US 12,085,016 B2
Nacelle inlet structures, engine assemblies and vehicles including the same, and related methods
Joseph B. LaBelle, Mount Pleasant, SC (US); Richard D. Stokes Jr., Ladson, SC (US); Kyle C. Advent, Carrollton, GA (US); John Yestrau, Winnipeg (CA); Adrian Stanescu, Maple Valley, WA (US); Dan Davis, Bothell, WA (US); and Larry Schneider, Jr., Charleston, SC (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Apr. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/721,665.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/183,754, filed on May 4, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0356839 A1, Nov. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. F01D 25/24 (2006.01); F02C 7/04 (2006.01); F02C 7/045 (2006.01)
CPC F02C 7/045 (2013.01) [F01D 25/243 (2013.01); F02C 7/04 (2013.01); F05D 2220/323 (2013.01); F05D 2230/23 (2013.01); F05D 2240/14 (2013.01); F05D 2260/96 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A nacelle inlet structure of an engine assembly, the nacelle inlet structure comprising:
an inlet inner barrel extending circumferentially around an engine axis of the engine assembly and extending at least partially along a direction parallel to the engine axis;
an inlet outer barrel at least substantially enclosing the inlet inner barrel and extending circumferentially around the engine axis and at least partially along a direction parallel to the engine axis;
an aft bulkhead extending between and operatively coupled to each of the inlet inner barrel and the inlet outer barrel; and
an annular load absorber that is operatively coupled to each of the aft bulkhead and the inlet inner barrel; wherein the aft bulkhead is operatively coupled to the inlet inner barrel via the annular load absorber; and wherein the annular load absorber has a U-shaped cross-section, wherein the U-shaped cross-section is open toward the inlet outer barrel;
wherein the inlet inner barrel includes:
a tubular portion that extends at least partially along a direction parallel to the engine axis, wherein the annular load absorber is spaced-away from the tubular portion; and
an inlet attachment flange extending from the tubular portion and configured to be operatively coupled to an engine case of the engine assembly to operatively couple the nacelle inlet structure to the engine case, wherein the annular load absorber is coupled to the inlet attachment flange; and
wherein the inlet attachment flange is integrally formed with at least a portion of the tubular portion.