The Boeing Company

Jack H Caldwell

Claude R Stachowiak

William J Hirt

Ira B Rushwald

Henry A Kumasaka

Peter Llewellyn

A compressor bleed air passageway includes a duct having an upstream section (48) which terminates in a baffle (44) and a downstream duct section (54) having a forward portion (56) which surrounds the baffle (44). Bleed air flow through openings (58) in the baffle wall (52). This reduces velocity of the bleed air stream at the duct discharge port to a value equal to or less than Mach 1.0. The baffle (44) has virtually no effect on a low-velocity, low-pressure air stream. The downstream duct section (54) may be perforated and surrounded by outer wall (64) to form sound-absorbing chambers (66).

Jet engine noise suppressor

Flanges (12, 14) attached to duct sections mate to form a ribbed portion around the circumference of the ducts. A plurality of U-channel shaped sections (50, 52, 54) are placed over the ribbed portion with a band (40) holding the sections in place, thereby securing the coupling. Each U-channel section is formed of parallel side sections (20, 22) secured to a segment via shearable fasteners (26). A sufficient bending load to the ducts causes shearing of the fasteners thereby releasing the duct coupling.

Breakaway duct coupling

A flexible, fluid-tight seal assembly for sealing the gap between a duct and a wall where the duct passes through an opening in the wall. The seal assembly includes an annular housing affixed to and centered on the opening in the wall. The housing includes a circular recess opening inwardly toward the duct. Contained in the recess is a carrier ring supporting a set of three O-rings set into cooperable O-ring grooves in the carrier ring. One O-ring groove opens inwardly toward the duct such that the associated O-ring snugly encircles the duct so as to provide a seal between the duct and the carrier ring. The other two O-rings are set into grooves which face in opposite directions such that the two O-rings snugly abut the walls of the recess to provide a seal between the carrier ring and the housing. The carrier ring is movable laterally in the recess of the housing so as to permit lateral movement of the duct with respect to the wall. Also, the O-ring sealed between the carrier ring and the duct permits the duct to undergo axial motion with respect to the carrier ring and the wall. Together, the three O-rings also permit the duct to undergo limited rotational motion about axes of rotation lying in the plane of the wall opening and extending transversely with respect to the duct. The seal assembly provides an effective gas- and liquid-tight seal between the duct and the wall and may be particularly adapted to accommodate a hot air duct in an airplane.

Growing community of inventors

Kent, WA, United States of America

Jack H Caldwell