Airbus files patent for trijet (picture)

According to flightglobal, Airbus has filed a patent application for a new commercial trijet, published by the US Patent and Trademark Office on 27 March. Patent No. 7,240,877 B2, already filed on July 13 2005, shows a new trijet design featuring a distinctive, noise-shielding tail structure that allows lowering the tail engine for easier maintenance.

ABSTRACT
A multi-engine aircraft having one engine positioned at the tail of the fuselage may include rear tail units in a vertical longitudinal plane-of-symmetry of the fuselage. The tail engine is disposed in front of the rear tail units on the upper part of the tail of the fuselage. The tail engine is mounted, in a detachable manner, on a rigid supporting structure attached to the supporting structure of the fuselage. A lowering shaft, formed in the tail of the fuselage and plumb with the engine, is supported by the rigid supporting structure. The lowering shaft provides a passage for the engine between a high position corresponding to the operational position of the engine and a low position in which the engine is removed from the fuselage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of former tri-jet aircraft such as the Lockheed L1011, and the McDonnell Douglas DC-10, or MD-11.

(…)

In particular, said opening formed in the lower part of the fuselage is obturated by a hatch, articulated on the structure of said fuselage and defining, when it is lowered, an access stairway to the inside of the fuselage. The opening of the hatch or its withdrawal from the fuselage if it is detachable then allows the lowering (or raising) of the tail engine via said shaft.

Cool stuff! 😎

Patent: http://patft.uspto.gov/…

Full article:
http://www.flightglobal.com/…/airbus-files-patent-for-new-trijet-design.html