INTEGRATED SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR AN AIRCRAFT ENGINE AND ITS AUXILLARY COMPONENTS

Abstract

A supporting structure arrangement for fastening an aircraft gas turbine engine to an aircraft, including: a supporting structural element of the aircraft engine and a supporting structure with at least one support and at least one bearing, by means of which the support can be connected or is connected to the aircraft, wherein the support can be connected or is connected rigidly to the supporting structural element of the aircraft engine by means of a connecting device.

Claims

1. A supporting structure arrangement for fastening an aircraft gas turbine engine to an aircraft, comprising: a supporting structural element of the aircraft engine and a supporting structure with at least one support and at least one bearing, by means of which the support can be connected or is connected to the aircraft, wherein the support can be connected or is connected rigidly to the supporting structural element of the aircraft engine by means of a connecting device.

2. The supporting structure arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structural element is at least part of a casing or at least part of a core engine case.

3. The supporting structure arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least two bearings are provided, each bearing having at least one degree of freedom.

4. The supporting structure arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one support has at least two bearings for connecting the support to the aircraft, the distance of which from one another is greater than the minimum diameter of the supporting structure between the aircraft engine and the aircraft in a direction parallel to the direct connecting line between the at least two bearings.

5. The supporting structure arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by at least two spaced-apart supports of the supporting structure.

6. The supporting structure arrangement according to claim 5, wherein, with the supports connected to the aircraft engine, the at least one bearing of one of the at least two supports is/are at a distance from the at least one bearing of another of the at least two supports that is greater than a length of a core engine and/or a casing of the aircraft engine.

7. The supporting structure arrangement according to claim 5, wherein at least one accessory component of the aircraft engine is arranged between the at least two axially spaced-apart supports of the supporting structure.

8. The supporting structure arrangement according to claim 7, wherein at least one accessory component comprises a gearbox, an arrangement of lines, a supply device and/or a control computer.

9. The supporting structure arrangement according to claim 7, characterized by an installation frame, which is arranged between the at least the two axially spaced-apart supports of the supporting structure and to which the at least one accessory component is fastened.

10. The supporting structure arrangement according to claim 9, characterized by at least one shock absorber, by means of which the installation frame is mounted or can be mounted on the aircraft engine, on the fastening device and/or on the aircraft.

11. The supporting structure arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the bearing comprises a shock absorber and/or an elastic element, which, in the state in which it is connected to the aircraft, is arranged in the load path.

12. An aircraft with a fuselage and at least one aircraft gas turbine engine, characterized by a supporting structure arrangement according to claim 1, the aircraft engine being fastened by means of the supporting structure of the supporting structure arrangement to the fuselage of the aircraft.

13. The aircraft according to claim 12, wherein the bearing comprises at least one fastening point, which is fixedly connected to the fuselage of the aircraft and which is arranged in a pocket set back from an outer shell of the fuselage of the aircraft.

14. A method for producing a supporting structure arrangement according to claim 1 with at least two spaced-apart supports of the supporting structure, wherein, by means of optimization of the topology, at least one out of a distance between the supports, a height of each of the supports and a relative material distribution of the supports is determined.

Description

[0031] The invention is explained in connection with the exemplary embodiments represented in the figures, in which

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective representation of an aircraft with aircraft engines arranged in the region of a tail of the aircraft;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of part of the aircraft according to FIG. 1 with one of the aircraft engines and with one embodiment of a supporting structure arrangement;

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of the part of the aircraft shown in FIG. 2 with the aircraft engine and the supporting structure arrangement;

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of part of the aircraft according to FIG. 1 with one of the aircraft engines and with one embodiment of a supporting structure arrangement; and

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a schematic plan view of the part of the aircraft shown in FIG. 4 with the aircraft engine and the supporting structure arrangement.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows an aircraft 3 with a number of gas turbine engines, by means of which the aircraft 3 can be driven. In the present case, the aircraft 3 comprises two engines 1, which are in each case fastened to the aircraft 3 by means of a supporting structure 2 in the form of an engine pylon, and an optional auxiliary engine 32, which is arranged centrally on the tail of the aircraft 3.

