Rohr, Inc.

Goodrich Corporation

Claude Marc Hubert

Michael John Layland

Song Chiou

Jia Yu

Michael R Aten

Lee A Tichenor

Ron Long

Galdemir Cezar Botura

Christian Soria

Hwa-Wan Kwan

Timothy Olson

Joseph Christopher Zecca

Daniel Paul Christy

Brian Burkett

David B Sweet

Keith Towers Brown

Charles Michael Biset

James Michael Roman

Basil Hammi

David Bert Sweet

Timothy Robert Olson

Brian Bobby Burkett

Michael Ray Aten

A nacelle may comprise a noise suppressing structure. The noise suppressing structure may comprise a plurality of noise suppressing cells situated between a perforated layer of material and a non-perforated layer of material. The plurality of noise suppressing cells may contact the perforated layer of material and the non-perforated layer of material at an acute angle (e.g., between twenty and seventy-five degrees) such that the plurality of noise suppressing cells are non-orthogonal to the perforated layer of material and the non-perforated layer of material. Further, each of the plurality of noise suppressing cells may comprise a hexagonal cross-sectional profile. Further still, the noise suppressing structure may comprise a support structure comprising a plurality of support members, wherein the plurality of noise suppressing cells are situated within the support structure.

Acoustic structural panel with slanted core

A panel for a nacelle structure that surrounds a jet engine core includes a longitudinally extending, generally semicircular center region, an upper bifurcation region, a lower bifurcation region, a hinge beam region extending from the upper bifurcation region and configured to receive an upper thrust reverser track guide, and a latch beam region extending from the lower bifurcation region and configured to receive a lower thrust reverser track guide. A bypass duct is formed in a space between the panel and the nacelle structure. A hinge beam structure and latch beam structure are integrally formed with the panel. An inner skin layer extends continuously across a bond panel surface generally facing the engine core and an outer skin layer extends continuously across a bond panel surface generally facing the bypass duct, the inner and outer skin layers extending across the center region, upper and lower bifurcation regions, hinge beam region, and latch beam region. The outer skin layer may have an acoustic treatment, such as being perforated in at least the center region and the upper and lower bifurcation regions. In this way, a separate hinge beam and latch beam are not used, and therefore there is no need to couple the panel to the respective beams.

Thrust reverser-integrated track beam and inner fixed structure

A multi-segment tool and tooling system for vacuum forming a composite part. A tool can include a first tool having first and second surfaces. A second tool can have an opening positioned on a first tool in a location other than the first surface or the second surface. The first tool and second tool can receive at least a portion of a preform composite. The first tool can have a vacuum barrier attached to the first surface and to the second surface encapsulating the preform composite and the second tool. A tooling system can include a first tool having a core and a base with a core extending upwards from the base. A second tool can be positioned upon the core where the core extends above the second tool. A vacuum barrier sealed to the base and the core can include a composite, the first tool and the second tool.

Multi-segment tool and method for composite formation

An inner fixed structure of a thrust reverser includes an inner skin, an outer skin, a cellular core disposed between the inner skin and the outer skin, and at least one crack and delamination stopper extending radially between the inner skin and the outer skin.

Reinforcement members for aircraft propulsion system components configured to address delamination of the inner fixed structure

An electric heater () for integration into an acoustic panel () having sound-penetrating pores () communicating with a sound-canceling medium. The heater () includes an electrically conductive layer () with resistance-setting apertures () filled with sealant (). Openings (), which contribute to the sound-penetrating pores (), extend through the sealant-filled apertures (). The acoustic panel () can be assimilated into an aircraft component, such as a nacelle inlet lip, which requires both noise-reducing and ice-protecting features.

Electric heater for integration into an aircraft acoustic panel

A linear acoustic liner for an aircraft includes a cellular core having a first surface and an opposed second surface. A substantially imperforate back skin covers the first surface, and a perforate face skin covers the second surface of the core. The perforate face skin includes an outer face skin layer having a first plurality of spaced openings, an inner face skin layer having a second plurality of spaced openings, and a porous layer disposed between the outer face skin layer and the inner face skin layer. Each of the first plurality of spaced openings are substantially aligned with one of the second plurality of spaced openings.

Linear acoustic liner

An engine nacelle inlet lip includes both acoustic treatment and electric heating for ice protection. The inlet lip has a composite outer skin and a composite inner skin, with the composite outer skin having at least one integrated heater element embedded in the composite material. An acoustic cellular core positioned between the outer and inner skin acts to attenuate fan noise from the engine. Covering the outer skin and overlying the acoustic core is a perforated erosion shield having a first set of openings that pass entirely thorough its thickness. The composite outer skin includes a second set of openings such that sound waves can pass from an inner barrel portion of the inlet lip through the erosion shield, outer skin, and heater element to the underlying acoustic cellular core.

Acoustic nacelle inlet lip having composite construction and an integral electric ice protection heater disposed therein

An aircraft component includes a first segment having a first leading edge surface that extends to a first end of the first segment. The aircraft component also includes a second segment having a second leading edge surface that extends to a second end of the second segment. The second end is substantially adjacent to the first end of the first segment, and is connected to the first end. The first leading edge surface includes electrical resistance heating that extends to the first end of the first segment. In addition, the second leading edge surface includes electrical resistance heating that extends to the second end of the second segment. The electrical resistance heating is capable of providing ice protection heating immediately on either side of a juncture between the connected first and second ends.

Ice protection system for a multi-segment aircraft component

An acoustic inner barrel for an aircraft engine nacelle inlet is constructed from a composite material and is formed as a single, 360-degree annular segment. The barrel includes an inner skin, an outer skin, a cellular core disposed between the inner skin and the outer skin, and at least one crack and delamination stopper extending radially from the inner skin to the outer skin.

Acoustic barrel for aircraft engine nacelle including crack and delamination stoppers

The invention includes a composite ice protection heater for an aircraft. The composite heater includes at least one electrically insulating layer, and at least one electric heater element comprising an electrically conductive layer bonded to the insulating layer. The conductive layer may include a pre-impregnated woven fabric that includes a plurality of threads that include an electrically conductive material, such as carbon or graphite fibers. The composite heater can be incorporated into a composite surface structure of an aircraft. The conductive layer and insulating layer may include a plurality of spaced openings through the layers that cooperate with an underlying open-cell matrix to attenuate noise at the associated surface of an aircraft. A desired electrical resistance of the conductive layer may be obtained by introducing a plurality of discontinuities in the layer, such as spaced holes or slits.

Composite ice protection heater and method of producing same

A structural element for use in aerospace applications such as a structural element suitable as an aircraft component is described. In one embodiment of the invention, the composite structure comprises: (a) at least one member having an inner surface and an outer surface; (b) a rib having a first end and a second end; (c) a rib-receiving member integral to the inner surface of the at least one member, wherein the rib-receiving member comprises a plurality of rib-receiving elements and openings therein for receiving the first end of the rib and at least one cover sheet having an opening therein for receiving the first end of the rib; and (d) at least one anchoring element interconnecting the rib-receiving elements. In another embodiment of the invention, the composite structure comprises: (a) at least one member having an inner surface and an outer surface; (b) a rib having a first end and a second end; and (c) a rib-receiving member integral to the inner surface of the at least one member, wherein the rib-receiving member comprises a rib-receiving sleeve having an open end for receiving the rib and a closed end, and two sleeve support members, wherein the sleeve support members are disposed on opposite sides of the sleeve and interconnect the sleeve to the inner face of the at least one member.

Growing community of inventors

Riverside, CA, United States of America

Claude Marc Hubert