EP2627561A1

EP2627561A1 - Assembly for attaching the hangers from which an aircraft propulsion unit is suspended

Info

Publication number: EP2627561A1
Application number: EP11779788.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hervé HURLIN; Nicolas Dezeustre; Wouter Balk; Gilles Charier
Original assignee: Aircelle SA; SNECMA SAS
Current assignee: Safran Aircraft Engines SAS; Safran Nacelles SAS
Priority date: 2010-10-15
Filing date: 2011-10-04
Publication date: 2013-08-21
Also published as: CA2812373A1; RU2013121274A; US8839629B2; FR2966125B1; FR2966125A1; WO2012049399A1; CN103153789A; BR112013007208A2; US20130227963A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly for attaching the hangers from which an aircraft propulsion unit is suspended, which propulsion unit is intended to be suspended from a structural element of an aircraft, said propulsion unit comprising a turbojet engine having a longitudinal axis, said attachment assembly comprising at least one clevis mount (100) for attaching the hangers to a casing (120) of said propulsion unit, characterized in that the clevis mount (100) is fixed to said casing (120) by means designed to form a connection between said clevis mount (100) and said casing (120) at the external periphery of said casing (120).

Description

Suspension assembly of a suspension of an aircraft propulsion unit

The present invention relates to a suspension of an aircraft propulsion unit to a structural element of the aircraft, such as a wing or the fuselage of this aircraft for example and, more particularly to a suspension assembly of this suspension on said propulsion assembly.

A propulsion unit for an aircraft comprising a turbofan engine mounted inside a nacelle delimiting a flow vein of a secondary flow can be mounted at various points of the aircraft while being attached to a mast. belonging to the structure of the latter.

It can thus be suspended under the wings, fixed to the fuselage or mounted in the empennage by means of attachment which transmit to this wing in particular the mechanical forces between the engine and the structure of the aircraft, efforts generated by the engine and efforts from the nacelle transmitted by the engine during its various operating modes.

The loads to be considered are oriented along the three main directions (forces and moments). These are in particular the mass or inertia loads of the engine, its thrust, the aerodynamic loads and the loads due to an incidental or accidental operation (Fan blade Off, crash, ...). The charges to be transmitted also include the resumption of the rotational torque around the axis of the motor.

These attachment means must also absorb the deformations experienced by the engine during the various phases of flight due in particular to dimensional changes due to thermal expansion or contraction and mechanical stress.

A suspension mode, for example, consists in hooking the engine to a mast arranged between the turbojet engine and the wing of the aircraft having an elongated and rigid box shape capable of transmitting the forces (forces and moments) along the three directions axial, lateral and vertical between the turbojet engine and the structure of the aircraft, the axis being that of the engine. This mast extending in a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the engine comprises means of suspension of the engine through which pass all the forces (forces and moments) transmitted between the engine and the aircraft.

These suspension means comprise an upstream engine attachment fixed in particular to the intermediate casing of the turbojet engine and a downstream engine attachment fixed in particular to the exhaust casing of the turbojet engine.

These fasteners are mounted on the aforementioned casings by means of crankcases 100 mounted on the casings, as illustrated in a particular example of the intermediate casing 120 of the prior art in FIG.

In this figure, it can be observed that a catching cap 100 is fixed to the outer shell 121 of intermediate casing 120 by fastening means 160 extending radially through the outer shell of the casing 120.

These fastening means 160 comprise nut screw type screw means.

These fixing means also pass through the flow straightening vanes 125 fixed to the intermediate casing 120 insofar as the copings 100 are mounted facing these vanes 125.

However, such mounting hooks 100 on a housing 120 is not satisfactory.

The stresses exerted on the interface between the intermediate casing 120 and the attachment cap 100 may, in the case of a casing formed of composite material, cause deterioration of the composite structure, such as delamination.

The reliability of the mounting brackets on the crankcase is affected

This assembly also imposes the removal of suspensions and therefore the engine if it is desired to disassemble a straightening blade 125.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the problems defined above. The present invention is intended to provide a simple solution, effective and inexpensive to these problems.

It is also desirable to provide a fastening assembly to overcome any connection between the flow straightening vanes and suspension hooks interposed between the propulsion assembly and the mast to carry it.

For this purpose, the invention proposes an attachment assembly of a suspension of an aircraft propulsion assembly intended to be suspended from a structural element of an aircraft, said propulsion assembly comprising a turbojet engine having a longitudinal axis, said attachment assembly comprising at least one suspension hooking cap to a casing of said remarkable propulsion unit in that the attachment cap is fixed to said casing by means adapted to form a connection between the attachment screed and the housing on the outer periphery of said housing.

