Collapsible cover for engine inlet and method for covering engine inlet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12097972-B2
Application number	US-202217648971-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 26, 2022
Priority date	Jan 26, 2022
Publication date	Sep 24, 2024
Grant date	Sep 24, 2024

Abstract

An engine inlet cover and a method for covering an engine inlet are provided. A method for covering an engine inlet includes providing a collapsible cover comprising a connection pin defining an axis; a frame including interconnected arms; and a web. Further, the method includes storing the collapsible cover in a stowed configuration in which the arms are aligned. Also, the method includes rotating the arms from the stowed configuration to an operating configuration in which the arms are radially spaced about the axis, enclosing the frame in the operating configuration with the web to define an interior volume, and placing the cover over the engine inlet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for covering an engine having a nose cone and an engine inlet surrounded by an engine housing having an exterior side surface, the method comprising:
providing a collapsible cover comprising a connection pin defining an axis; a frame including interconnected arms; and a web;
storing the collapsible cover in a stowed configuration in which the arms are aligned and each arm has a maximum length extending perpendicular to the axis;
rotating the arms with respect to the axis from the stowed configuration to an operating configuration in which the arms are radially spaced about the axis, and in which each arm remains perpendicular to the axis;
enclosing the frame in the operating configuration with the web to define an interior volume;
placing the cover over the engine inlet, wherein the engine housing is received within the interior volume; and
fixing the frame to the exterior side surface of the engine housing, wherein the cover does not contact the nose cone.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frame further includes a first distal pin on a distal end of a first selected arm, and wherein fixing the frame to the exterior side surface of the engine housing comprises engaging the first distal pin with the exterior side surface of the engine housing.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
each arm includes a cylindrical section at a proximal end, wherein the cylindrical section is centered on the axis;
each arm includes a planar section connected to and extending away from the cylindrical section;
the interconnected arms include a first arm and a last arm;
for the first arm, the planar section is connected to the cylindrical section at a top axial end;
for the last arm, the planar section is connected to the cylindrical section at a bottom axial end opposite the top axial end; and
for each arm between the first arm and the last arm, the planar section is connected to the cylindrical section at a selected location between the top axial end and the bottom axial end.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein fixing the frame to the exterior side surface of the engine housing comprises fixing a distal end of a selected arm with the exterior side surface of the engine housing.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the exterior side surface is formed with a first opening and formed with a second opening on an opposite side of the engine housing, and wherein fixing the frame to the engine housing comprises engaging a first distal pin on a distal end of a first selected arm with the first opening and engaging a second distal pin on a distal end of a second selected arm with the second opening.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
removing the collapsible cover from the engine inlet;
loosening the web; and
rotating the arms about the axis from the operating configuration to the stowed configuration, wherein the arms remain perpendicular while rotating about the axis.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the web has a radially-extending slit, and wherein enclosing the frame in the operating configuration with the web to define an interior volume comprises drawing the web taut by closing the slit with a closure mechanism.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
each arm has a top edge, and wherein the top edges of the arms define a plane perpendicular to the axis in the operating configuration.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein each arm extends from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein each arm includes a planar section connected to a cylindrical section, wherein the planar section of each arm includes a face forming a plane parallel to the axis, wherein the cylindrical section is at the proximal end and is centered about the axis, and wherein, in the stowed configuration, the arms define a stack in which the planar sections of the arms are stacked on one another and are parallel such that the face of a first arm defines a first plane that is tangential to respective cylindrical section, and wherein all faces are parallel to one another and are non-coplanar.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein each arm has a top edge perpendicular to the respective face, and wherein the top edges of the arms define a plane perpendicular to the axis in the operating configuration.

11. A collapsible cover for an engine housing formed with an engine inlet to an engine having a nose cone, the cover comprising:
a connection pin defining an axis;
a frame including interconnected arms, wherein each arm extends from a proximal end to a distal end in a radially outward direction from the axis at an angle to the axis, wherein the proximal end of each arm receives or is integral with the connection pin, wherein each arm is rotatable about the axis between a stowed configuration of the frame, in which the arms are aligned, to an operating configuration in which the arms are radially spaced about the axis, and wherein each arm remains at the angle to the axis in the stowed configuration, in the operating configuration, and during rotation about the axis between the stowed configuration and the operating configuration; and
a web configured to enclose a top side of the frame in the operating configuration, wherein the collapsible cover forms a cup with an interior volume for receiving the engine housing;
wherein, in the operating configuration the cover is configured to mount to an exterior side surface of the engine housing and the cover does not contact the nose cone.

12. The collapsible cover of claim 11 , wherein the frame comprises a first distal pin mounted to the distal end of a first selected arm and a second distal pin mounted to the distal end of a second selected arm.

13. The collapsible cover of claim 11 , wherein each arm includes a planar section connected to a cylindrical section, wherein the cylindrical section is at the proximal end and is centered about the axis, wherein the cylindrical sections are stacked in an axial direction, and wherein, in the stowed configuration, the planar sections of the arms are stacked in a direction perpendicular to a radial plane defined by the axis and are parallel to one another.

14. The collapsible cover of claim 13 , wherein each arm includes a front face parallel to the radial plane defined by the axis, a back face parallel to the front face, and a top edge interconnecting the front face and the back face, and wherein the top edges of the arms define a top plane perpendicular to the axis in the operating configuration.

15. The collapsible cover of claim 11 , wherein:
each arm has a height in the direction of the axis;
two selected arms are configured to mount to the engine housing to anchor the collapsible cover to the engine housing when in the operating configuration; and
the height of each of the two arms is greater than the height of other arms.

16. The collapsible cover of claim 11 , wherein the at least one distal pin is contained entirely within the interior volume.

17. The collapsible cover of claim 14 , wherein the planar section of at least one arm includes a cut-out portion such that the top edge of the least one arm is distanced from the cylindrical section of the at least one arm in the axial direction.

18. A vehicle comprising:
an engine housing for an engine having a nose cone, wherein the engine housing defines an engine inlet;
an internal space; and
a collapsible cover for the engine inlet, the cover comprising:
a connection pin defining an axis;
a frame including interconnected arms, wherein each arm extends from a proximal end to a distal end in a radial direction forming a

Assignees

• Gulfstream Aerospace Corp

Inventors

• Martin Andrew
• Medin Kristin
• Bohanan Scott

Classifications

• F05D2230/60

  Assembly methods · CPC title

• F05D2220/323

  for aircraft propulsion, e.g. jet engines · CPC title

• F02C7/04 Primary

  Air intakes for gas-turbine plants or jet-propulsion plants · CPC title

• A45B2023/0081

  the support arm being rotatable about a horizontal axis for adjusting the position · CPC title

• F05D2260/02

  Transport and handling during maintenance and repair · CPC title