The Boeing Company

Jason Franklin Joel

Daniel G Sanders

Jack William Mauldin

Larry Dean Hefti

Max Robert Runyan

John Michael Comfort

Robert Darel Morrow

Joseph Benjamin LaBelle

Brent C Ludwig

Max R Runyan

Larry D Hefti

An engine nacelle inlet is provided. The inlet comprises an inner barrel having a leading edge and a trailing edge. A segmented attach flange is connected to an outer circumference of the trailing edge of the inner barrel, wherein the segmented attach flange comprises a number of discrete attach flange fittings. An outer barrel having a leading edge and a trailing edge surrounds the inner barrel. A number of attachment brackets connect the outer barrel to the segmented attach flange. Each attachment bracket comprises two struts connected at a common point on the trailing edge of the outer barrel and connected at separate points on one of the attach flange fittings to form a truss. Each attachment bracket is connected to a separate respective attach flange fitting.

Inlet outer barrel segmented attach flange

Systems and methods are provided for an aircraft propulsor with a fan cowl with one or more tangential restraints. The tangential restraints may be configured to enter respective tangential receiving portions of a fixed portion of the aircraft propulsor. The fan cowl may receive a load that may include a bending load. The tangential restraints may be configured to convert the bending load to membrane tension and thus decrease deflection of the fan cowl. The fan cowl may be a translating sleeve used for a reverse thrust.

Nacelle with tangential restraint

Systems and methods are provided for an aircraft propulsor with a fan cowl with one or more tangential restraints. The tangential restraints may be configured to contact one or more tangential receiving portions of a fixed portion of the aircraft propulsor. The fan cowl may receive a load that may include a bending load. The tangential restraints may be configured to convert the bending load to membrane tension and thus decrease deflection of the fan cowl.

Nacelle cowl tangential restraint

An engine nacelle comprised of a top portion with hinges and a composite fan cowl pivotally connected to the top portion by the hinges. The composite fan cowl comprises a core with a hinge zone having a first thickness and a body zone having a second thickness. The hinge zone includes the hinges. The body zone is distal from the hinge zone, and the first thickness is less than the second thickness.

Composite fan cowl with a core having tailored thickness

A hybrid structure comprises a metallic built-up sandwich structure, and a monolithic superplastic formed and diffusion bonded structure joined to the built-up sandwich structure.

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Huntington Beach, CA, United States of America

Jason Franklin Joel