Back to results
US 12,421,914 B2Granted
Compact infrared suppressors with ring vanes for gas turbine engines
AssigneeRolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
InventorsCurtlan C. Betchley, Kenneth M. Pesyna, Bryan H. Lerg, Steven T. Berenyi, Andrew M. Simonich, Victor L. Oechsle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An infrared suppressor adapted for use with a gas turbine engine includes a first ring arranged circumferentially around a axis, a second ring arranged circumferentially around the axis, and a strut that extends radially between and interconnects the first ring and the second ring. A portion of the second ring extends radially toward the first ring such that the portion of the second ring cooperates with the first ring to block line-of-sight into the infrared suppressor.
Claims14
An infrared suppressor adapted for use with a gas turbine engine, the infrared suppressor comprising:
- a first ring arranged circumferentially around an axis, the first ring having a forward end of the first ring, an aft end of the first ring that is spaced apart axially from the forward end of the first ring relative to the axis, and a first radial extreme located axially between the forward end of the first ring and the aft end of the first ring relative to the axis,
- a second ring arranged circumferentially around the axis and aligned axially with the first ring, the second ring having a forward end of the second ring, an aft end of the second ring that is spaced apart axially from the forward end of the second ring relative to the axis, and a second radial extreme located axially between the forward end of the second ring and the aft end of the second ring relative to the axis, and
- a third ring arranged circumferentially around the axis and aligned axially with the first ring and the second ring, the third ring having a forward end of the third ring, an aft end of the third ring that is spaced apart axially from the forward end of the third ring relative to the axis, and a third radial extreme located axially between the forward end of the third ring and the aft end of the third ring relative to the axis,
- wherein the second radial extreme of the second ring extends radially away from the forward end and the aft end of the second ring and toward the first ring such that the forward end of the first ring, the aft end of the first ring, and the second radial extreme cooperate to block line-of-sight between the first ring and the second ring for all angles of view when looking axially forward at the infrared suppressor,
- wherein the third radial extreme of the third ring extends radially away from the forward end and the aft end of the third ring and toward the second ring such that the forward end of the second ring, the aft end of the second ring, and the third radial extreme cooperate to block line-of-sight between the second ring and the third ring for all angles of view when looking axially forward at the infrared suppressor,
- further comprising a first strut that extends radially between and interconnects the first ring and the second ring, and the first strut extends radially at a canted angle relative to the axis such that the canted angle does not intersect the axis.
3 more elements
An infrared suppressor adapted for use with a gas turbine engine, the infrared suppressor comprising:
- a first ring arranged circumferentially around an axis, a second ring located radially outward of the first ring and arranged circumferentially around the first ring, and a third ring located radially outward of the second ring and arranged circumferentially around the second ring, a first portion of the first ring extends radially outward toward the second ring such that the first portion is tangent to or extends radially outward beyond and intersects a first imaginary line connecting two points on the second ring, and a second portion of the second ring extends radially outward toward the third ring such that the second portion is tangent to or extends radially outward beyond and intersects a second imaginary line connecting two points on the third ring,
- further comprising a first strut that extends radially between and interconnects the first ring and the second ring and a second strut that extends radially between and interconnects the second ring and the third ring, wherein the first strut is offset circumferentially from the second strut such that no strut extending between the second ring and the third ring is aligned circumferentially with the first strut and no strut extending between the first ring and the second intermediate ring is aligned circumferentially with the second strut.
A method of providing an infrared suppressor, the method comprising:
- forming a first ring circumferentially around an axis,
- forming a second ring circumferentially around the first ring and aligned axially with the first ring, wherein a first portion of the first ring extends radially outward toward the second ring such that the first portion is tangent to or extends radially outward beyond and intersects a first imaginary line connecting two points on the second ring, and
- forming a third ring circumferentially around the second ring and aligned axially with the second ring, wherein a second portion of the second ring extends radially outward toward the third ring such that the second portion is tangent to or extends radially outward beyond and intersects a second imaginary line connecting two points on the third ring,
- wherein the first ring includes a forward end, an aft end that is spaced apart axially from the forward end of the first ring relative to the axis, and the first portion is located axially between and radially spaced apart from the forward end of the first ring and the aft end of the first ring relative to the axis, and the second ring includes a forward end, an aft end that is spaced apart axially from the forward end of the second ring relative to the axis, and the second portion is located axially between and radially spaced apart from the forward end of the second ring and the aft end of the second ring relative to the axis, and
- coupling the first ring and the second ring together with a strut that extends radially between and interconnects the first ring and the second ring and the strut extends radially at a canted angle relative to the axis such that the canted angle does not intersect the axis.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.