Test bench for an aircraft turbojet engine, with shutters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10190437-B2
Application number	US-201615062734-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2016
Priority date	Mar 30, 2015
Publication date	Jan 29, 2019
Grant date	Jan 29, 2019

Abstract

A test bench for an aircraft turbojet engine is provided. The test bench comprises a U-shaped configuration with a passage in the form of an elongated corridor, an inlet duct, and an outlet duct. The corridor comprises a fixing zone with a fixing arm for holding a turbojet engine during testing. The passage furthermore has an upstream shutter with vertical pivoting air guides and a downstream shutter with an inflatable balloon in a collector tube. In the event of fire, the shutters close to confine the turbojet engine in order to suffocate the fire rapidly. A method for managing a fire in a test bench with a passage is also provided. Shutters are placed in the passage, where they deploy.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A test bench for a turbojet engine, said test bench comprising:
an inlet;
an outlet;
a passage allowing a circulation of air between the inlet and the outlet, the passage structured and operable to receive a turbojet engine for testing;
the passage comprises at least one tight movable shutter comprising an inflatable element, the at least one tight movable shutter is structured and operable to cut off the circulation of air between the inlet and the outlet and to suffocate a fire occurring in the passage at the turbojet engine.

2. The test bench of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tight moveable shutter comprises a movable part delimited by the passage and structured and operable to seal the passage.

3. The test bench of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tight moveable shutter comprises portions movable relative to each other during opening and closing movements of the shutter.

4. The test bench of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tight moveable shutter comprises at least one movable portion structured and operable to pivot between an open position and a closed position of the shutter.

5. The test bench of claim 1 , wherein the passage comprises a corridor structured and operable receive the turbojet engine and vertical stacks, the at least one tight moveable shutter being disposed in the corridor.

6. The test bench of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tight movable shutter comprises articulated air guides, wherein in an open position the articulated air guides are parallel to a same plane so as to guide the circulation of air parallel to the passage.

7. The test bench of claim 6 , wherein the articulated air guides are chamfered such that each articulated air guide can be in plane-to-plane contact with an adjacent guide when the at least one tight moveable shutter is closed.

8. The test bench of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tight moveable shutter comprises articulated air guides, wherein in an open position the articulated air guides are parallel to a main length of the passage, and in a closed position the articulated air guides are inclined relative to the main elongation.

9. The test bench of claim 1 further comprising a gas supply means for inflating the inflatable element.

10. The test bench of claim 1 , wherein the passage comprises a collector tube structured and operable to collect an air flow driven by the turbojet engine, the inflatable element being placed at the level of the collector tube whereby the inflatable element can seal tube.

11. The test bench of claim 10 , wherein the collector tube comprises a tubular portion configured to protrude towards the turbojet engine, the test bench comprises a wall across the passage supporting the tubular portion, the tubular portion protruding relative to the wall.

12. The test bench of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tight moveable shutter comprises a resilient envelope having an elasticity modulus between 1 MPa and 100 MPa.

13. The test bench of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tight moveable shutter is a first shutter and the passage further comprises a second shutter able to cut off the circulation of air between the inlet and the outlet of the passage, the first and second shutters configured to define an enclosure around the turbojet engine and are structured and operable to suffocate a fire occurring in the passage.

14. The test bench of claim 13 , wherein the passage comprises a fixing zone for the turbojet engine to be tested, the fixing zone being disposed between the first shutter and the second shutter.

15. A method for managing a fire in a test bench for a gas turbine engine, wherein the test bench comprises a passage in which the gas turbine engine can be fixed for testing of the turbine engine, and a shutter disposed in the passage, said method comprising:
deploying the shutter to close the passage in the event of fire within the passage; and
deploying the shutter in an open configuration, allowing a circulation of air through the passage, when in a normal operating state.

16. A method for managing a fire in a test bench for a gas turbine engine, wherein the test bench comprises a passage in which the gas turbine engine can be fixed for testing of the turbine engine, and a shutter disposed in the passage, said method comprising:
deploying the shutter to close the passage in the event of fire within the passage,
wherein the shutter comprises an inflatable element, and the method further comprising deploying the inflatable element within the passage, via a continuously supplied inflation fluid, in the event of a fire within the passage.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein deploying the inflatable element comprises filling the inflatable element with a neutral gas.

Assignees

• Techspace Aero Sa
• Safran Aero Boosters Sa

Inventors

• Taccogna Gaetano

Classifications

• F01D25/285

  Temporary support structures, e.g. for testing, assembling, installing, repairing; Assembly methods using such structures · CPC title

• B64D27/16

  of jet type · CPC title

• F05D2260/83

  Testing, e.g. methods, components or tools therefor · CPC title

• A62C2/10 Primary

  Fire-proof curtains · CPC title

• G01M15/14

  Testing gas-turbine engines or jet-propulsion engines · CPC title