Pivoting stowable spraybar

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016169111-A1
Application number	US-201514968320-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 14, 2015
Priority date	Dec 15, 2014
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An exemplary fuel spray bar system can include a conduit, which is pivotally attached to an engine frame and configured to deliver fuel from a fuel line to an engine flow path. The system further includes a drive mechanism, which is configured to move the conduit between a stowed position and a deployed position.

First claim

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1 . A fuel spray bar system, comprising:
a conduit pivotally attached to an engine frame and configured to deliver fuel from a fuel line to an engine flow path; and a drive mechanism configured to move the conduit between a stowed position and a deployed position; wherein the conduit in the deployed position is disposed within the engine flow path and the conduit in the stowed position is spaced apart from the engine flow path.

2 . The fuel spray bar system of claim 1 , wherein the conduit includes an inlet fluidly communicating with the fuel line.

3 . The fuel spray bar system of claim 2 , wherein the conduit includes a plurality of atomizing apertures fluidly communicating with the inlet, such that the conduit in the deployed position is configured to deliver fuel from the inlet through the apertures and into the engine flow path.

4 . The fuel spray bar system of claim 1 , further comprising a fairing that defines an opening communicating with the engine flow path, and the fairing further defines a recess that communicates with the opening and is configured to receive the conduit in the stowed position.

5 . The fuel spray bar system of claim 4 , wherein the drive mechanism is attached to the conduit on a side of the fairing opposite to the opening in the fairing.

6 . The fuel spray bar system of claim 1 , wherein drive mechanism comprises:
an outer drive ring configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the engine frame; an inner drive ring disposed concentrically within the outer drive ring and configured to move along the longitudinal axis of the engine frame; a roller bearing assembly attached to the outer and inner drive rings, and the roller bearing assembly is configured to move the inner drive ring along the longitudinal axis in response to the outer drive ring rotating about the longitudinal axis; wherein the conduit is attached to the inner drive ring, and the inner drive ring is configured to move the conduit between the stowed and deployed positions in response to the inner drive ring moving along the longitudinal axis. The fuel spray bar system of claim 6 , wherein the roller bearing assembly comprises: an outer channel attached to the outer drive ring; an inner channel attached to the inner drive ring, and the inner channel is disposed in a non-parallel position with respect to the outer channel, such that a portion of the inner channel overlaps a corresponding portion of the outer channel; and a ball bearing held between corresponding portions of the inner and outer channels, and the ball bearing is configured to move the inner drive ring along the longitudinal axis in response to the outer drive ring rotating about the longitudinal axis.

8 . The fuel spray bar system of claim 6 , wherein one of the inner drive ring and the conduit includes a clevis and the other of the inner drive ring and the conduit includes a linkage pivotally attached to the clevis.

9 . The fuel spray bar system of claim 1 , further comprising a fuel fitting configured to pivotally attach the fuel line to the conduit.

10 . An exhaust nozzle for a gas turbine engine, the nozzle comprising:
an engine frame including an outer casing and an outer liner disposed concentrically within the outer casing, and the outer liner surrounds an engine flow path; and a fuel spray bar system having a conduit that is pivotally attached to the outer liner of the engine frame, and the system is configured to deliver fuel from a fuel line to the engine flow path; and a drive mechanism configured to move the conduit between a stowed position and a deployed position; wherein the conduit in the deployed position is disposed within the engine flow path and the conduit in the stowed position is spaced apart from the engine flow path.

11 . The exhaust nozzle of claim 10 , wherein the conduit in the stowed position is disposed radially outward from the outer liner and radially inward from the outer casing.

12 . The exhaust nozzle of claim 10 , wherein the outer liner has a wall defining the engine flow path and the wall has a hole that is formed therein and configured to permit the conduit to move between the stowed and deployed positions.

13 . The exhaust nozzle of claim 12 , further comprising a fairing that is attached to the outer liner and defines an opening that is aligned with the hole in the outer liner such that the opening communicates with the engine flow path, and the fairing further defines a recess that communicates with the opening and is configured to receive the conduit in the stowed position.

14 . The exhaust nozzle of claim 10 , wherein the drive mechanism is spaced apart from the engine flow path and disposed between the outer casing and the outer liner.

15 . The exhaust nozzle of claim 10 , wherein drive mechanism comprises:
an outer drive ring configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the engine frame; an inner drive ring disposed concentrically within the outer drive ring and configured to move along the longitudinal axis of the engine frame; a roller bearing assembly attached to the outer and inner drive rings, and the roller bearing assembly is configured to move the inner drive ring along the longitudinal axis in response to the outer drive ring rotating about the longitudinal axis; wherein the conduit is attached to the inner drive ring, and the inner drive ring is configured to move the conduit between the stowed and deployed positions in response to the inner drive ring moving along the longitudinal axis.

16 . The exhaust nozzle of claim 15 , wherein the roller bearing assembly comprises:
an outer channel attached to the outer drive ring; an inner channel attached to the inner drive ring, and the inner channel is disposed in a non-parallel position with respect to the outer channel, such that a portion of the inner channel overlaps a corresponding portion of the outer channel; and a ball bearing held between corresponding portions of the inner and outer channels, and the ball bearing is configured to move the inner drive ring along the longitudinal axis in response to the outer drive ring rotating about the longitudinal axis.

17 . The exhaust nozzle of claim 15 , wherein one of the inner drive ring and the conduit includes a clevis and the other of the inner drive ring and the conduit includes a linkage pivotally attached to the clevis.

18 . The exhaust nozzle of claim 10 , further comprising a fuel fitting configured to pivotally attach the fuel line to the conduit.

19 . A method for operating a fuel spray bar system, the method comprising:
moving a conduit to a stowed position that is spaced apart from an engine flow path defined by an engine frame; moving the conduit to a deployed position within the engine flow path; and delivering fuel from a fuel line through the conduit and into the flow path when the conduit is disposed in the deployed position.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
rotating an outer drive ring about a longitudinal axis of the engine frame; moving an inner drive ring along the longitudinal axis of the engine frame in response to the outer drive ring rotating about the longitudinal axis, and the inner drive ring is disposed concentrically within the outer drive ring; and moving the conduit between the stowed and deployed positions in response to the inner drive ring moving along the longitudinal axis.

Assignees

• Rolls Royce Nam Tech Inc

Inventors

• Sutterfield David L
• Dionne William J

Classifications

• F02K3/10

  by after-burners (F02K3/105 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F23R3/20

  incorporating fuel injection means · CPC title

• F02C7/222 Primary

  Fuel flow conduits, e.g. manifolds · CPC title

• F23R3/22

  movable, e.g. to an inoperative position; adjustable, e.g. self-adjusting · CPC title