Self-aligning inlet plenum system for rotorcraft
AssigneeTextron Innovations Inc.
InventorsZachary E. Dailey, Thomas M. Mast
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inlet system for a rotorcraft includes a cowl door assembly and a plenum assembly. The cowl door assembly includes a door member, a cowl inlet opening, and a cowl inlet duct. The plenum assembly is configured to free float in relation to the cowl door. The plenum assembly includes a plenum duct with a plenum band configured to attach the plenum assembly to an inlet opening. An aft seal is located between the aft plenum flange and a firewall, the aft seal being configured to provide a compressive contact between the plenum assembly and the firewall.
Claims15
An inlet system for an aircraft, the inlet system comprising:
- a cowl door assembly comprising:
- a door member coupled to a structure of the aircraft;
- a cowl inlet opening;
- a cowl inlet duct;
- a cowl inlet band located on a downstream portion of the cowl inlet duct;
- a plenum assembly configured to free float in relation to the cowl door assembly, the plenum assembly comprising:
- a plenum duct;
- a plenum band located on an upstream portion of the plenum duct;
- an aft plenum flange located on a downstream portion of the plenum duct;
- wherein the cowl inlet band and the plenum band are configured to mate, thereby causing alignment of the plenum duct to the cowl inlet duct;
- and
- wherein the plenum assembly is configured to free float by the way of a compression contact with one or more seals between the plenum assembly and an adjacent structure.
An inlet system for a rotorcraft, the inlet system comprising:
- a cowl door assembly comprising:
- a door member coupled to a structure of the aircraft;
- a cowl inlet opening;
- a cowl inlet duct;
- a cowl inlet band located on a downstream portion of the cowl inlet duct;
- a plenum assembly configured to free float in relation to the cowl door assembly, the plenum assembly comprising:
- a plenum duct;
- a plenum band located on an upstream portion of the plenum duct;
- an aft plenum flange located on a downstream portion of the plenum duct;
- an aft seal located between the aft plenum flange and a firewall, the aft seal being configured to provide a compressive contact between the plenum assembly and the firewall;
- wherein the cowl inlet band and the plenum band are configured to connect, thereby ensuring alignment of the plenum duct to the cowl inlet duct.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.