US 12,441,478 B2
Air inlet bulkhead assembly for an aircraft propulsion system
Johann Schrell, San Diego, CA (US); and Brian A. Sherman, Chula Vista, CA (US)
Assigned to Rohr, Inc., Chula Vista, CA (US)
Filed by Rohr, Inc., Chula Vista, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/102,508.
Prior Publication US 2024/0253801 A1, Aug. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. B64D 33/02 (2006.01); F02C 7/05 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 33/02 (2013.01) [F02C 7/05 (2013.01); B64D 2033/022 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An air inlet for an aircraft propulsion system nacelle, the air inlet comprising:
an outer skin extending circumferentially about an axial centerline of the air inlet;
an inner skin extending circumferentially about the axial centerline, the inner skin disposed radially inward of the outer skin, the inner skin radially spaced from the outer skin to form a cavity between the outer skin and the inner skin;
a lip skin extending circumferentially about the axial centerline, wherein the lip skin extends between and to an outer end and an inner end, the outer end is disposed at the outer skin, the inner end is disposed at the inner skin, and the lip skin forms a leading edge of the air inlet, the lip skin forming an axially-forward portion of the cavity; and
a forward bulkhead extending circumferentially about the axial centerline, the forward bulkhead subdividing the cavity to form a duct at the lip skin, wherein the forward bulkhead includes a first bulkhead portion and a second bulkhead portion, the first bulkhead portion extends between and to a first outer end and a first inner end, the second bulkhead portion extends between and to a second outer end and a second inner end, the first bulkhead portion and the second bulkhead portion are mounted to the outer skin at the first outer end and the second outer end, respectively, the first bulkhead portion and the second bulkhead portion are mounted to the inner skin at the first inner end and the second inner end, respectively, a side of the first bulkhead portion extending from the first outer end to the first inner end is fixedly attached to a side of the second bulkhead portion extending from the second outer end to the second inner end, and the first bulkhead portion includes a rigid body material and the second bulkhead portion includes a flexible body material and one or more stitches configured to attach the flexible body material in a first configuration;
wherein the one or more stitches are configured to break in a second configuration.