Patent ID: 8342444

Claim:
An apparatus for mounting an aircraft engine to a wing of an aircraft, comprising: a torque box strut for supporting the aircraft engine; and a strut-to-wing mounting system for attaching the torque box strut to the wing of an aircraft, the strut-to-wing mounting system comprising: an aft mounting system for attaching the torque box strut to the wing, the aft mounting system comprising first and second active aft links for attaching the torque box strut to the wing during normal aircraft operation, first and second aft link catchers for attaching the torque box strut to the wing upon a failure of one of the first and second active aft links; and a forward mounting system for attaching the torque box strut to the wing, the forward mounting system comprising first and second active forward links for attaching the torque box strut to the wing during normal aircraft operation, and at least one forward link catcher for attaching the torque box strut to the wing upon a failure of one of the at least one active forward link, the forward link catcher positioned between the first and the second active forward links and oriented substantially perpendicular to the first and the second active forward links; and an active thrust puck for constraining thrust and side load forces during normal aircraft operation, and a catcher thrust puck for constraining thrust and side load forces upon a failure of the active thrust puck.