ON-BOARD AIRCRAFT AUXILIARY POWER SYSTEMS HAVING DUAL AUXILIARY POWER UNITS

• US 20120318913A1
• Filed: 06/17/2011
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Embraer S.A.
• Original Assignee: Embraer-Empresa Brasileira de Aeronã¡Utica SA
• Inventors: FILHO, Aldemiro Lorenzini
• Granted Patent: US 8,622,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/58
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 5/06 Fins B64C5/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 9/326 associated with fuselages
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2041/002 Mounting arrangements for auxiliary power units (APU's)
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 41/00 Power installations for auxiliary purposes

Abstract

Aircraft are provided with a pair of auxiliary power units (APUs) adjacently mounted in parallel relative to one another within the tail cone section of the aircraft'"'"'s fuselage. In some embodiments, the APUs are mounted generally vertically adjacent to one another. Alternatively, the APUs may be mounted generally horizontally adjacent to one another. The aircraft fuselage may include a pair of downwardly and outwardly oriented strakes adjacent the tail cone having lower edges which establish a maximum take-off pitch angle of the fuselage and define a spatial zone therebetween. The APUs are positioned within such a spatial zone defined between the strakes so that the maximum take-off pitch angle is not required to be changed when modifying an existing single APU aircraft with dual APUs.

Claims

1. An aircraft comprising a fuselage with a tail cone section, and a pair of auxiliary power units (APUs) adjacently mounted in parallel relative to one another within the tail cone section.

2. An aircraft as in claim 1, wherein the APUs are mounted generally vertically adjacent to one another.

3. An aircraft as in claim 2, wherein a lower one of the APUs is positioned forwardly of an upper one of the APUs.

4. An aircraft as in claim 3, further comprising an upwardly aft-angled bulkhead support ring, and support arms interconnecting the upper one of the APUs to the support ring.

5. An aircraft as in claim 4, further comprising a support plate rigidly connected to a lower portion of the support ring such that a forward end of the support plate is connected to a lower portion of the support ring.

6. An aircraft as in claim 5, wherein the support plate includes upwardly and rearwardly directed support arms attached to the lower one of the APUs.

7. An aircraft as in claim 6, further comprising a rearward frame member extending downwardly and forwardly from a lower region of the support ring.

8. An aircraft as in claim 7, wherein the support arms have a forward end attached to the rearward frame member of the aircraft and a rearward end attached to the lower one of the APUs.

9. An aircraft as in claim 1, further comprising a firewall plate positioned between the APUs.

10. An aircraft as in claim 9, wherein the firewall plate is an inverted U-shaped plate.

11. An aircraft as in claim 9, further comprising an upper frame member attached generally at a center of the firewall plate.

12. An aircraft as in claim 2, further comprising a series of inverted U-shaped strake frame members positioned about a lower one of the APUs.

13. An aircraft as in claim 12, further comprising horizontal strake frame members attached to the inverted U-shaped strake frame members.

14. An aircraft as in claim 12, further comprising a firewall plate positioned between the APUs.

15. An aircraft as in claim 14, wherein the firewall plate is an inverted U-shaped plate.

16. An aircraft as in claim 14, further comprising an upper frame member attached generally at a center of the firewall plate.

17. An aircraft as in claim 1, wherein the APUs are mounted generally horizontally adjacent to one another.

18. An aircraft as in claim 1, wherein the fuselage includes a pair of downwardly and outwardly oriented strakes adjacent the tail cone having lower edges which establish a maximum take-off pitch angle of the fuselage, wherein the strakes define a spatial zone therebetween, and wherein the APUs are positioned within the spatial zone defined between the strakes.