With the present invention, it limits the risk of damage to the housing related to the crankcase mounting links with the attachment screeds, removing any mounting connection between the yoke and the housing within said housing. According to particular embodiments, the assembly may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken separately or in any technically possible combination:

said means are adapted to form a connection between the attachment screed and the casing along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the turbojet engine;

said means forming an axial connection along the longitudinal axis of the turbojet engine comprise:

at least one first eyelet intended to be secured to the attachment screed

at least one second eyelet intended to be secured to the outer periphery of the casing fastening means adapted to traverse said first and second eyelets along the longitudinal axis of the turbojet engine; said first eyelet is made in a fin attached to an ear of the yoke;

said second eyelet is made in a peripheral outer structure element of the casing intended to carry this eyelet;

said peripheral outer structure element of the casing is a connection flange, a stiffener or a dedicated structure

- The arrangement of the means forming an axial connection is identical on either side of each attachment screed or mounted in a quincunx;

the casing is a fan casing, an intermediate casing or an exhaust casing;

- Said peripheral outer structure member of the housing is formed on an outer shell of the intermediate casing.

The invention also proposes a propulsion unit comprising a rboreactant suspended from a structural element of an aircraft by means of a suspension comprising, in addition, an assembly for attaching said suspension to a crankcase. propulsion assembly as mentioned above.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a suspension of an aircraft propulsion system;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of suspension screeds mounted on a casing of the propulsion unit of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of the connection between an intermediate casing and a hanging bar of a suspension of the propulsion unit of FIG. 1 respectively of the prior art and according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the following description, by convention, X is called the longitudinal direction of the turbojet engine. On the other hand, Y is called the direction comparable to the transverse direction of the turbojet, and Z is the vertical or height direction, these three d irections X, Y and Z being orthogonal to each other.

On the other hand, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are to be considered with respect to a direction of advancement of the aircraft encountered following the thrust exerted by the turbojet engine.

Conventionally, an aircraft propulsion unit comprises a nacelle surrounding a turbojet engine, both of which have a main longitudinal axis.

As is known per se, the turbojet comprises a fan delivering an annular air flow with a primary flow that supplies the motor driving the fan and a secondary flow that is ejected into the atmosphere while providing a large fraction of the thrust of the aircraft.

The fan is contained in an outer casing which channels downstream the secondary flow, this flow passing through a wheel driven in rotation inside an intermediate intermediate housing to a median section of the nacelle. Such a casing is illustrated in FIG. 1 with the general reference 120.

As a reminder, the nacelle typically comprises an air inlet upstream structure, a median structure surrounding blades of the turbojet fan, and a downstream structure that can incorporate thrust reversal means.

This nacelle also comprises an internal structure comprising a fairing of the engine downstream of the blades of the fan and which defines, with the downstream structure, an annular air stream through which the secondary air flow is intended to circulate. , as opposed to the hot primary flow generated by the engine. The blower is rotatably mounted on a fixed hub which can be connected to the fan casing by a plurality of fixed arms which can transmit a part of the forces between the motor and its support. In this zone, there are flow straightening vanes, also called OGV (acronym for "Outlet Guide Vanes"), for straightening the secondary flow generated by the fan and possibly transmitting the forces to the fan casing.

The intermediate casing 120 is thus a structural element which comprises the hub, an annular outer shell 121 which supports the shell of the fan casing at its downstream end, any radial connecting arms which connect the hub to the outer shell 121 and OGVs .

Moreover, the vein of the secondary flow is delimited internally by a cylindrical envelope which surrounds the body of the engine and which extends from the hub of the intermediate casing 120 to an exhaust casing 30 located at the outlet of the turbine.

The turbojet of the propulsion unit is suspended from a structural element of the aircraft, under a wing for example, by means of a mast 10 which extends substantially in a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the turbojet engine. in the space between the engine body and the wing of the aircraft. However, the proposed invention can perfectly any other type of turbojet attachment, for example on the fuselage or empennage.

This mast 10 has a rigid structure, often of the "box" type, that is to say formed by the assembly of upper and lower spars and side panels connected to each other.

Suspension means 20 are provided to be interposed between the turbojet engine and the mast 10, in order to transmit the forces (forces and moments) between the turbojet engine and the aircraft.

