US 11,828,248 B1 · Rotatably driven exhaust mixer

Abstract

There is provided an exhaust mixer arrangement for a turbofan engine having a bypass passage for channelling a bypass flow and a core passage for channelling a core flow around a central axis. The exhaust mixer arrangement comprises a mixer body mounted for rotation about the central axis. The mixer body has an annular wall extending around the central axis. The annular wall defines a plurality of circumferentially distributed alternating inner and outer lobes, with each inner lobe protruding into the core passage, and each outer lobe protruding into the annular bypass passage. A driving unit is operatively connected to the mixer body for selectively driving the mixer body in rotation about the central axis. A controller is operatively connected to the driving unit for controlling a rotational speed of the mixer body as a function of a flight operating condition.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An exhaust mixer arrangement for a turbofan engine having an annular bypass passage for channelling a bypass flow, and a core passage for channelling a core flow around a central axis, the exhaust mixer arrangement comprising:

a mixer body mounted for 360-degree rotation about the central axis, the mixer body having an annular wall extending around the central axis, the annular wall defining a plurality of circumferentially distributed alternating inner lobes and outer lobes, with each of the inner lobes protruding into the core passage, and each of the outer lobes protruding into the annular bypass passage;
a driving unit operatively connected to the mixer body for driving the mixer body in rotation about the central axis, the driving unit operable to impart full 360-degree rotations to the mixer body;
and
a controller operatively connected to the driving unit, the controller operational to control a rotational speed of the mixer body as a function of a flight operating condition.

1 more element

A turbofan engine comprising:

a fan;
an annular bypass passage for channelling air received from the fan;
a compressor downstream of the fan;
a turbine fluidly connected to the compressor via a core passage;
an exhaust mixer fluidly connected to the annular bypass passage and the core passage downstream of the turbine, the exhaust mixer having a mixer body rotatable around a central axis, the mixer body having an annular wall extending around the central axis, the annular wall defining a plurality of circumferentially distributed alternating inner lobes and outer lobes, with each of the inner lobes protruding into the core passage, and each of the outer lobes protruding into the annular bypass passage;
a driving unit operatively connected to the mixer body for driving the mixer body at a selected rotational speed around the central axis, the driving unit operable to impart full revolutions to the mixer body;
and
a controller operatively connected to the driving unit, the controller configured to control the selected rotational speed of the mixer body as a function of a flight operating condition.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rotatably driven exhaust mixer

Life of this patent

Rotatably driven exhaust mixer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18