United Technologies Corporation

Other

W Kevin Barcza

Raymond J Bruchez, Jr

Larry E Anders

Michael J Concordia

An improved flameholder for a thrust augmentation combustor includes a toroidal pilot gutter and inner and outer radial gutters, all having U-shaped cross-section and formed from a single piece of metal. The one-piece formation enables design improvements and variations which were not possible in the multiple piece construction of the prior art.

One-piece flameholder

The external flaps (32), which contain the ram air, continue to form a conical structure during vectoring. External flaps (32) are hinged to the unison ring (30) with ejector flaps (34) hinged to the external flaps. A scissors linkage ( 48 ) joins each ejector flap (34) to the adjacent external flops. A spaced slider connection (58) guides, from the ejector flaps (34), the divergent flaps (26) which are joined to the convergent flaps (20) with a universal joint (28).

Thrust vectoring ejector nozzle

A hinge for connecting a convergent seal and a divergent seal in a thrust vectoring nozzle has an intermediate yoke. This yoke carries seals contacting the convergent and divergent seals. The axis of the transverse and radial pins are longitudinally offset. The convergent seal slides in an arcuate path around the axis of the transverse pin, while the divergent seal slides in a arcuate path around the axis of the radial pin. Further, the radial pin is located toward the divergent seal side of the transverse pin.

Convergent-to-divergent seal hinge for a convergent/divergent nozzle

A divergent seal is located on the gas side of a convergent/divergent nozzle between adjacent divergent flaps. A scissors linkage both centers the seal between the flaps and restrains the seal against the flaps.

Convergent/divergent nozzle with seal centering

The divergent seal of a thrust vectoring nozzle has an elongated corrugated stiffening sheet with a backbone secured to the air side. The backbone is stiff perpendicular to the sheet, but flexible in torsion. A face sheet secured only at the upstream end covers the gas side of the stiffening sheet.

Divergent seal arrangement for a convergent/divergent nozzle

A divergent flap hinge seal for a thrust vectoring nozzle is pivotally connected to the convergent flap, and the divergent flap is pivotally connected to this flap hinge seal An extension on the hinge seal sealingly overlies a recess in the divergent flap. The flap hinge seal is connected to the convergent flap by two pins and the divergent flap is connected to the flap hinge seal by a pin.

Flap hinge arrangement for a convergent/divergent nozzle

An improved mounting assembly is arranged for use in a thrust augmentation combustor for a gas turbine engine, for mounting a spray ring or the like to a duct. The mounting assembly includes a clevis which is mounted to the duct and has a circular pin upon which is carried an elongated slider having an axial central circular bore. The slider is mounted for rotational movement on the pin and has at least two parallel exterior sidewalls. A bracket is mounted on the slider for connection to the spray ring and has an elongated bore through which the slider passes. The elongated bore is closely fitted to the slider exterior in a first dimension corresponding to the parallel sidewalls and is larger than the slider exterior in a second dimension. The elongated bore has a length which is less than the axial length of the slider so that the bracket can be translated axially along the slider and the slider can be translated in the rectangular bore in the second dimension. The bracket can also rotate with respect to the slider about an axis corresponding to the first dimension.

Growing community of inventors

Stuart, FL, United States of America

W Kevin Barcza