Propulsion engine and cowl
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsPeeyush Pankaj, Narayanan Payyoor, Richard Schmidt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A propulsion system for an aircraft including a core engine connected to a forward frame and a turbine frame assembly, and an aft frame assembly is connected by a turbine casing to the core engine aft of the turbine frame assembly. A core cowl surrounds the core engine, wherein the core cowl is connected to the forward frame. A plurality of cowl mount links selectively loads the core cowl to the aft frame assembly and the turbine frame assembly, wherein the plurality of cowl mount links is each loaded by deflection of the core engine.
Claims19
A propulsion system for an aircraft, the propulsion system defining a nominal centerline axis along an axial direction, the propulsion system comprising:
- a fan assembly comprising a forward frame;
- a core engine connected to the forward frame, wherein the core engine comprises a turbine frame assembly, and wherein the core engine defines an engine centerline axis, and further wherein the engine centerline axis is substantially coaxial to the nominal centerline axis during normal propulsion system operation, and wherein the engine centerline axis is at an acute angle to the nominal centerline axis when the core engine is deflected;
- an aft turbine frame assembly connected by a turbine casing to the core engine aft of the turbine frame assembly;
- a core cowl surrounding the core engine, wherein the core cowl is connected to the forward frame;
- and
- a plurality of cowl mount links selectively loading the core cowl to the aft turbine frame assembly and the turbine frame assembly, wherein the plurality of cowl mount links is each loaded by deflection of the core engine, wherein the plurality of cowl mount links comprise a first cowl mount link coupled to the core cowl and the aft turbine frame assembly, and wherein the plurality of cowl mount links comprise a second cowl mount link coupled to the core cowl and the turbine frame assembly, wherein the second cowl mount link is located forward of the first cowl mount link along the axial direction, wherein the aft turbine frame assembly and the turbine frame assembly each comprises a plurality of members extended along a radial direction toward the core cowl, wherein the plurality of members is configured to be selectively loaded by the plurality of cowl mount links, wherein the first cowl mount link selectively loads the core cowl to the aft turbine frame assembly, wherein the second cowl mount link selectively loads the core cowl to the turbine frame assembly, wherein the plurality of cowl mount links each comprises a coupling positioned axially forward or aft of a respective member of the plurality of members, the coupling having an arm extending radially inwardly from the core cowl and a fork attached to the arm and extending radially inwardly from the arm, the fork configured to at least partially surround the respective member, wherein a respective joint member of a plurality of joint members connects the coupling at the core cowl to the respective member, wherein the respective joint member is pivotably connected to the coupling via a first pivot point and the respective joint member is pivotably connected to the respective member of the plurality of members via a second pivot point.
A gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine defining a nominal centerline axis along an axial direction, the gas turbine engine comprising:
- a fan assembly comprising a forward frame;
- a core engine connected to the forward frame, wherein the core engine comprises a turbine frame assembly, and wherein the core engine defines an engine centerline axis, and further wherein the engine centerline axis is substantially coaxial to the nominal centerline axis during normal propulsion system operation, and wherein the engine centerline axis is at an acute angle to the nominal centerline axis when the core engine is deflected;
- an aft turbine frame assembly, wherein the turbine frame assembly comprises a turbine center frame casing at which the aft turbine frame assembly is connected to the core engine aft of the turbine frame assembly, and wherein the aft turbine frame assembly comprises a turbine rear frame casing;
- a core cowl surrounding the core engine, wherein the core cowl is connected to the forward frame;
- and
- a plurality of cowl mount links selectively loading the core cowl to the aft turbine frame assembly and the turbine frame assembly, wherein the plurality of cowl mount links is each loaded by deflection of the core engine, wherein the plurality of cowl mount links comprise a first cowl mount link coupled to the core cowl and the aft turbine frame assembly, and wherein the plurality of cowl mount links comprise a second cowl mount link coupled to the core cowl and the turbine frame assembly, wherein the second cowl mount link is located forward of the first cowl mount link along the axial direction, wherein the aft turbine frame assembly and the turbine frame assembly each comprises a plurality of members extended along a radial direction toward the core cowl, and wherein the plurality of cowl mount links each comprises a coupling positioned axially forward or aft of a respective member of the plurality of members, the coupling having an arm extending radially inwardly from the core cowl and a fork attached to the arm and extending radially inwardly from the arm, the fork configured to at least partially surround the respective member, wherein a respective joint member of a plurality of joint members connects the coupling at the core cowl to a respective member of the plurality of members, wherein the respective joint member is pivotably connected to the coupling via a first pivot point and the respective joint member is pivotably connected to the respective member of the plurality of members via a second pivot point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.