Nacelle inlet assembly that promotes laminar flow
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorCharles William Rust
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inlet assembly of a nacelle includes an inlet cowl that has a leading edge, an outer side that extends from the leading edge to an outer aft edge, and an inner side that extends from the leading edge to an inner aft edge. An exterior surface of the inlet cowl is seamless along an entire length of the outer side from the leading edge to the outer aft edge. The inlet cowl includes a lipskin that has a metallic coating. The metallic coating defines the exterior surface of the inlet cowl along the leading edge and the entire length of the outer side.
Claims20
An inlet assembly of a nacelle, the inlet assembly comprising:
- an inlet cowl including a leading edge, an outer side that extends from the leading edge to an outer aft edge, and an inner side that extends from the leading edge to an inner aft edge, the outer aft edge of the inlet cowl configured to interface with a fan cowl of the nacelle, wherein an exterior surface of the inlet cowl is seamless along an entire length of the outer side from the leading edge to the outer aft edge, the inlet cowl including a lipskin that has a metallic coating, the metallic coating defining the exterior surface of the inlet cowl along the leading edge and the outer side.
A method for producing an inlet assembly of a nacelle, the method comprising:
- forming an inlet cowl that includes a leading edge, an outer side that extends from the leading edge to an outer aft edge, and an inner side that extends from the leading edge to an inner aft edge, the outer aft edge of the inlet cowl configured to interface with a fan cowl of the nacelle, wherein the inlet cowl is formed such that an exterior surface of the inlet cowl is seamless along an entire length of the outer side from the leading edge to the outer aft edge,
- wherein the inlet cowl is formed by forming a lipskin that has a metallic coating, the metallic coating defining the exterior surface of the inlet cowl along the leading edge and the entire length of the outer side.
An inlet assembly of a nacelle, the inlet assembly comprising:
- an inlet cowl including a leading edge, an outer side that extends from the leading edge to an outer aft edge, and an inner side that extends from the leading edge to an inner aft edge, the outer aft edge of the inlet cowl configured to interface with a fan cowl of the nacelle, the inlet cowl having an annular barrel shape oriented about a central longitudinal axis, the inlet cowl defining a cavity aft of the leading edge between the inner side and the outer side;
- and
- one or more support frames disposed within the cavity and extending from the inner side to the outer side of the inlet cowl to structurally support the annular barrel shape of the inlet cowl,
- wherein the inlet cowl includes an extended section of the outer side that extends to the outer aft edge, the extended section longitudinally projecting beyond the inner aft edge of the inner side, and
- wherein an exterior surface of the inlet cowl is seamless along an entire length of the outer side from the leading edge to the outer aft edge, and is defined by a metallic coating of a lipskin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.