Acoustic controlled ice deflecting auxiliary power unit inlet system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016264251-A1
Application number	US-201415026423-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 8, 2014
Priority date	Oct 8, 2013
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An auxiliary power unit for an aircraft includes a turbine engine. An inlet includes an opening and a passageway between the opening and the turbine engine. An acoustic aplitter is supported within the passageway for attenuating noise within the inlet. An inlet door is movable between a closed position and a fully open position. A portion of the inlet door aligns with a part of the passageway in at least a first position and divides the passageway to deflect ice and noise in at least a second position. An air inlet and a method are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An auxiliary power unit for an aircraft comprising:
a turbine engine; an inlet including an opening and a passageway between the opening and the turbine engine; an acoustic splitter supported within the passageway for attenuating noise within the inlet; an inlet door movable between a closed position and a fully open position , wherein a portion of the inlet door aligns with a part of the passageway in at least a first position and divides the passageway to deflect ice and noise in at least a second position.

2 . The auxiliary power unit as recited in claim 1 , wherein in the second position comprises an in-flight position and the inlet door is aligned with an aft wall of the passageway when in the in-flight position.

3 . The auxiliary power unit as recited in claim 1 , wherein in the acoustic splitter comprises a plurality of splitters dividing the passageway into a plurality of channels for communicating air to the turbine engine.

4 . The auxiliary power unit as recited in claim 3 , wherein the second position comprises an on-ground position and he plurality of splitters comprises a central splitter, wherein the inlet door aligns with the central splitter when in the on-ground position to divide the passageway into a forward portion that is forward of the inlet door and an aft portion that is aft of the inlet door.

5 . The auxiliary power unit as recited in claim 4 , including a forward splitter disposed within the passageway forward of the central splitter and an aft splitter disposed aft of the central splitter.

6 . The auxiliary power unit as recited in claim 5 , wherein the forward splitter, central splitter and aft splitter are of different lengths.

7 . The auxiliary power unit as recited in claim 5 , wherein the passageway defines a curved path and the forward splitter, central splitter, and aft splitters are curved to match the curved path.

8 . The auxiliary power unit as recited in claim 1 , wherein the passageway includes a forward wall, an aft wall, and first and second side walls transverse to the forward and aft walls and the acoustic splitter extends between the first and second side walls.

9 . The auxiliary power unit as recited in claim 8 , wherein the inlet door is movable about a pivot and the pivot is spaced apart from the forward wall and the aft wall.

10 . The auxiliary power unit as recited in claim 9 , wherein the inlet door defines an opening plane and the pivot is spaced apart from the opening plane.

11 . The auxiliary power unit as recited in claim 9 , wherein the inlet door includes a forward portion that is forward of the pivot and an aft portion that is aft of the pivot and the aft portion extends into the passageway when in the on-ground position.

12 . An air inlet for turbine engine comprising:
an inlet including an opening and a passageway between the opening and the turbine engine; an acoustic splitter supported within the passageway for attenuating noise within the inlet; and an inlet door movable between a closed position and a fully open position, wherein a portion of the inlet door aligns with a part of the passageway in at least a first position and divides the passageway to deflect ice and noise in at least a second position.

13 . The air inlet as recited in claim 12 , wherein in the first position, the inlet door is aligned with an aft wall of the passageway.

14 . The air inlet as recited in claim 12 , wherein the acoustic splitter comprises a plurality of splitters dividing the passageway into a plurality of channels.

15 . The air inlet as recited in claim 14 , wherein the plurality of splitters comprises a central splitter and the inlet door aligns with the central splitter when in the second position to divide the passageway into a forward portion that is forward of the inlet door and an aft portion that is aft of the inlet door.

16 . The air inlet as recited in claim 15 , including a forward splitter disposed within the passageway forward of the central splitter and an aft splitter disposed aft of the central splitter.

17 . The air inlet as recited in claim 12 , wherein the inlet door is movable about a pivot and includes a forward portion that is forward of the pivot and an aft portion that is aft of the pivot with the aft portion extending into the passageway when in the second position.

18 . A method defining a passageway for communicating air to an auxiliary power unit mounted within an aircraft, the method comprising:
defining an inlet including an opening and a passageway between the opening and a turbine engine; supporting an acoustic splitter within the passageway for attenuating noise propagation through the passageway; and supporting inlet door within the opening, the inlet door configured to align with an aft wall of the passageway in as least a first position and to align with a portion of the acoustic splitter to divide the passageway in a second position.

19 . The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein moving the inlet door to first position includes opening the inlet door such that a forward portion of the inlet door is disposed at a first angle, and moving the inlet door to the second position includes moving the forward portion of the inlet door to a second angle that is greater than the first angle.

20 . The method as recited in claim 18 , including shielding an aft portion of the passageway with the inlet door when in the inlet door is in the second position.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Bell Melissa A
• Rollins Michael J
• Hagshenas Behzad
• Vitale Jack V

Classifications

• B64D15/16

  by mechanical means, e.g. pulsating mats or shoes attached to, or built into, surface · CPC title

• F02C7/05

  having provisions for obviating the penetration of damaging objects or particles · CPC title

• B64D2033/0206

  comprising noise reduction means, e.g. acoustic liners · CPC title

• B64D2033/0233

  comprising de-icing means · CPC title

• F02C7/045

  having provisions for noise suppression · CPC title