Adjustable mount for engine accessory

{
  "publication_number": "US11486271B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Adjustable mount for engine accessory",
  "abstract": "An adjustable mount for an aircraft engine accessory. A first bracket adapted to be coupled to the engine accessory has a first bore with a first annular bushing with a threaded radially inner surface extending through the first bore. A second bracket operatively coupled to the engine at mounting location has a second bore with a second annular bushing with a threaded radially inner surface extending through the second bore. A threaded stud extends axially through the first and second bushings and is engaged with their threaded inner surfaces. Rotation of the first and/or second bushings varies the relative axial positions of the first and second bushings on the stud, thereby adjusting an axial gap between first and second brackets. First and second nuts fastened to first and second ends of the threaded stud axially retain the mount together with the axial gap between the first and second brackets fixed.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An adjustable mount for mounting an engine accessory to an aircraft engine at a mounting location thereon, the mount comprising: a first bracket adapted to be coupled to the engine accessory, the first bracket having a first bore disposed therethrough with a first annular bushing extending axially through the first bore, the first annular bushing having a radially outer surface rotatable within the first bore and a threaded radially inner surface; a second bracket operatively coupled to the engine at the mounting location, the second bracket having a second bore disposed therethrough with a second annular bushing extending through the second bore, the second annular bushing having a radially outer surface rotatable within the second bore and a threaded radially inner surface; a threaded stud extending axially through the first annular bushing and the second annular bushing, the threaded stud threadably engaged with the threaded radially inner surfaces of the first and second annular bushings, wherein rotation of the first annular bushing and/or the second annular bushing varies the relative axial positions of the first and second bushings on the threaded stud, and thereby adjusts an axial gap between the first and second brackets; and a first nut fastened to a first end of the threaded stud axially outward of the first bracket and a second nut fastened to a second end of the threaded stud axially outward of the second bracket, the first and second nuts axially retaining the adjustable mount together with the axial gap between the first and second brackets fixed.",
    "2. The adjustable mount as defined in claim 1, wherein the first bracket includes a spherical bearing disposed about the bore in the first bracket such that the threaded stud extending axially through the first annular bushing is articulable relative to the spherical bearing.",
    "3. The adjustable mount as defined in claim 1, wherein the adjustable mount is operable to restrict movement of the engine accessory in three degrees of freedom.",
    "4. The adjustable mount as defined in claim 1, wherein the first bracket is integrally formed with the engine accessory.",
    "5. The adjustable mount as defined in claim 1, wherein the second bracket is removably fastened to the engine at the mounting location.",
    "6. The adjustable mount as defined in claim 1, wherein the threaded stud is fully threaded along its length.",
    "7. The adjustable mount as defined in claim 1, wherein the first annular bushing and the second annular bushing each include one or more seats along an outer circumference thereof.",
    "8. A mounting system for mounting an engine accessory to an aircraft engine, comprising: a plurality of mounts coupling the engine accessory to respective mounting locations on the aircraft engine, at least one of the mounts including: a first bracket adapted to be coupled to the engine accessory, the first bracket having a first bore disposed therethrough with a first annular bushing extending axially through the first bore, the first annular bushing having a radially outer surface rotatable within the first bore and a threaded radially inner surface; a second bracket operatively coupled to the engine at a respective mounting location, the second bracket having a second bore disposed therethrough with a second annular bushing extending through the second bore, the second annular bushing having a radially outer surface rotatable within the second bore and a threaded radially inner surface; a threaded stud extending axially through the first annular bushing and the second annular bushing, the threaded stud threadably engaged with the threaded radially inner surfaces of the first and second annular bushings, wherein rotation of the first annular bushing and/or the second annular bushing varies the relative axial positions of the first and second bushings on the threaded stud, and therefore adjusts an axial gap between the first and second brackets; and a first nut fastened to a first end of the threaded stud axially outward of the first bracket and a second nut fastened to a second end of the threaded stud axially outward of the second bracket, the first and second nuts axially retaining the adjustable mount together.",
