Bird strike prevention device for jet engine, and airplane incorporating the same

摘要

A bird strike prevention device for covering an air intake of a jet engine of an airplane includes a plurality of stays arranged to form a conical shape as a whole; and a joining portion configured to connect the plurality of stays to each other on an apex side of the conical shape. The plurality of stays is mounted on the jet engine near an outer edge of the air intake at a base of the conical shape. An axis of the conical shape coincides with a rotation axis of the jet engine. The number of the stays included in the plurality of stays is determined based on a minimum size of target birds to be prevented from striking the jet engine.

主权项

1. A bird strike prevention device for protecting an air intake of a jet engine of an airplane, the bird strike prevention device comprising:
a plurality of stays arranged to form substantially a multi-faceted conical shape; and a joining portion configured to connect the plurality of stays to each other on an apex side of substantially the multi-faceted conical shape, wherein the plurality of stays are mounted on the jet engine near an outer edge of the air intake at a base of substantially the conical shape, an axis of substantially the multi-faceted conical shape substantially coincides with a rotation axis of the jet engine, a number of the stays is 8 or less, the plurality of stays are metallic, between 6 and 20 feet in length, and each angled from the joining portion away from the rotation axis of the jet engine between 11.5 and 41 degrees the plurality of stays are configured to be deployed in front of the air intake in a first operation mode and retracted away from the air intake in a second operation mode the joining portion is composed of a plurality of catch portions, each catch portion being disposed on the apex side of each of the plurality of stays, the catch portions of adjacent stays are engaged with each other when in the first operation mode and disengaged when in the second operation mode, the catch portion includes a male catch piece and a female catch piece, and the male catch piece and the female catch piece are arranged on each stay so that the male catch piece of one stay engages with the female catch piece of an adjacent stay when the plurality of stays cover the air intake in the first operation mode.