IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,556,701
Granted Patent B2
US 10,556,701 · App. 15/488,279 · Granted Feb 11, 2020

Bird-strike energy absorbing net

Inventor: Johann Steven Schrell (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
B64D29/00B64D33/02B64D45/00B64D2033/022B64D2045/0095
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,556,701
App. No.
15/488,279
Granted
Feb 11, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An energy absorbing arrangement may comprise an inner barrel comprising a centerline axis, an outer barrel, a webbing extending between the outer barrel and the inner barrel and configured to be offset from a nose lip by a distance, the webbing being folded together to form a plurality of folds, the plurality of folds being stitched together via a plurality of stitches, wherein the webbing is configured to absorb energy from an object in response to the object passing through the nose lip and applying a force to the webbing.

Claims (38)

1. An energy absorbing arrangement of an aircraft nacelle inlet, comprising:

an inner barrel comprising a centerline axis;

an outer barrel;

a nose lip extending between the inner barrel and the outer barrel; and

a webbing disposed aft of the nose lip, the webbing extending between the outer barrel and the inner barrel and configured to be offset from the nose lip by a distance, the webbing being folded together to form a plurality of folds, the plurality of folds being stitched together via a plurality of stitches,

wherein the webbing is configured to absorb energy from an object and arrest the object in response to the object passing through the nose lip and applying a force to the webbing, and

at least one stitch of the plurality of stitches is configured to break, and at least one fold of the plurality of folds is configured to unfold, in response to the force being applied to the webbing.

2. The energy absorbing arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising:

a forward bulkhead extending between the inner barrel and the outer barrel; and

an aft bulkhead extending between the inner barrel and the outer barrel.

3. The energy absorbing arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the force comprises a tensile force.

4. The energy absorbing arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the distance is greater than 1 centimeter (0.39 inches).

5. The energy absorbing arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the webbing is configured to arrest the object in response to the object engaging the webbing.

6. The energy absorbing arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the webbing comprises a reinforcement zone at an end of the webbing whereby the webbing is fastened to the outer barrel.

7. The energy absorbing arrangement of claim 6 , wherein the webbing comprises an additional reinforcement zone at another end of the webbing whereby the webbing is fastened to the inner barrel.

8. A nacelle for an aircraft, comprising:

an inlet disposed forward of a fan case, comprising:

an inner barrel comprising a centerline axis;

an outer barrel; and

a nose lip extending between the inner barrel and the outer barrel; and

an energy absorbing arrangement comprising:

a webbing extending between the outer barrel and the inner barrel and offset from the nose lip by a distance, the webbing being folded together to form a plurality of folds, the plurality of folds being stitched together via a plurality of stitches,

wherein the webbing is configured to absorb energy from an object and arrest the object in response to the object applying a force to the webbing, and

at least one stitch of the plurality of stitches is configured to break, and at least one fold of the plurality of folds is configured to unfold, in response to the force being applied to the webbing.

9. The nacelle of claim 8 , further comprising:

a forward bulkhead extending between the inner barrel and the outer barrel; and

an aft bulkhead extending between the inner barrel and the outer barrel.

10. The nacelle of claim 8 , wherein the force comprises a tensile force.

11. The nacelle of claim 8 , wherein the webbing is configured to arrest the object in response to the object engaging the webbing.

12. The nacelle of claim 11 , wherein the webbing comprises a reinforcement zone at an end of the webbing whereby the webbing is fastened to at least one of the outer barrel and the inner barrel.

13. An energy absorbing arrangement of an aircraft, comprising:

an arrester disposed aft of a leading edge of a nacelle inlet, the arrester comprising an annular geometry;

a first plurality of webbings coupled between the arrester and an inner barrel of the nacelle inlet; and

a second plurality of webbings coupled between the arrester and an outer barrel of the nacelle inlet,

wherein at least one of the first plurality of webbings and the second plurality of webbings comprise a plurality of folds stitched together, at least one of the first plurality of webbings and the second plurality of webbings configured to gradually absorb energy from an object in response to the object engaging the arrester and the arrester configured to stop the object.

14. The energy absorbing arrangement of claim 13 , wherein a plurality of stitches are configured to break in response to the energy being gradually absorbed.

15. The energy absorbing arrangement of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first plurality of webbings and the second plurality of webbings comprises at least one of nylon, aramid, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, and polyester.

16. The energy absorbing arrangement of claim 13 , wherein the arrester comprises at least one of a fabric net, a metal panel, and a composite panel.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2017
From: SCHRELL, JOHANN STEVEN
To: ROHR, INC.
Reel/Frame 042017/0532 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180297713A1 · Oct 18, 2018
Cited By (2)
US 12,384,548 US 12,441,478