These suspension means 20 which are all parts or bodies ensuring the attachment of the engine and the transmission of forces (forces and moments) between the engine and the mat 10, generally comprise at least one upstream engine attachment 21 between the outer shell 121 of the intermediate casing and the mast 20 and a downstream engine attachment 22 between the outer shell 31 of the exhaust casing 30 and the mast 20.

A thrust recovery or transmission device comprising two rods that can be interconnected by a spreader and mounted, for example, upstream of the fan casing and the downstream engine attachment can also be provided.

Each upstream engine attachment 21 ensures the transmission of a portion of the mechanical forces (forces and moments) in the three directions between the turbojet engine and the aircraft.

Each downstream motor attachment 22 is arranged to also provide part of the mechanical forces (forces and moments).

These engine fasteners 21, 22 can be made in any form known to those skilled in the art, such as, for example, that relating to the assembly of shackles and fittings intended to cooperate with a hinge system, of the connecting rod type. .

These are classic elements identical or similar to those encountered in the prior art, and known to those skilled in the art. Therefore, no detailed description will be given.

All of these engine fasteners 21, 22 is generally isostatic and provided with fail-safe systems in Anglo-Saxon terms ensuring the redundancy of the transmission of forces (force and moments). However, non-isostatic solutions as well as non-fail-safe solutions may exist.

These two types of fasteners 21, 22 are mounted on the turbojet engine by means of attachment screeds 100 fixed to the fan casing, the intermediate casing 120 and / or the exhaust casing 30.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, there is an attachment screed 100 intended to cooperate with the suspension means and more particularly with an upstream engine attachment adapted to be fixed to the outer shell 121 of the intermediate casing 120.

By taking an example of an engine attachment with a rod-type articulation system as illustrated in FIG. 1, each yoke 100 is adapted to fix the outer ring 121 at the lower ends of the yoke. suspension rods whose upper ends are mounted on a fitting 50 disposed in a plane transverse to the axis X of the engine.

According to the invention, each attachment screed 100 of the motor fasteners 20 is fixed on the circumference of the outer shell 121 of the casing 120 by means of the same for the foil and so on. fastener 100 and said housing 120 at the outer periphery of the shell 121.

In one embodiment, the link is a link along an axis parallel to the axis X of the turbojet engine.

In an alternative embodiment, the link is along an axis that is not parallel to the axis X of the turbojet engine.

Each attachment screed 100 may be described as follows.

Each yoke 100 comprises two parallel lugs 101 inclined relative to a plane YZ, and intended to cooperate with a constituent element of the suspension means.

At least one of these ears 101 is extended by a fin 102 projecting in a plane transverse to the corresponding ear 1 1 and in a non-limiting example directed substantially along the axis X.

In this fin 102 is provided at least one eyelet 103 adapted to receive fastening means 130 for securing the yoke 100 to the outer shell 121 of the intermediate casing 120.

The outer shell 121 of the intermediate casing 120 comprises, for its part, at least one structural element protruding outwardly at its periphery and preferably at least two structural elements placed respectively upstream and downstream of the yoke. hanging 100.

In a first variant embodiment, such a structural element may be a connecting flange 122 protruding outwardly around its periphery and, preferably, at least two connecting flanges 122 placed respectively upstream and downstream of the screed. hanging 100.

Each connecting flange 122 comprises a connection portion formed in a brid es extending to a radial direction, substantially in a plane YZ, in which is formed at least one eyelet 123 opposite an eyelet 103 of the attachment screed 100.

It should be noted that the connecting flanges 122 may be integrated in the housing 120, for example, by being formed in one piece or fastened by welding or riveting for example to this intermediate casing 120.

Each connecting flange 122 and each fin 102 of the yoke 100 are made integral by fastening means 130 adapted to pass through the eyelets 103,123 opposite each of the flange 122 and the fin 102, this parallel to the axis X of the turbojet or not.

These fastening means 130 may be any known means, for example of screw-nut type screwing means or any other element adapted to secure each flange 122 of the outer shell 120 with a fin 102 of the attachment screed 100.

It should be noted that the connecting flanges 122 may be formed of composite materials at the same time as the housing 120.

In other alternative embodiments, the structural element which extends outwardly to the periphery of the outer shell 121 of the intermediate casing 120 may be a stiffener or any dedicated structure, whatever their length, and intended to carry a carnation.

Anything that has been described with reference to the alternative embodiment of the connection flanges 1 22 can be applied to the other variants of the structural element.

As regards the fastening means 130, these can also act as positioning centering elements.

It should be noted that, preferably, as illustrated in Figure 3, the arrangement of the means forming an axial connection is identical on either side of each attachment cap 100.

