Nacelle inlet structures, engine assemblies and vehicles including the same, and related methods

US12085016B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Joseph Benjamin LaBelle · Mount Pleasant, US
• Richard D. Stokes Jr. · Ladson, US
• Kyle C. Advent · Carrollton, US
• John Yestrau · Ste. Anne, CA
• Adrian L. Stanescu · Irvine, US
• Dan Davis · Bothell, US
• Larry Schneider · Wadsworth, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 15, 2022
• Grant date: Sep 10, 2024
• Expiry date: May 10, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T50/60
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Nacelle inlet structures, engine assemblies and vehicles including the same, and related methods. A nacelle inlet structure of an engine assembly includes an inlet outer barrel and an inlet inner barrel with a tubular portion and an inlet attachment flange. The tubular portion of the inlet inner barrel extends at least partially along a direction parallel to the engine axis, while the inlet attachment flange extends from the tubular portion. The inlet attachment flange is integrally formed with at least a portion of the tubular portion of the inlet inner barrel. The inlet attachment flange is configured to be operatively coupled to an engine case of the engine assembly to operatively couple the nacelle inlet structure to the engine case. In examples, a method of manufacturing an inlet inner barrel includes forming a composite laminate with a composite manufacturing process.