Jet Engine With Deflector

Abstract

A deflector for a jet engine. The deflector may prevent the jet engine from ingesting birds during a bird strike scenario. The deflector may include a series of ribs, spokes, or vanes that may vary in width and/or thickness from fore to aft, and/or may be curvilinear in one or more planes of view, and/or may serve double duty as inlet vanes for redirecting inlet air.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A jet engine with a retractable air inlet deflector having a forward end and an aft end, the forward end having a thickness in a radial direction that transitions from a thicker fore section to a thinner aft section. 
     
     
         2 . The jet engine of  claim 1  wherein the retractable air inlet deflector comprises a plurality of deflector members. 
     
     
         3 . The jet engine of  claim 1  wherein the jet engine comprises a cowling and the retractable air inlet deflector is retractable within the cowling. 
     
     
         4 . The jet engine of  claim 3  wherein the jet engine comprises a retractor to retract the retractable air inlet deflector within the cowling. 
     
     
         5 . The jet engine of  claim 2  wherein the jet engine comprises an alignment member configured to direct the plurality of deflector members into proper alignment upon deployment. 
     
     
         6 . The jet engine of  claim 4  wherein the retractor comprises a retractor motor. 
     
     
         7 . The jet engine of  claim 2  wherein each of the plurality of deflector members has an aft end and is pivotally connected at the aft end to an attachment member, the attachment member being configured to motivate the deflector members. 
     
     
         8 . The jet engine of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of deflector members comprise fore ends configured to interconnect with one another upon deployment. 
     
     
         9 . The jet engine of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of deflector members increase in width from fore to aft. 
     
     
         10 . The jet engine of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of deflector members are curvilinear in at least two planes of view. 
     
     
         11 . A jet engine comprising an air inlet deflector, the jet engine having an air inlet with an inner wall, the air inlet deflector comprising a portion positioned outboard of the inner wall that directs air inboard of the inner wall, the portion positioned outboard of the inner wall comprising an air inlet opening outboard of the inner wall, the air inlet opening having a directional side wall configured to redirect air from a direction substantially normal to the air inlet and outboard thereof to a direction with a radial component and inboard of the inner wall. 
     
     
         12 . The jet engine of  claim 11  wherein the air inlet deflector comprises a plurality of air inlet openings, the plurality of air inlet openings increasing in size from fore to aft. 
     
     
         13 . The jet engine of  claim 11  wherein the air inlet deflector comprises a vane member outboard of the inner wall that directs air inboard of the inner wall. 
     
     
         14 . The jet engine of  claim 11  wherein the directional side wall comprises a tapered configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The jet engine of  claim 11  wherein the air inlet deflector is molded as a unitary piece. 
     
     
         16 . A jet engine comprising a cowling and a retractable air inlet deflector, the air inlet deflector comprising a deflector member that increases in width from fore to aft and comprises a plurality of air inlet openings that increase in size from fore to aft, the deflector member being retractable within the cowling. 
     
     
         17 . The jet engine of  claim 16  wherein the deflector member comprises an airfoil-shaped cross section having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge being positioned outboard with respect to the trailing edge. 
     
     
         18 . The jet engine of  claim 16  wherein the deflector member is pivotally connected at an aft end to an attachment member, the attachment member being configured to motivate the deflector member. 
     
     
         19 . The jet engine of  claim 16  wherein the deflector member is curvilinear in at least two planes of view. 
     
     
         20 . The jet engine of  claim 16  wherein the deflector member comprises a forward end and an aft end, the forward end having a thickness in a radial direction that transitions from a thicker fore section to a thinner aft section.