In nonlimiting embodiments, the arrangement of the means forming an axial connection is symmetrical or mounted in anyone on either side of each attachment cap 100.

In the example of the staggered assembly, it is thus possible to provide two circumferential connection flanges on either side of the yokes suspension in which are provided orifices in qucaque for receiving the means for fixing the flanges with the fins of the corresponding yokes, in order to allow each of the yokes to cooperate with axial connection means offset on either side of this screed.

Furthermore, the outer shell 121 of the intermediate casing 120 is attached to the fan casing 140 at its upstream end, also thanks to peripheral annular coupling ducts 124, 141 placed respectively on the upstream end of the outer shell. 121 and on the downstream end of the fan casing 140.

Each connecting flange 124, 141 comprises a first flange-forming connecting portion extending along a radial direction and a second substantially cylindrical tubular connecting portion extending in the direction X of the turbojet, so that the section length of the connection flange is L-shaped.

However, other embodiments of the connection flanges can be proposed.

Each of the connecting flanges 124, 141 protruding outwardly at the periphery of the outer shroud 121 and the fan casing 140 are pressed against each other by suitable fastening means 150, parallel or not to the axis. X of the turbojet and adapted to pass through passages in each of the connecting flanges 124,141.

The connecting flange 124 of the outer ring 121 is thus connected by any known means, such as screwing means, to the connection flange 141 of the fan casing 140.

Moreover, whatever the embodiment, the different connection flanges 124, 141 may be associated with centering means for centering the intermediate casing 120 with respect to the fan casing 140. Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments of the device described above as examples, but it encompasses all possible variants.

Thus, the present invention can be applied to any casing on which are intended to be mounted attachment screeds 100 of suspension means of a propulsion unit on an aircraft structural element.

Thus the invention also applies to the attachment assemblies provided on the fan casing or the exhaust casing, for example.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate, with respect to the attachment assemblies of the prior art, a fastening assembly in which the means forming the axial connection between each attachment cap 100 and the casing 120 are formed, advantageously, outside the outer shell 120 of the housing on its periphery.

This eliminates any radial attachment means between the attachment screed 100 and the outer ring 121 of the intermediate casing 120 thus making it possible to overcome any connection between the flow-straightening vanes and the attachment screeds 100.

The out-of-plane stresses to which these mounting links are subjected are now taken up in the outer peripheral structure elements of the housing 120, such as the connecting flanges 122.

This reduces the risk of damage to the housing 120 of the delamination type of the composite material that can form the outer shell 120 of the intermediate casing.

Claims

1. A suspension assembly of an aircraft propulsion assembly intended to be suspended from a structural element of an aircraft, said propulsion assembly comprising a turbojet engine having a longitudinal axis, said attachment assembly comprising at least one suspension yoke (100) of the suspension to a casing (120) of said propulsion unit, characterized in that the attachment yoke (100) is fixed to the casing (120) by means suitable for forming a the ison between said latching screed (100) and said casing (120) at the outer periphery of said casing (120).

2. Assembly according to revendication 1 characterized in that said means are adapted to form a connection between said shackle

(100) and said housing (120) along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the turbojet engine.

3. Assembly according to revendication 1 characterized in that said means forming an axial connection along the longitudinal axis of the turbojet engine comprise:

at least one first eyelet (103) intended to be secured to the attachment screed (100)

at least one second eyelet (123) intended to be secured to the outer periphery of the casing (100)

- Fastening means (130) adapted to pass through said first and second eyelets along the longitudinal axis of the turbojet engine.

4. The assembly of claim 3 characterized in that said first eyelet (103) is formed in a fin (102) integral with an ear (101) of the attachment screed (100).

5. The assembly of claim 3 characterized in that said second eyelet (123) is formed in a peripheral outer structure element of the housing (120).

6. The assembly of claim 5 characterized in that the peripheral outer structure element is a connecting flange, a stiffener or a dedicated structure.

7. An assembly according to one of claims 2 to 6 characterized in that the arrangement of the means forming an axial connection is symmetrical on either side of each attachment screed (100) or mounted in a quincunx.

8. An assembly according to one of claims 2 to 7 characterized in that the housing is a fan casing (140) or an intermediate casing (120) or an exhaust casing.

9. Assembly according to one of claims 5 to 8 characterized in that the peripheral outer structure element is formed on an outer ring of the intermediate casing (120).

10. A propulsive assembly comprising a turret suspended from a structural element of an aircraft via a suspension comprising, furthermore, a fastening assembly of said suspension on a casing ( 120) of the propulsion unit according to one of claims 1 to 9.