elements in order to create a double load absorption path. Further, engine aircraft manufacturers must also include additional standby linkrods that will become active in case the spindle or a linkrod breaks. All these solutions entail a substantial increase in weight, and in some instances, an increase in the number of parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objective of the present invention is to create a suspension system for a powerplant mounted on an aircraft frame which is fitted with safety features that are integrated in the region of the bearing, without increasing weight or adding substantially more parts.
Another objective of the invention is to create an engine suspension system that easily integrates safety features and which requires only minor modification of the suspension's components.
Such objectives are met by the present invention using a suspension system comprising a spindle that is inserted into a cylindrical, slidable bearing that is concentric to the spindle and slidably arranged within a recess formed by two suspension arms and a spindle support that are attached to the aircraft frame. The bearing is supported by a bearing cage that is connected to the powerplant housing, and the two suspension arms are connected to the powerplant housing by two lateral linkrods. The spindle support is concentric with the spindle's axis to limit the travel of the bearing cage in a plane perpendicular to the spindle axis in the event a spindle breaks.
Advantageously, the spindle is arranged so as to prevent the bearing from leaving contact in the event of a linkrod fracture. In one embodiment, the spindle comprises a radial shoulder located at one end that is substantially perpendicular to the spindle axis and spaced apart from a portion of the bearing cage during suspension. In the case of a linkrod fracture, the spindle supports the bearing cage by the shoulder coming into contact with a portion of the bearing cage.
In a second embodiment of the invention, the bearing cage is connected to the housing by means of screws that have axes that run parallel to the spindle axis. The screws are fitted with shank segments that pass through orifices in a small collar formed on the spindle support. The heads of the screws are located by a distance J
2
from the outside of the flange and have a diameter larger than that of the orifices. The screw head constitutes the first stop, whereas the flange constitutes the second stop.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3089340 (1963-05-01), Dolgy et al.
patent: 4079981 (1978-03-01), Mahler et al.
patent: 4346861 (1982-08-01), Legrand et al.
patent: 4520974 (1985-06-01), Debeneix
patent: 4603822 (1986-08-01), Chee
patent: 4742975 (1988-05-01), Pachomoff et al.
patent: 4854525 (1989-08-01), Chee
patent: 4943013 (1990-07-01), Kapala et al.
patent: 5127606 (1992-07-01), Chan et al.
patent: 5238206 (1993-08-01), Pachomoff
patent: 5275357 (1994-01-01), Seelen et al.
patent: 5303880 (1994-04-01), Cencula et al.
patent: 5320307 (1994-06-01), Spofford et al.
patent: 5351930 (1994-10-01), Gwinn et al.
patent: 5427348 (1995-06-01), Bacon et al.
patent: 5620154 (1997-04-01), Hey
patent: 5649417 (1997-07-01), Hey
patent: 5725181 (1998-03-01), Hey
patent: 5860623 (1999-01-01), Dunstan et al.
patent: 5871177 (1999-02-01), Demouzon et al.
patent: 5921500 (1999-07-01), Ellis et al.
patent: 5927644 (1999-07-01), Ellis et al.
patent: 6059227 (2000-05-01), Le Blaye et al.
patent: 6173919 (2001-01-01), Le Blaye
patent: 6189830 (2001-02-01), Schnelz et al.
patent: 6209822 (2001-04-01), Le Blaye
patent: 6330995 (2001-12-01), Mangeiga et al.
patent: 6341746 (2002-01-01), Pascal et al.
patent: 0 432 800 (1991-12-01), None
patent: 0 741 074 (1996-11-01), None
patent: 2326327 (1977-04-01), None
patent: 2755943 (1998-05-01), None
Cousin Antoine Emmanuel
Mazeaud Georges
Picard Jean-Louis
Bacon & Thomas PLLC
Holzen Stephen A
Jordan Charles T.
SNECMA Moteurs
LandOfFree
Suspension system with intrinsic safety features for... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Suspension system with intrinsic safety features for..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Suspension system with intrinsic safety features for... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2946872