Axial expandable exhaust duct
AssigneeRaytheon Technologies Corporation
InventorsLawrence A. Binek, Jesse R. Boyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An exhaust duct for an engine includes an outer exhaust duct and a nested exhaust duct capable of having at least two configurations. The nested exhaust duct is circumferentially surrounded by the outer exhaust duct for a first length of the nested exhaust duct in a first configuration. The nested exhaust duct is circumferentially surrounded by the outer exhaust duct for a second length of the nested exhaust duct in a second configuration, which is less than the first length.
Claims17
An exhaust duct for an engine, the exhaust duct comprising:
- an outer exhaust duct;
- a nested exhaust duct capable of having at least two configurations, wherein the nested exhaust duct is circumferentially surrounded by the outer exhaust duct for a first length of the nested exhaust duct in a first configuration and wherein the nested exhaust duct is circumferentially surrounded by the outer exhaust duct for a second length of the nested exhaust duct in a second configuration, wherein the second length is less than the first length;
- an integrally formed key;
- and
- an integrally formed keyway;
- wherein the integrally formed key is located away from the integrally formed keyway in the first configuration, the integrally formed key is located within the integrally formed keyway in the second configuration, and one of the integrally formed key and the integrally formed keyway is on an interior surface of the outer exhaust duct.
A method of manufacturing an axially extendable exhaust duct for an engine, the method comprising:
- manufacturing an outer exhaust duct;
- manufacturing a nested exhaust duct capable of having at least two configurations, wherein the nested exhaust duct is circumferentially surrounded by the outer exhaust duct for a first length of the nested exhaust duct in a first configuration and wherein the nested exhaust duct is circumferentially surrounded by the outer exhaust duct for a second length of the nested exhaust duct in a second configuration, wherein the second length is less than the first length;
- and
- manufacturing an integrally formed key and an integrally formed keyway;
- wherein the integrally formed key is located away from the integrally formed keyway in the first configuration, the integrally formed key is located within the integrally formed keyway in the second configuration, and one of the integrally formed key and the integrally formed keyway is on an interior surface of the outer exhaust duct.
An axially extendable exhaust duct for an engine, the exhaust duct comprising:
- an outer exhaust duct having an integrally formed key on an interior surface of the outer exhaust duct;
- a nested exhaust duct with an integrally formed keyway on an exterior surface of the nested exhaust duct, which is capable of having at least two configurations, wherein the nested exhaust duct is circumferentially surrounded by the outer exhaust duct for a first length of the nested exhaust duct in a first configuration and wherein the nested exhaust duct is circumferentially surrounded by the outer exhaust duct for a second length of the nested exhaust duct in a second configuration, wherein the second length is less than the first length;
- and
- a spring attached to and circumferentially conformal with the nested exhaust duct, wherein the spring is uncompressed in the first configuration and wherein the spring is compressed in the second configuration and configured to exert a compressive force in order to retain the key within the keyway during operation of the engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.