Aircraft propulsion unit comprising at least one pressure relief device and aircraft having at least one such propulsion unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12583600-B2
Application number	US-202418581718-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2024
Priority date	Feb 22, 2023
Publication date	Mar 24, 2026
Grant date	Mar 24, 2026

Abstract

An aircraft propulsion unit comprising a motor, a system for supplying fuel to the motor, a fairing inside which the motor and at least part of the fuel supplying system are positioned, and at least one pressure relief device configured to establish communication between the inner and outer zones of the fairing when the pressure in the inner zone is greater than or equal to a given threshold or when a leak is detected. Also an aircraft comprising at least one such propulsion unit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . An aircraft propulsion unit comprising:
a motor, a fuel supplying system configured to supply fuel to the motor, a fairing that separates an inner zone and an outer zone, the motor and at least part of the fuel supplying system being positioned in the inner zone, and a pressure relief device configured to assume an inactivated state when the inner zone exhibits a pressure lower than a given threshold, in which the pressure relief device forms a leaktight barrier between the inner zone and the outer zone, and an activated state when the inner zone exhibits a pressure greater than or equal to the given threshold, in which the pressure relief device is configured to establish communication between the inner zone and the outer zone, wherein the pressure relief device comprises at least one opening passing through the fairing to establish communication between the inner zone and the outer zone and, for each of the at least one opening, at least one door configured to assume a closed position, corresponding to the inactivated state of the pressure relief device, in which the at least one door closes off the at least one opening, and an open position, corresponding to the activated state of the pressure relief device, in which the at least one door at least partially uncovers the at least one opening, wherein the fairing comprises a first lateral wall, a second lateral wall, and a trailing edge at which the first and second lateral walls meet, wherein the at least one opening of the pressure relief device is positioned in either the first lateral wall, the second lateral wall, or both, and wherein the at least one opening of the pressure relief device extends to the trailing edge, and wherein the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall form, in a transverse plane, an approximate V-shape, such that the trailing edge forms an end point of the approximate V-shape, and the trailing edge extends to a central part of the fairing.

2 . The aircraft propulsion unit according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure relief device comprises, for each of the at least one door, at least one articulation connecting the at least one door to a fixed part of the aircraft propulsion unit, and at least one locking/unlocking system configured to assume a locked state, in which the at least one locking/unlocking system keeps the at least one door in the closed position, and an unlocked state, in which the at least one locking/unlocking system allows the at least one door to move from the closed position to the open position.

3 . The aircraft propulsion unit according to claim 2 , wherein each of the at least one locking/unlocking system is configured to automatically move from the locked state to the unlocked state as soon as the pressure in the inner zone becomes greater than or equal to the given threshold.

4 . The aircraft propulsion unit according to claim 2 , wherein the pressure relief device comprises a controller configured to bring about a change in state of the at least one locking/unlocking system.

5 . The aircraft propulsion unit according to claim 4 , wherein the pressure relief device comprises, for each of the at least one door, at least one actuator connected to the at least one door and configured to bring about a change in position of the at least one door.

6 . The aircraft propulsion unit according to claim 2 , wherein the articulation is configured such that the at least one door is moved away from the fairing in a direction of the outer zone when the at least one door moves from the closed position to the open position, the at least one articulation having a pivot axis positioned approximately in a transverse plane at the front of the at least one door.

7 . The aircraft propulsion unit according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure relief device comprises, for each of the at least one door, at least one retaining means connecting the at least one door to a fixed part of the aircraft propulsion unit.

8 . The aircraft propulsion unit according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure relief device comprises at least one seal interposed between the fairing and each of the at least one door when the at least one door is in the closed position.

9 . The aircraft propulsion unit according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure relief device comprises a first door in the first lateral wall and a second door in the second lateral wall.

10 . As aircraft comprising:
at least one aircraft propulsion unit according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Airbus Sas
• Airbus Operations Sas

Inventors

• Czapla Lionel
• Pissavin Alexis

Classifications

• B64C1/14

  Windows; Doors; Hatch covers or access panels; Surrounding frame structures; Canopies; Windscreens {accessories therefor, e.g. pressure sensors, water deflectors, hinges, seals, handles, latches, windscreen wipers}(fairings movable in conjunction with undercarriage elements B64C25/16; bomb doors B64D1/06) · CPC title

• B64D37/32

  Safety measures not otherwise provided for, e.g. preventing explosive conditions · CPC title

• B64D37/24

  using gas pressure · CPC title

• B64C2001/009

  comprising decompression panels or valves for pressure equalisation in fuselages or floors · CPC title

• B64C1/1407

  Doors; surrounding frames · CPC title