Liner support system

An exhaust system for an aircraft engine, comprising:

• an exhaust duct;
• an exhaust liner spaced from the exhaust duct, the exhaust liner having a gas flow path boundary side and a back side opposite the gas flow path boundary side;
• core gas flowing along the gas flow path boundary side producing a first pressure on the gas flow path boundary side of the exhaust liner;
• an annulus between the exhaust duct and the exhaust liner;
• cooling air flowing in the annulus producing a second pressure on the back side of the exhaust liner, the second pressure being opposed to the first pressure, producing a first net pressure;
• and
• a plurality of posts spacing the exhaust liner from the exhaust duct, wherein each post further comprises:
• an interface region adjacent to the back side of the exhaust liner;
• a periphery defining a perimeter of the interface region, the perimeter in contact with the back side of the exhaust liner and sealed to the back side of the exhaust liner;
• a shank extending from the periphery and to a low pressure region, the pressure in the low pressure region being less than the first pressure and the second pressure;
• and
• a hollow passageway internal to the shank, providing fluid communication between the interface region of the post and the low pressure region;
• wherein the low pressure region results in a second net pressure against the exhaust liner, urging the back side of the exhaust liner adjacent the interface region against the periphery while preventing fluid leakage across the perimeter between the exhaust liner and the interface region;
• and
• wherein the second net pressure is not equal to the first net pressure.

An aircraft comprising:

• an engine bay, the engine bay maintained substantially at atmospheric pressure;
• and
• an aircraft engine housed within the engine bay, the aircraft engine including an exhaust system further comprising:
• an exhaust duct mounted in the engine bay;
• an exhaust liner spaced from the exhaust duct, the exhaust liner having a gas flow path boundary side and a back side opposite the gas flow path boundary side;
• an annulus between the exhaust duct and the exhaust liner;
• and
• a plurality of posts spacing the exhaust liner from the exhaust duct, wherein each post further comprises:
• an interface region adjacent to the back side of the exhaust liner;
• a periphery defining a perimeter of the interface region, the perimeter in contact with the back side of the exhaust liner and sealed to the back side of the exhaust liner;
• a shank extending from the periphery and in fluid communication with a first pressure region;
• and
• a hollow passageway internal to the shank, providing fluid communication between the interface region of the post and the first pressure region;
• wherein the first pressure region results in a net positive outward pressure against the exhaust liner, urging the back side of the exhaust liner adjacent the interface region against the periphery while preventing fluid leakage across the perimeter.