General Electric Company

Lawrence Chih-hui Cheung

Nikolai N Pastouchenko

Brandon Wayne Miller

Daniel Alan Niergarth

Randy M Vondrell

Kishore Ramakrishnan

Patrick Michael Marrinan

Trevor Howard Wood

Umesh Paliath

Hongbin Ju

A propulsion system for an aircraft having an aft end is provided herein. The propulsion system can include an electric propulsion engine defining a central axis. The electric propulsion engine can include an electric motor, a fan rotatable about the central axis of the electric propulsion engine by the electric motor, a bearing supporting rotation of the fan, and a thermal management system. The thermal management system can include a lubrication oil circulation assembly for providing the bearing with lubrication oil. The lubrication oil circulation assembly can be driven independently of a shaft of the electric propulsion engine.

Propulsion engine for an aircraft

An aircraft includes a fuselage extending between a forward end and an aft end; a propulsor mounted to the fuselage at the aft end of the fuselage, the propulsor comprising an outer nacelle, the outer nacelle defining an inlet to the propulsor; and a deployable assembly attached to at least one of the fuselage or the outer nacelle and moveable between a stowed position and an engaged position. The deployable assembly alters an airflow towards the propulsor or into the propulsor through the inlet defined by the outer nacelle when in the engaged position. The propulsor further comprises a tail cone, wherein the outer nacelle defines an exhaust with the tail cone, and wherein the plurality of nacelle panels are movable generally along the axial centerline to a position at least partially aft of the exhaust of the outer nacelle when in the engaged position.

Deployable assembly for a propulsor

A propulsion system for an aircraft includes an electric propulsion engine configured to be mounted at an aft end of the aircraft. The electric propulsion engine includes an electric motor and a fan rotatable about a central axis, the fan driven by the electric motor. The electric propulsion system additionally includes a cooling system operable with an airflow over the aft end the aircraft when the electric propulsion system is mounted to the aircraft. The cooling system is configured to cool the electric motor during operation of the electric propulsion engine.

Thermal management system for an electric propulsion engine

The present disclosure is directed to a fan section mounted to an aircraft tail section. The fan section defines a radial direction, an axial direction and a circumferential direction. The fan section includes a shaft extending generally along a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of fan blades rotatable with the shaft about the longitudinal axis. Each fan blade defines an outer end along the radial direction. One or more of the plurality of fan blades translates a respective outer end from a first radial position to a second radial position.

Translating fan blades for an aircraft tail mounted fan assembly

A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a gas turbine engine and an electric propulsion engine defining a central axis. The electric propulsion engine includes an electric motor and a fan rotatable about the central axis of the electric propulsion engine by the electric motor. The electric propulsion engine additionally includes a bearing supporting rotation of the fan and a thermal management system including a thermal fluid circulation assembly. The thermal fluid circulation assembly is in thermal communication with at least one of the electric motor or the bearing and is further in thermal communication with a heat exchanger of a thermal management system of the gas turbine engine.

The present disclosure is directed to a fan section positioned on a tail section of an aircraft, in which the fan section defines a circumferential direction, a radial direction, and an axial direction. The fan section includes a fan and a nacelle. The fan includes a plurality of fan blades and a fan shaft, in which the plurality of fan blades are rotatable with the shaft. The nacelle includes a wall at least partially enclosing the fan. The wall includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion translates relative to the second portion between a first, closed position in which the wall of the nacelle circumferentially encloses the fan and a second, open position in which at least a portion of the fan is unenclosed by the wall of the nacelle.

Translating nacelle wall for an aircraft tail mounted fan section

Noise attenuation structures, such as acoustic liners for gas turbine engines, are provided. For example, an acoustic liner comprises a face sheet, a backing sheet spaced apart from the face sheet, and a plurality of cavities defined between the face and backing sheets. The cavities are defined by cavity walls. A plurality of backing sheet walls extends from the backing sheet toward the face sheet. The backing sheet walls extend adjacent the cavity walls, and the backing sheet is movable with respect to the face sheet such that the cavities have a variable depth. Other embodiments of noise attenuation structures also are provided.

Noise attenuation structures

A propulsion system for an aircraft includes an electric propulsion engine. The electric propulsion engine includes an electric motor and a fan rotatable about a central axis of the electric propulsion engine by the electric motor. The electric propulsion engine also includes a bearing supporting rotation of the fan and a thermal management system. The thermal management system includes a lubrication oil circulation assembly and a heat exchanger thermally connected to the lubrication oil circulation assembly. The lubrication oil circulation assembly is configured for providing the bearing with lubrication oil. Such an electric propulsion engine may be a relatively self-sufficient engine.

An aircraft includes a fuselage extending between a forward end and an aft end. The aircraft additionally includes a propulsor mounted to the fuselage at the aft end of the fuselage, the propulsor including an outer nacelle and the outer nacelle defining an inlet. Additionally, the aircraft includes a deployable assembly attached to at least one of the fuselage or the outer nacelle, the deployable assembly movable between a stowed position and an engaged position. The deployable assembly alters an airflow towards the propulsor or into the propulsor through the inlet defined by the outer nacelle when in the engaged position to increase an efficiency of the aft fan and/or of the aircraft.

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Niskayuna, NY, United States of America

Lawrence Chih-hui Cheung