Link component for aircraft engine mounting systems

• US 6,330,985 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Troup, Robert Eugene, Franceschelli, Anthony John, Boger, Ethan, Joseph, Thomas Peter, Manteiga, John Alan, Wilusz, Christopher James, Dykhuizen, Cornelius Harm
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US09/608,480
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 244/53.R, 244/54, 60/393.1, 128/378-379, 248/554
• US Class Current: 244/54
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/18 within, or attached to, wings
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/40 Arrangements for mounting power plants in aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/406 Suspension arrangements specially adapted for supporting thrust loads, e.g. thrust links
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2230/16 used in a strut, basically rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

A link for use in an aircraft engine mounting system includes a span section having a first connector formed (at one end thereof and a second connector formed at another end thereof. A lumped mass is disposed on the span section for placing the resonant frequency of the link away from engine excitation frequencies.

Claims

1. In a mounting system for mounting an engine to an aircraft, a link comprising:

a span section;

a first connector formed at one end of said span section;

a second connector formed at another end of said span section; and

means for placing resonant frequencies of said link away from excitation frequencies of said engine.

2. The link of claim 1 wherein said means for placing resonant frequencies of said link comprises a lumped mass disposed on said span section.

3. The link of claim 2 wherein said lumped mass is located on a vibration mode antinode of said link.

4. The link of claim 2 wherein said lumped mass is integrally formed on said span section.

5. The link of claim 4 wherein said lumped mass has a drain hole formed therein.

6. The link of claim 2 wherein said lumped mass is a separate weight that is attached to said span section.

7. The link of claim 6 wherein said weight comprises first and second segments that are located on diametrically opposing sides of said span section.

8. The link of claim 7 wherein each one of said segments has a U-shaped body with two mounting flanges formed thereon.

9. The link of claim 6 wherein said weight is made of a material that is at least as dense as the material that said span section is made of.

10. A link for an engine mounting system, said link comprising

a span section;

a first connector formed at one end of said span section;

a second connector formed at another end of said, span section; and

a lumped mass disposed on said span section.

11. The link of claim 10 wherein said lumped mass is located on a vibration mode antinode of said span section.

12. The link of claim 10 wherein said lumped mass is integrally formed on said span section.

13. The link of claim 12 wherein said lumped mass has a drain hole formed therein.

14. The link of claim 10 wherein said lumped mass is a separate weight that is attached to said span section.

15. The link of claim 14 wherein said weight comprises first and second segments that are located on diametrically opposing sides of said span section.

16. The link of claim 15 wherein each one of said segments has a U-shaped body with two mounting flanges formed thereon.

17. The link of claim 14 wherein said weight is made of a material that is at least as dense as the material that said span section is made of.