Adaptive-curvature inertial particle separators

A particle separator for use with a gas turbine engine, the particle separator comprising

• an adaptive-curvature inner wall arranged circumferentially about an axis,
• an outer wall arranged circumferentially about the adaptive-curvature inner wall to define an inlet passage of the particle separator, the inlet passage adapted to receive a mixture of air and particles suspended in the air,
• a splitter located radially between the outer wall and the adaptive-curvature inner wall to separate the mixture of air and particles into a clean flow substantially free of particles and a dirty flow containing the particles during operation of the particle separator, the splitter and the adaptive-curvature inner wall define an engine channel arranged to receive the clean flow, and the splitter and the outer wall define a scavenge channel arranged to receive the dirty flow, and
• a control system configured to detect a presence of the particles suspended in the air and to move selectively the adaptive-curvature inner wall between a non-austere arrangement in which the adaptive-curvature inner wall has a first maximum radius and an austere arrangement in which the adaptive-curvature inner wall has a second maximum radius greater than the first maximum radius in response to the control system detecting the presence of the particles,
• wherein the adaptive-curvature inner wall includes a plurality of overlapping leaves configured to slide relative to one another in response to the adaptive-curvature inner wall moving between the non-austere arrangement and the austere arrangement,
• wherein the plurality of overlapping leaves includes a first leaf and a second leaf located downstream of the first leaf, the first leaf and the second leaf each includes a fore end and an aft end spaced axially apart from the fore end, and the aft end of the first leaf is located radially outward of and overlaps the fore end of the second leaf,
• wherein one of the first leaf and the second leaf includes a pin and the other of the first leaf and the second leaf includes an axially extending pin-receiving slot that receives the pin,
• wherein the pin includes a stem and a head located at an end of the stem, and the slot includes a first section that is sized to receive the head and a second section that is sized to receive the stem and block the head from moving out of the slot in a direction outward from a top surface of the first leaf to couple the first leaf with the second leaf and the pin slides relative to the slot in the second section of the slot when the adaptive curvature inner wall moves between the non-austere arrangement and the austere arrangement,
• wherein the first leaf and the second leaf slide relative to one another along the path of the second section of the slot and do not rotate around an axis of the pin,
• wherein the plurality of overlapping leaves define an internal cavity that is in fluid communication with a pressurized air source to block particles from moving between the first lead and the second leaf into the internal cavity.