Exhaust nozzle of a gas turbine engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021190003-A1
Application number	US-201916719023-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 18, 2019
Priority date	Dec 18, 2019
Publication date	Jun 24, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure regard an exhaust nozzle of a gas turbine engine which includes an outer nozzle wall, a flow channel, a centerbody arranged in the flow channel, at least two struts connecting the centerbody to the nozzle wall, a thrust reverser unit, and a plurality of actuators, wherein each actuator is associated with a strut for displacing the strut in the axial direction. The struts are connected to a structure of the outer nozzle wall that forms part of the thrust reverser unit. For allowing axial relative movement between the struts and the outer nozzle wall, each strut includes a sliding element extending radially from the radial outer end of the strut, wherein the sliding element is arranged in a receiving slot that extends in the axial direction in the nozzle wall. It is provided that the sliding element comprises an interaction structure that interacts with one of the actuators for effecting relative axial movement between the strut and the nozzle wall.

First claim

1 . An exhaust nozzle of a gas turbine engine, wherein the exhaust nozzle comprises:
an outer nozzle wall, a flow channel which is limited radially outwards by the nozzle wall, a centerbody arranged in the flow channel, at least two struts connecting the centerbody to the nozzle wall, a thrust reverser unit, a plurality of actuators, wherein each actuator is associated with a strut for displacing the strut in the axial direction, wherein the struts are connected to a structure of the outer nozzle wall that forms part of the thrust reverser unit, wherein, for allowing axial relative movement between the struts and the outer nozzle wall, each strut comprises a sliding element extending radially from the radial outer end of the strut, wherein the sliding element is arranged in a receiving slot that extends in the axial direction in the nozzle wall, and wherein the sliding element comprises an interaction structure that interacts with one of the actuators for effecting relative axial movement between the strut and the nozzle wall.

2 . The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein a toothing is integrated into the sliding element as interaction structure, wherein the actuator interacts with the toothing for axial movement of the strut.

3 . The nozzle of claim 2 , wherein the toothing forms a toothed rack in the sliding element.

4 . The nozzle of claim 3 , wherein the toothed rack comprises teeth formed substantially in the circumferential direction.

5 . The nozzle of claim 2 , wherein the actuator comprises a worm screw that interacts with the toothing of the sliding element.

6 . The nozzle of claim 5 , wherein the actuator and the toothing of the sliding element form a worm and rack drive.

7 . The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the sliding element comprises a radial outer section, wherein the toothing is formed in the radial outer section of the sliding element.

8 . The nozzle of claim 7 , wherein the radial outer section of the sliding element is formed as a cylinder, wherein the toothing is formed in the radial outer side of the cylinder.

9 . The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the sliding element and the receiving slot comprise, in cross section, corresponding keyhole shapes.

10 . The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the sliding element is form-fitted in the radial and circumferential directions to the receiving slot.

11 . The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the structure of the outer nozzle wall that forms part of the thrust reverser unit and to which the struts are connected comprises beams, wherein at least parts of each actuator are located at a respective beam.

12 . The nozzle of claim 11 , wherein the beam comprises a wall and a slot in the wall, wherein an interacting element of the actuator and/or an interacting element of the sliding element protrudes through the slot in the beam wall for interaction between the actuator and the sliding element.

13 . The nozzle of claim 12 , wherein a toothing is integrated into the sliding element as interaction structure, wherein the actuator comprises a worm screw and wherein the worm screw protrudes through the slot in the beam wall to interact with the toothing of the sliding element.

14 . The nozzle of claim 12 , wherein the interaction structure is formed by lugs protruding from the sliding element through the slot in the beam wall, wherein the actuator is a linear actuator, and wherein the lugs are connected to the linear actuator.

15 . The nozzle of claim 11 , wherein the receiving slot is formed by a wall section of the beam.

16 . The nozzle of claim 11 , wherein the thrust reverser unit comprises pivot doors which block the flow channel when the thrust reverser unit is activated, wherein the pivot doors are hinged to the beams.

17 . The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle comprises exactly two struts and wherein the connection of one of the struts to the nozzle wall is realized in an inboard area of the nozzle located adjacent an aircraft fuselage and the connection of the other strut to the nozzle wall is realized at an outboard area of the nozzle located remote to the aircraft fuselage.

18 . The nozzle of claim 16 , wherein the two struts are arranged approximately in a plane.

19 . The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle has a convergent-divergent cross-section.

20 . The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is configured as the nozzle of a supersonic gas turbine engine.

Assignees

• Rolls Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co Kg

Inventors

• Todorovic Predrag

Classifications

• F05B2260/4031

  as in toothed gearing · CPC title

• F02K1/15

  Control or regulation · CPC title

• F05D2260/36

  by a form fit connection, e.g. by interlocking · CPC title

• F02K1/08

  by axially moving or transversely deforming an internal member, e.g. the exhaust cone · CPC title

• F02K1/60 Primary

  by blocking the rearward discharge by means of pivoted eyelids or clamshells, e.g. target-type reversers · CPC title