[0038] The two aircraft engines 1 that are fastened to the aircraft 3 in each case by means of a supporting structure 2 are mounted on opposite sides of the aircraft 3 on a fuselage 30 of the aircraft 3, in the present case in the region of the tail of the aircraft 3. Alternatively or in addition, aircraft engines 1 may also be mounted by means of the supporting structure 2 on wings 31 of the aircraft.

[0039] FIGS. 2 and 3 show various views of one of the aircraft engines 1 with its supporting structure 2 mounted on the fuselage 30 of the aircraft 3.

[0040] The aircraft engine 1 comprises a core engine 10, in which a combustion of fuel takes place. The core engine 10 comprises a core engine case 100. The core engine 10 is at least partially enclosed by an outer casing 11. In the present case, the casing 11 is formed as a supporting structural element, that is to say it can support the other components of the aircraft engine 1. The aircraft engine 1 is formed in the present case as a jet engine (for example as a turbofan engine) and comprises in particular a compressor and a turbine, which are rotatable about a main axis of rotation R.

[0041] Together with the casing 11, the supporting structure 2 forms a supporting structure arrangement for fastening the aircraft engine 1 to the aircraft 3.

[0042] The supporting structure 2 comprises two supports 20. In the side view (see FIG. 2 in particular), each of the supports 20 in the example shown has an H shape or double-T shape, although of course other shapes are also possible.

[0043] Each of the supports 20 comprises a first connecting portion, which lies flat against a connecting portion of the casing 11 of the aircraft engine 1. Each of the supports 20 comprises a number of fastening points 200 in the region of the first connecting portion. The fastening points 200 are for example holes for screws or bolts. Corresponding fastening points are formed on the connecting portions of the casing 11. The supporting structure 2 also comprises a number of screws or bolts by means of which the number of fastening points 200 of the supports 20 are fixedly connected to those of the casing 11. In this way, (at least) one connecting device 23 that rigidly connects the support 20 to the casing 11 is respectively provided per support 20.

[0044] Under the intended operating conditions of the aircraft engine 1 and the supporting structure 2, no relative movement is possible between the support 20 and the casing 11. The use of screws or bolts (or other releasable connecting means) makes the connecting device 23 releasable. The aircraft engine 1 can consequently be removed and/or mounted without the supporting device 2 on the aircraft 3 having to be mounted and/or removed from it. Alternatively, the connecting device 23 comprises an unreleasable connection, for example a welded connection.

[0045] The front support 20 is for example fixedly connected to a fan housing of the casing 11, the fan housing receiving a fan of the aircraft engine 1. The rear support 20 is optionally fixedly connected to a part of the casing 11 in the region of a turbine and/or a nozzle. In one configuration, the front support 20 is formed more massively than the rear support 20. For example, the front support 20 is at least partly formed as larger or thicker than the rear support 20.

[0046] In a method for producing the supporting structure arrangement, a method of topological optimization may be used in order to determine the material distribution between the supports 20 of the supporting structure arrangement (for example with the result that the front support 20 comprises more material than the rear support 20). For example, in this case a pylon height H is determined, as evident from the arrow in FIG. 2. Then the supporting structure arrangement is assembled, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0047] Each of the supports 20 comprises on a side opposite from the first connecting portion a second connecting portion. By means of the second connecting portion, each of the supports 20 can be connected to the aircraft 3. For this purpose, the supporting structure comprises a number of bearings 21, in the present case respectively two bearings 21 per support 20.

[0048] Both connecting portions (the vertical bars of the H shape) of each of the supports 20 extend along the circumference of the aircraft engine 1 or the fuselage 30 of the aircraft 3. The second connecting portion is longer than the first connecting portion along the respective circumferential direction. This is made possible in particular by the rigid connection to the first connecting portion.

[0049] Each of the bearings 21 has at least one degree of freedom, and therefore does not in itself provide a rigid connection.

[0050] The supports 20 are arranged spaced apart from one another, in the present case in a direction parallel to the main axis of rotation R of the aircraft engine 1 (or parallel to the cylinder axis of the at least partly cylindrical casing 11). As shown in FIG. 3, the supports 20 have an arcuate portion, in the present case a portion curved in an S-shaped manner. As a result, the first and second connecting portions of each of the supports 20 are arranged offset in relation to one another. The bearings 21 of the one support 20 are at a distance A1 from the bearings 21 of the other support 20. This distance A1 is greater than the distance of the first connecting regions of the two supports 20 from one another. The distance A1 is greater than the length L of the aircraft engine 1, in particular greater than the length of the core engine 10 and the casing 11. The distance A1 of the bearings 21 of the one support 20 from those of the other support 20 is consequently increased axially with respect to the aircraft engine 1. This increased distance A1 allows the forces during the operation of the aircraft engine 1 to be introduced particularly well into the fuselage 30 of the aircraft 3. As a result, while at the same time increasing installation space B between the supports 20 (as will be explained in more detail further below), the forces acting can be reduced.