    "9. The mounting system as defined in claim 8, wherein the first bracket includes a spherical bearing disposed about the bore in the first bracket such that the threaded stud extending axially through the first annular bushing is articulable relative to the spherical bearing.",
    "10. The mounting system as defined in claim 8, wherein the at least one of the mounts is operable to restrict movement of the engine accessory in three degrees of freedom.",
    "11. The mounting system as defined in claim 8, wherein the first bracket is integrally formed with the engine accessory.",
    "12. The mounting system as defined in claim 8, wherein the second bracket is removably fastenable to the engine at the respective mounting location.",
    "13. The mounting system as defined in claim 8, wherein the threaded stud is fully threaded along its length.",
    "14. The mounting system as defined in claim 8, wherein the first annular bushing and the second annular bushing each include one or more seats along an outer circumference thereof.",
    "15. An adjustable mount for mounting an engine accessory to an aircraft engine at a mounting location thereon, the mount comprising: a first bracket adapted to be coupled to the engine accessory, the first bracket having a first bore disposed therethrough with a first annular bushing extending axially through the first bore, the first annular bushing having a radially outer surface rotatable within the first bore and a threaded radially inner surface; a second bracket operatively coupled to the engine at the mounting location, the second bracket having a second bore disposed at least partially therethrough; a threaded stud extending axially through the first annular bushing and the second bore, a first end of the threaded stud threadably engaged with the threaded radially inner surface of the first annular bushing and a second end of the threaded stud operatively coupled to the second bore, wherein rotation of the first annular bushing varies the relative axial position of the first bushing on the threaded stud, and thereby adjusts an axial gap between the first and second brackets; and a first nut fastened to the first end of the threaded stud axially outward of the first bracket, the first nut axially retaining the adjustable mount together with the axial gap between the first and second brackets fixed.",
    "16. The adjustable mount as defined in claim 15, wherein the second end of the threaded stud is rotatably received by corresponding threads in the second bore.",
    "17. The adjustable mount as defined in claim 15, wherein the first bracket is integrally formed with the engine accessory.",
    "18. The adjustable mount as defined in claim 15, wherein the second bracket is removably fastened to the engine at the mounting location.",
    "19. The adjustable mount as defined in claim 15, wherein the first bracket is integrally formed with the engine accessory.",
    "20. The adjustable mount as defined in claim 15, wherein the threaded stud is fully threaded along its length."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The disclosure relates generally to aircraft engines and, more particularly, to mounting brackets for aircraft engines.\n\nMounting brackets may be used to mount accessories to aircraft engines. Large and relatively heavy components, such as oil tanks, may require three mounting brackets positioned at three different mounting locations or attachment points. A typical mounting arrangement is known as a ‘3-2-1’ arrangement, whereby the first attachment point provides constraint in three orthogonal directions, the second attachment point provides constraint in two orthogonal directions, and the third attachment point provides constraint in one orthogonal direction. This arrangement may reduce stresses caused by stack-up or mismatches during assembly and thermal expansion during operation, as well as other loads operational such as static, dynamic, inertial, and pressure-based loads. However, in certain situations it may also result in unsatisfactory dynamic behavior of the mounted accessory, for instance providing reduced stiffness that may lead to unwanted vibrations during operation. While adding constraints to one or more of the attachment points may increase the stiffness, the added constraint(s) may cause issues related to thermal expansion and stack-up after assembly. As such, improvements are desired.",
  "cpc": [
    "F01D 25/28",
    "F02C 7/32",
    "F05D 2220/32",
    "F05D 2230/60",
    "F05D 2230/64",
    "F05D 2260/30",
    "F05D 2260/31",
    "F16B 5/0233"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F01D 25/28",
    "F16B 5/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "GAJOWNICZEK KRZYSZTOF"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-10-15",
  "publication_date": "2022-11-01",
  "grant_date": "2022-11-01",
  "priority_date": "2021-10-15",
  "application_number": "US-202117502763-A",
  "family_id": "83809614",
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}