# US 11,905,844 B2 · Exhaust duct assembly with improved weld zone structure and aircraft including the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,905,844 B2 - Document ID: US11905844B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/545,133 - Filed: 2021-12-08 - Published: 2022-06-30 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2020-12-28 - Assignees: Hanwha Aerospace Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Hanwha Aerospace Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Young Hun Kim; Jun Su Song - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11905844B2 ## CPC - F01D 25/30: Exhaust heads, chambers, or the like - F05D 2220/323: for aircraft propulsion, e.g. jet engines - F05D 2230/232: by welding - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract An exhaust duct assembly includes: a case having an inner space; a duct inserted into an inner space of the case, the duct including an inlet through which an exhaust gas is introduced, and an exhaust port through which the exhaust gas is exhausted; a stiffener configured to attach the duct to the case; and a connector disposed on the exhaust port, wherein the duct, the stiffener and the connector are welded to one another such that at least a portion of each of the duct, the stiffener and the connector overlaps one another in a first direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An exhaust duct assembly comprising: a case having an inner space; a duct inserted into an inner space of the case, the duct comprising an inlet through which an exhaust gas is introduced, and an exhaust port through which the exhaust gas is exhausted; a stiffener configured to attach the duct to the case; and a connector disposed on the exhaust port, wherein the duct, the stiffener and the connector are welded to one another such that at least a portion of each of the duct, the stiffener and the connector overlaps one another in a first direction, wherein the exhaust port has an exhaust port connection end, wherein the stiffener has a stiffener connection end disposed outside the exhaust port connection end in the first direction, and wherein the exhaust port connection end and the stiffener connection end are welded to each other to form a first welding part, and the first welding part is positioned inside the exhaust port connection end and the stiffener connection end. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The exhaust duct assembly of claim 1, wherein the duct, the stiffener and the connector are sequentially disposed in the first direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The exhaust duct assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector has a connector connection end disposed on the outside of the stiffener connection end in the first direction, wherein the stiffener connection end and the connector connection end are welded to each other to form a second welding part, and the second welding part is disposed inside the stiffener connection end and the connector connection end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The exhaust duct assembly of claim 3, wherein the connector comprises a step structure by which a thickness of the connector connection end is smaller than a thickness of a connector body of the connector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The exhaust duct assembly of claim 4, wherein the exhaust port connection end and the stiffener connection end are accommodated in a space provided by the step structure on an inner surface of the connector connection end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The exhaust duct assembly of claim 3, wherein the first welding part and the second welding part are arranged to overlap in the first direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The exhaust duct assembly of claim 3, wherein the connector comprises a step structure formed on a connector body to provide a space in which the first welding part and the second welding part are accommodated on an inner surface of the connector connection end. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The exhaust duct assembly of claim 7, wherein a thickness of the connector connection end is smaller than a thickness of a connector body of the connector. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The exhaust duct assembly of claim 8, wherein a sum of a thickness of the exhaust port connection end and the thickness of the connector connection end is substantially equal to the thickness of the connector body of the connector. ### Claim 10 An aircraft comprising a gas turbine engine and an exhaust duct assembly for exhausting exhaust gas discharged from the gas turbine engine to an outside, wherein the exhaust duct assembly comprises: a case having an inner space; a duct inserted into an inner space of the case, the duct comprising an inlet through which an exhaust gas is introduced, and an exhaust port through which the exhaust gas is exhausted; a stiffener configured to attach the duct to the case; and a connector disposed on the exhaust port, wherein the duct, the stiffener and the connector are welded to one another such that at least a portion of each of the duct, the stiffener and the connector overlaps one another in a first direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The aircraft of claim 10, wherein the duct, the stiffener and the connector are sequentially disposed in the first direction.