[0051] Optionally, only one of the two supports 20, in particular the rear support 20 when viewed in the direction of flight, has an arcuate portion. The other of the two supports 20 may be formed as substantially straight in a view perpendicular to the main direction of rotation R.

[0052] In the case of each of the supports 20, the bearings 21 of the support 20 are spaced apart from one another, in the present case in a direction perpendicular to the main axis of rotation R of the aircraft engine 1 (or perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the at least partly cylindrical casing 11). The bearings 21 of each of the supports 20 are at a distance A2 from one another. The distance A2 between the bearings 21 is greater than the minimum diameter of the supporting structure 2 between the aircraft engine 1 and the aircraft 3 in a direction parallel to the direct connecting line between the at least two bearings 21. This minimum diameter of the supporting structure 2 corresponds to the pylon height H. This makes a particularly stable mounting of the aircraft engine 1 possible.

[0053] An installation space B is defined or provided between the supports 20. The distance of the supports 20 from one another, the distance A1 of the bearings 21 of the one support 20 from the bearings 21 of the other support 20 and the distance A2 of the bearings 21 of the respective support 20 from one another makes the installation space B particularly large. Moreover, the forces acting can be reduced.

[0054] Accessory components of the aircraft engine 1 can be arranged in the installation space B, as will be further explained in detail in conjunction with FIGS. 4 and 5. These consequently do not have to be accommodated within the casing 11, as a result of which the casing 11 can have a particularly small cross section. This allows the aerodynamic drag of the aircraft engine 1 to be significantly reduced.

[0055] Moreover, the installation space B between the aircraft 3 and the aircraft engine 1 is particularly easily accessible, for example for installation or maintenance work.

[0056] By arranging the accessory components in the installation space B, and consequently closer to the fuselage 30 of the aircraft 3, the supports 20 can be formed in a particularly material-saving manner, which can lead to a weight saving.

[0057] Each of the bearings 21 comprises a bearing point 201 formed on the support 20, a fastening point 330 formed on the aircraft 3 and an elastic element 210 (or generally a damping element). The elastic element 210 is arranged in the load path or flux of force between the bearing point 201 of the support 20 and the fastening point 330 of the aircraft 3. Thus, the elastic element 210 can damp vibrations. The elastic element 210 can provide the at least one degree of freedom of the bearing. Alternatively or in addition, the bearing 21 comprises for example a pivoting connection. In this way, thermal expansion or contraction of the support 21 or other components can be allowed, without stresses occurring in the bearings 21.

[0058] As illustrated on the basis of FIGS. 2 and 3, the fastening points 330 on the aircraft 3 are not arranged outside, on an outer shell 300 of the fuselage 30 of the aircraft 3, but within a clearance or pocket 301 formed in the shell 300. The fastening points 300 are consequently set back from the outer shell 300 (into the interior of the fuselage 30). As a result, the second connecting portions of the supports 20 are arranged within the shell 300 (within a continuously convex form of the shell 300). This makes it possible to increase the installation space B and/or significantly reduce the aerodynamic drag, or at least not increase it, in comparison with an arrangement outside the shell 300.

[0059] The fastening points 330 of the aircraft 3 are fixed or integrally formed on a supporting structure 33 of the aircraft 3, for example in the form of a supporting frame of the aircraft 3.

[0060] A further increased installation space B can also be provided by the pocket 301. The installation space B consequently extends into the interior of the fuselage 30. A casing of the supporting structure arrangement can enclose the installation space B.

