Integrated outer flowpath ducting and front frame system for use in a turbofan engine and method for making same
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsJustin C. Mickelsen, Laurence David Noble Liston, Mark Knowles, Shawn Alstad
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Abstract
A system and method is provided for an integrated aircraft turbofan engine outer flowpath ducting and front frame that minimizes assembly interfaces and reduces overall aircraft engine weight. The system and method provide an integrated turbofan engine outer flowpath ducting and front frame system that decouples the fairing/aerodynamic duties from the struts/weight bearing duties thereby enabling efficient distribution of mechanical load.
Claims20
An outer flowpath ducting and front frame system in a turbofan engine, the engine outer flowpath ducting and front frame system comprising:
- a load housing comprising a primary composite load path circumferentially surrounding an engine centerline and defining the outer flowpath;
- and
- a front frame assembly centered within the load housing and configured to i) direct air through the outer flowpath, and ii) bear weight, the front frame assembly detachably coupled to the load housing.
An outer flowpath ducting and front frame system in a turbofan engine, the engine outer flowpath ducting and front frame system comprising:
- a primary composite load path circumferentially surrounding an engine centerline and defining the outer flowpath;
- and
- a front frame assembly centered within the primary composite load path, comprising:
- i) a metallic hub;
- ii) a first number of aerodynamically configured fairings coupled to the metallic hub and extending radially to the primary composite load path;
- and
- iii) the first number of load-bearing metal struts, each load-bearing strut coupled on a first end to the metallic hub and coupled on the second end to the primary composite load path.
A method for reducing turbofan engine weight in a turbofan engine having outer flowpath ducting, the method comprising:
- defining the outer flowpath circumferentially around the engine centerline with a continuous primary composite load path;
- directing airflow through the outer flowpath with a plurality of aerodynamically determined composite fairings;
- positioning a plurality of load-bearing metal struts between the primary composite load path and a centered hub;
- coupling the load-bearing metal struts to the primary composite load path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.