Patent ID: 8429890

Claim:
A retractable bird and debris deflector for an aircraft jet engine comprising an air intake duct with a central longitudinal axis and a forward opening for the receipt of air, said forward opening having a perimeter and said deflector comprising, in combination: (a) a plurality of elongate first support members disposed on the air intake duct of the engine in spaced relation to each other and having leading ends which extend from a perimeter of said forward opening, said first support members being mounted for movement to extend and retract said leading ends; and (b) a second support member, disposed at the forward opening and coupled to the leading ends of said first support members to retain said leading ends in spaced relation, said second support member being extendible in length and configured to hold the leading ends of the first support members sufficiently close together to cause said first support members to deflect at least one of a bird and debris, when in a first, deployed position, and to allow the leading ends of the first support members to maintain a spaced-apart relation along a line which approximately corresponds to the perimeter of the air duct when in a second, retracted position.