[0061] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a design of a supporting structure arrangement for fastening the aircraft engine 1 to the aircraft 3, the core engine case 100 of the aircraft engine 1 serving as a supporting structural element. The supports 20 of the supporting structure 2 consequently extend into the casing 11 of the aircraft engine 1. The respective first connecting portion of the supports 20 lies flat against a corresponding connecting portion of the core engine case 100. In a way corresponding to the design according to FIGS. 2 and 3, a connecting device 23, which provides a rigid connection of the support 20 to the supporting structural element, here the core engine case 100, is respectively provided.

[0062] As illustrated in particular on the basis of FIG. 5, the supporting structure arrangement also comprises an installation frame 22. The installation frame 22 may be formed as a so-called space frame. The installation frame 22 supports a number of accessory components 12A-12C of the aircraft engine 1. One accessory component 12A comprises a control computer of the aircraft engine 1. The control computer is connected by cables to at least one actuator element and/or at least one sensor of the aircraft engine 1 within the casing 11. One accessory component 12B comprises a gear box of the aircraft engine 1. The gear box is for example an auxiliary gear box, which can be driven by a shaft, which is operatively connected to an engine shaft that is rotatable about the main axis of rotation R. One accessory component 12C comprises a supply device. The supply device provides for example electrical power and/or a fluid to the aircraft engine 1, in particular fuel and/or lubricant. The fuel feed may take place by means of a feed line, which extends from the installation space B (for example at least partly in a straight line) into a region of the core engine 10 facing the installation space B, which allows particularly short and simple routing of the line.

[0063] Each of the accessory components 12A-12C is mounted at bearing points 220 of the installation frame 22.

[0064] The installation frame 22 is mounted on the supports 20 at bearing points 202 of the supports 20. For damping vibrations, the installation frame 22 is attached to the bearing points 220 of the supports 20 by means of shock absorbers 221 (for example in the form of elastic elements). Consequently, a number of accessory components 12A-12C can be protected together against vibrations, which makes a simplified construction possible. Alternatively or in addition, the installation frame 22 could also be mounted on the aircraft 3 and/or on the aircraft engine 1.

[0065] The use of the installation frame 22 makes it possible that a number of accessory components 12A-12C can be installed and removed together. This allows the maintenance of the aircraft engine 1 to be made significantly easier. The connection of the accessory components 12A-12C to the aircraft engine 1, in particular to the core engine 10, can be provided by means of standardized interfaces for fuel, air, oil and signals. The installation frame 22 makes use of such standardized interfaces possible.

[0066] Furthermore, the loaded installation frame 22 can be tested as a whole, i.e. it is not necessary for each accessory component to be tested individually, which can reduce quality compliance and approval costs.

[0067] The fact that the accessory components 12A-12C are not arranged directly on the core engine 10, but in the installation space B, makes it easier to shield them from high temperatures during the operation of the aircraft engine 1. Optionally, the installation frame 22 as a whole is provided with thermal insulation, which can in an easy way protect a number of accessory components, 12A-12C together from thermal loads.

[0068] Consequently, with the supporting of the aircraft engine 1 and the accessory components 12A-12C, a number of functionalities can be integrated in the supporting structure 2.

[0069] Otherwise, the design of the supporting structure arrangement according to FIGS. 4 and 5 coincides with that according to FIGS. 2 and 3, and so reference is made to the statements made in respect thereto. Conversely, the design according to FIGS. 2 and 3 may comprise an installation frame 22 according to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0070] The aircraft 3 may be in particular a supersonic aircraft. Aircraft engines 1 of supersonic aircraft are often particularly long, so in this case a particularly large installation space B is produced by the supporting structure arrangements described above.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

[0071] 1 Aircraft gas turbine engine [0072] 10 Core engine [0073] 100 Core engine case [0074] 11 Casing [0075] 12A-12C Accessory component [0076] 2 Supporting structure [0077] 20, 20 Support [0078] 200 Fastening point [0079] 201 Bearing point [0080] 202 Bearing point [0081] 21 Bearing [0082] 210 Elastic element [0083] 22 Installation frame [0084] 220 Bearing point [0085] 221 Shock absorber [0086] 23 Connecting device [0087] 3 Aircraft [0088] 30 Fuselage [0089] 300 Shell [0090] 301 Pocket [0091] 31 Wing [0092] 32 Auxiliary engine [0093] 33 Supporting structure [0094] 330 Fastening point [0095] A1, A2 Distance [0096] B Installation space [0097] H Pylon height [0098] L Length [0099] R Main axis of rotation