Inlet section of an aircraft engine nacelle

• US 9,403,599 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2012
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ROHR Incorporated (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ROHR Incorporated (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Binks, Alan, James, Norman John, Layland, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): EDGAR, RICHARD A
• Application Number:
  US13/595,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20140064927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 Days
• Field of Search: 415/9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2033/0206 comprising noise reduction means, e.g. acoustic liners
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 29/06 Attaching of nacelles, fairings or cowlings
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 29/08 Inspection panels for power plants
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 33/02 of combustion air intakes air intakes for gas-turbine plants or jet-propulsion plants per se F02C7/04; air intakes for combustion engines in general F02M35/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0536 Highspeed fluid intake means [e.g., jet engine intake]

Abstract

A nacelle inlet for an aircraft engine of a type having an engine fan case with a forward flange includes an acoustic inner barrel having a forward edge and an aft edge, an outer shell having a nose lip portion with a trailing inner edge, and an outer barrel portion having an aft portion. The nacelle inlet also includes an aft attachment flange configured to attach the inlet to the forward flange of the engine fan case, and an aft bulkhead having an aft end and connecting the outer barrel portion of the outer shell to the aft attachment flange. The forward edge of the acoustic inner barrel is connected to the trailing inner edge of the nose lip portion, and the aft portion of the inner barrel is attached to the aft attachment flange.

Claims

1. A nacelle inlet portion comprising:

an annular inner barrel having a forward flange and an aft portion located farther aft than the forward flange; and

a single piece outer shell having a rounded nose lip portion and being attached to the forward flange and to the aft portion

wherein the single piece outer shell forms an outer barrel portion and an aft bulkhead, wherein the aft bulkhead is formed between the outer barrel portion and the aft portion of the annular inner barrel,

wherein the aft bulkhead extends radially inwardly and rearwardly from an aft edge point of the outer barrel potion to the aft portion of the annular inner barrel,

wherein the single piece outer shell transitions continuously to form the rounded nose lip portion, aft bulkhead, and outer barrel portion, and

wherein the single piece outer shell is formed by spin forming.

2. A nacelle inlet portion as in claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises a plurality of joined circumferential segments.

3. A nacelle inlet portion as in claim 1, wherein the nose lip portion forms two or more annular segments.

4. A nacelle inlet portion as in claim 1, wherein the inner barrel is a one-piece 360 degree structure.

5. A nacelle inlet portion as in claim 1, wherein the inner barrel comprises a plurality of joined circumferential segments.

6. A nacelle inlet portion as in claim 1, wherein the inner barrel comprises a perforated inner skin and an imperforate outer skin.

7. A nacelle inlet portion as in claim 6 further comprising a honeycomb core, the honeycomb core being disposed between the inner skin and the outer skin.

8. A nacelle comprising:

an inner barrel having a forward flange and an aft portion located farther aft than the forward flange;

a single piece outer shell forming an outer barrel portion and an aft bulkhead;

the aft bulkhead having a trailing edge attached to the aft portion of the inner barrel; and

the single piece outer shell having a rounded nose lip portion and being attached to the forward flange of the inner barrel wherein the single piece outer shell is formed by spin forming.

9. A nacelle as in claim 8, wherein the outer shell comprises a plurality of joined circumferential segments.

10. A nacelle as in claim 8, wherein the inner barrel comprises a perforated inner skin and an imperforate outer skin.

11. A nacelle as in claim 10 further comprising a honeycomb core, the honeycomb core being disposed between the inner skin and the outer skin.

12. A nacelle comprising:

an inner barrel having a forward flange and an aft portion;

a single piece outer shell forming an outer barrel portion and an aft bulkhead;

the aft bulkhead being disposed entirely aft of the forward flange and having a trailing edge attached to the aft portion of the inner barrel; and

the single piece outer shell having a rounded nose lip portion and being attached to the forward flange of the inner barrel wherein the single piece outer shell is formed by spin forming.

13. A nacelle as in claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the inner barrel is acoustically treated.