INLET FLOW STRUCTURE FOR TURBOPROP ENGINE

• Main Authors: WONG, Yates, BOULDIN, Bruce Dan, MCCAGE, Raymond, RICE, Derek Anthony, BECAR, Joseph, JARDINE, Brian, SING, Kevin
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 29.06.2022
• Subjects: AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; AIRCRAFT; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSIONTRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; BLASTING; COMBUSTION ENGINES; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; COSMONAUTICS; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLYING SUITS; GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; LIGHTING; MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAMTURBINES; PARACHUTES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; STEAM ENGINES; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS

A turboprop engine system for an aircraft includes an engine, a propeller, and a gear train coupled to and configured to provide power from the engine to the propeller at a predetermined gear reduction. The engine system also includes a gearbox that houses at least part of the gear train. The gearbox includes a gearbox flow structure and an inlet flow structure that is removably attached to the gearbox. The inlet flow structure and the gearbox flow structure cooperate to define an inlet flow passage to the engine. The inlet flow passage has an upstream end and a downstream end that are cooperatively defined by the inlet flow structure and the gearbox flow structure. The upstream end is configured to receive an airstream that is directed along the inlet flow passage to the downstream end and toward the engine.