This disclosure relates to a support device for an actuator. The support device includes a support unit adapted to be mounted to a stationary structure, an attachment unit adapted to be attached to an actuator casing and a single pivot shaft, and the attachment unit is pivotably connected to the support unit via the single pivot shaft. The support device according to the present disclosure has a simple structure and is stable in operation. The present disclosure further relates to an air intake system for an auxiliary power unit, which includes the above support device for the actuator. In addition, the present disclosure further relates to an aircraft including the air intake system for the auxiliary power unit.

An aircraft (41) including a fuselage (14) having a skin (15) and extending along a longitudinal axis (39) from a front end to a rear end (17) of the aircraft, and an engine (30) including an air intake (31) forming an opening in the skin (15) and an exhaust (32) forming another opening in the skin (15). The engine is in a rear fuselage section, in which the exhaust (32) is situated ahead of the air intake (31) along the longitudinal direction (39).

An inlet system for an auxiliary power unit includes an inlet duct, and a frame coupled about the inlet duct. The frame defines an opening configured to be in fluid communication with the inlet duct. The inlet system includes a door having a first end opposite a second end. The door is coupled to the frame at the second end. The door is configured to move relative to the frame between a first position in which the door cooperates with the frame to inhibit airflow into the inlet duct and a second position in which the door is configured to enable the airflow into or out of the inlet duct. The door defines a ramp at the second end. A hook is spaced a distance apart from the ramp to define a gap configured to enable the airflow into or out of the inlet duct in the second position.

An auxiliary power unit inlet assembly includes an inlet duct having a first end and a second end. The auxiliary power unit inlet assembly further includes a door associated with the second end of the inlet duct. The door moves between a first position and a second position. The door closes the second end of the inlet duct when in the first position and permits air to enter the second end of the inlet duct when in the second position. The auxiliary power unit inlet assembly further includes a sound absorbing component mounted to the door and disposed proximate the inlet duct. The sound absorbing component is positioned at a location on the door such that a noise generated by the auxiliary power unit will directly impinge on the sound absorbing component.

A compartment based inlet particle separator system for an aircraft that includes an auxiliary power unit (APU) system compartment is provided. The system includes a separation barrier wall, a ram air inlet opening, a diffuser, and an inlet particle separator (IPS). The separation barrier wall is disposed within the APU system compartment and divides the APU system compartment into two compartments. The ram air inlet opening is formed one of the compartments. The diffuser receives ram air from a ram air inlet opening and discharges ram air into a compartment. The IPS is disposed within the a compartment between the diffuser outlet and the APU air inlet port.

Auxiliary power unit inlet apparatus and methods are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an aircraft including a fuselage, the fuselage including an air inlet including a first sub-inlet and a second sub-inlet separated from the first sub-inlet; and a door coupled along the air inlet to enable air to separably flow into the first sub-inlet and the second sub-inlet, the door to deter the air from flowing between the first sub-inlet and the second sub-inlet.

An auxiliary power unit inlet assembly includes an inlet duct having a first end and a second end. The auxiliary power unit inlet assembly further includes a door associated with the second end of the inlet duct. The door moves between a first position and a second position. The door closes the second end of the inlet duct when in the first position and permits air to enter the second end of the inlet duct when in the second position. The auxiliary power unit inlet assembly further includes a sound absorbing component mounted to the door and disposed proximate the inlet duct. The sound absorbing component is positioned at a location on the door such that a noise generated by the auxiliary power unit will directly impinge on the sound absorbing component.

The invention relates to a system (2) for generating non-propulsive energy in an aircraft, including: an auxiliary power unit (20) including a gas turbine (21) and a fuel cell (22); a pathway (23) for the intake of outside air into the aircraft; an exhaust pipe (24) of the gas turbine, the system being characterized in that the air intake pathway (23) includes a pipe (230) for cooling the fuel pipe, in that the pipe is in fluid communication with the exhaust pipe (24) of the gas turbine such that the ejection of the gas from the gas turbine into the exhaust pipe causes a suction of the air outside the aircraft into the cooling pipe (230) by Venturi effect. The invention also relates to a method for generating non-propulsive energy.

An intake duct assembly for an auxiliary power unit system is provided. A first inlet adapter includes at least one hole through the duct wall. A fire containment apparatus forms a first passage to direct intake air between exterior wall of the aircraft and the enclosure. An inner duct mounted on the first inlet adapter at a first position downstream of the at least one hole and mounted on the second inlet adapter. An outer sheath is mounted on the first inlet adapter at a second position upstream of the at least one hole and mounted on the second inlet adapter. The outer sheath circumscribes the inner duct to form at least a portion of a barrier annulus between the inner duct and outer sheath in fluid communication with the first passage via the at least one hole in the first inlet adapter.

A passive cooling system for an auxiliary power unit (APU) installation on an aircraft is provided. The system is for an auxiliary power unit having at least a compressor portion of a gas turbine engine and an oil cooler contained separately within a nacelle. The system includes the auxiliary power unit housed within the nacelle of the aircraft, an engine exhaust opening defined in the aft portion of the nacelle and communicating with the gas turbine engine, at least a first air inlet duct communicating with a second opening defined in said nacelle and with said compressor portion and the oil cooler is located within a second duct communicating with an opening other than the engine exhaust opening of said nacelle and with the engine exhaust opening. Exterior cooling air and engine exhaust ejected through said engine exhaust opening entrain cooling air through said second duct to said oil cooler, and thus provide engine oil cooling. An exhaust eductor is also provided.