# US 10,766,628 B2 · Air inlet with integrated structural hand hold

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,766,628 B2
- Document ID: US10766628B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/706,394
- Filed: 2017-09-15
- Published: 2019-03-21
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-15
- Assignees: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
- Applicants: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
- Inventors: Brent Scannell; Thomas Mast
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766628B2

## CPC

- B64D 33/02: of combustion air intakes
- B64C 1/1446: {Inspection hatches (for engine cowls B64D29/08)}
- B64C 1/24: Steps mounted on, and retractable within, fuselages
- B64D 29/08: Inspection panels for power plants
- B64C 27/04: Helicopters
- B64D 2033/0253: {specially adapted for particular type of aircraft}
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS

## Abstract

This disclosure relates to an air inlet for an aircraft with an integrated hand hold. One innovative aspect of the subject matter described herein can be implemented as an air inlet on the exterior surface of a cowling for a rotorcraft, wherein the air inlet having a scoop that includes a bottom surface having a wide, flat, front edge that angles downward towards the back, an opening in the back for air to enter, and two lateral sides coupled to the bottom surface, where the two sides are planar on a top surface and become longer in height towards the opening in the back, and hand hold, where the hand hold is a trough or an indentation in the bottom surface of the scoop that extends along a side.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An air inlet on a cowling of an aircraft, the air inlet comprising:
a scoop, wherein the scoop comprises:
a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface has a flat front leading edge and slopes downwards towards a back edge of the scoop;
at least two sides, wherein the two sides are substantially planar along a top edge and are shorter towards the flat front leading edge of the scoop; and
an opening at the back edge of the scoop; and
a hand hold on the scoop, wherein the hand hold is an indentation in the bottom surface of the scoop along a first side.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The air inlet of claim 1, further comprising a top surface of the air inlet, wherein the top surface of the air inlet is planar with the surface of the cowling.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The air inlet of claim 1, further comprising a top surface of the air inlet, wherein the top surface of the air inlet is above the surface of the cowling.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The air inlet of claim 1, wherein the scoop further comprises:
a soft edge on the cowling at the back edge of the scoop.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The air inlet of claim 1, wherein the scoop comprises one or more of aluminum, aluminum alloy, steel, reinforced plastic, and a carbon composite.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The air inlet of claim 4, wherein the soft edge comprises one or more of a carbon composite material, fiberglass, aluminum, titanium, and corrosion resistant steel (CRES).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The air inlet of claim 1, further comprising a second hand hold on the scoop, wherein the second hand hold is an indentation in the bottom surface of the scoop along a second side.

### Claim 8

A rotorcraft, comprising:
a cowling,
an engine;
an air inlet for the engine on the cowling, the air inlet comprising:
a scoop, wherein the scoop comprises:
a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface has a flat front leading edge and slopes downwards towards a back edge of the scoop;
at least two sides, wherein the two sides are substantially planar along a top edge and are shorter towards the flat front leading edge of the scoop; and
an opening at the back edge of the scoop; and
a hand hold on the scoop, wherein the hand hold is an indentation in the bottom surface of the scoop along a first side.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The rotorcraft of claim 8, further comprising a top surface of the air inlet, wherein the top surface of the air inlet is planar with the surface of the cowling.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The rotorcraft of claim 8, further comprising a top surface of the air inlet, wherein the top surface of the air inlet is above the surface of the cowling.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The rotorcraft of claim 8, wherein the scoop further comprises:
a soft edge on the cowling at the back edge of the scoop.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The rotorcraft of claim 8, wherein the scoop comprises one or more of aluminum, aluminum alloy, steel, reinforced plastic, and a carbon composite.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The rotorcraft of claim 11, wherein the soft edge comprises one or more of a carbon composite material, fiberglass, aluminum, titanium, and corrosion resistant steel (CRES).

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The rotorcraft of claim 8, further comprising a second hand hold on the scoop, wherein the second hand hold is an indentation in the bottom surface of the scoop along a second side.