Quick disengaging field joint for exhaust system components of gas turbine engines

A quick disengaging field joint for connecting a pair of components of an exhaust system of a gas turbine engine, each component defining an internal liner having an exposed surface for facing the hot exhaust gases of the exhaust system, each component defining an external shell having a shielded surface for facing the ambient atmosphere, each component including heat resistant insulation disposed between the internal liner and the external shell, the field joint comprising:

• a. first joint liner connected to a first one of the components so as to encapsulate the insulation of the respective component, the first joint liner defining a first stepped end, the first stepped end defining a first overhang portion adjacent the internal liner of the first component and defining a first undercut portion adjacent the external shell of the first component, the first overhang portion defining a front face, the first undercut portion defining a rear face, the first stepped end of the first joint liner defining a common face extending between and joining the front face of the first overhang portion and the rear face of the first undercut portion;
• b. a first fastener anchoring the first retainer clip to the internal liner of the first component;
• c. at least a first retainer clip connected to the external shell of the first component and slideably receiving a section of the first joint liner that is disposed away from the first stepped end of the first joint liner;
• d. a second joint liner connected to a second one of the components so as to encapsulate the insulation of the respective component, the second joint liner defining a second stepped end, the second stepped end defining a second overhang portion adjacent the internal liner of the second component and defining a second undercut portion adjacent the external shell of the second component, the second overhang portion defining a front face, the second undercut portion defining a rear face, the second stepped end of the second joint liner defining a common face extending between and joining the front face of the second overhang portion and the rear face of the second undercut portion;
• e. a second fastener anchoring the second retainer clip to the internal liner of the second component;
• f. at least a second retainer clip connected to the external shell of the second component and slideably receiving a section of the second joint liner that is disposed away from the second stepped end of the second joint liner;
• g. wherein the front face of the first overhang portion is disposed opposite the rear face of the second undercut portion, the front face of the second overhang portion is disposed opposite the rear face of the first undercut portion, and the common face of the first stepped end of the first joint liner is disposed opposite the common face of the second stepped end of the second joint liner;
• h. at least a first compressed wire mesh gasket disposed between the front face of the first overhang portion and the rear face of the second undercut portion, at least a second compressed wire mesh gasket disposed between the common face of the first stepped end of the first joint liner and the common face of the second stepped end of the second joint liner;
• i. at least a first connecting flange having a base attached to the shielded surface of the external shell of the first component, the first connecting flange defining a connecting plate extending from the base and defining an opening therethrough configured for receiving a connecting bolt;
• j. at least a second connecting flange having a base attached to the shielded surface of the external shell of the second component, the second connecting flange defining a connecting plate extending from the base and defining an opening therethrough configured for receiving a connecting bolt,
• k. the connecting plate of the first connecting flange being disposed opposite the connecting plate of the second connecting flange, and the opening through the connecting plate of the first connecting flange being aligned with the opening through the connecting plate of the second connecting flange;
• l. at least a first section of a tadpole gasket being disposed between the connecting plate of the first connecting flange and the connecting plate of the second connecting flange, at least a second section of the tadpole gasket being further disposed between the front face of the second overhang portion and the rear face of the first undercut portion, at least a third section of the tadpole gasket being further disposed between the free edge of the external shell of the first component and the free edge of the external shell of the second component;
• and
• m. a bolt disposed through the opening through the connecting plate of the first connecting flange, the first section of the tadpole gasket and the opening through the connecting plate of the second connecting flange.

A gas turbine engine, comprising:

• a. an air inlet;
• b. a compressor in fluid communication with the air inlet;
• c. a combustor connected in fluid communication to the compressor;
• d. a turbine in fluid communication with the combustor;
• e. a diffuser in fluid communication with the combustor;
• f. an exhaust housing connected in fluid communication with the combustor and containing the diffuser, the exhaust housing including at least a first component and at least a second component connected to the at least first component, each component including an internal liner having an exposed surface for facing hot exhaust gases that may pass through the diffuser in the exhaust housing, each component including an external shell having a shielded surface for facing the ambient atmosphere, each component including heat resistant insulation disposed between the internal liner and the external shell, the first component being configured to be selectively detachable from the second component and selectively removable from the exhaust housing;
• and
• g. a quick disengaging field joint for connecting at least the first component of the exhaust housing to at least the second component of the exhaust system, the field joint comprising:
• i. a first joint liner connected to the first component, the first joint liner defining a first stepped end;
• ii. a first fastener anchoring the first joint liner to the internal liner of the first component;
• iii. a second joint liner connected to the second component, the second joint liner defining a second stepped end that is configured to mirror the shape of first stepped end of the first joint liner;
• and
• h. a second fastener anchoring the second joint liner to the internal liner of the second component.

A method of retrofitting a gas turbine engine having at least a pair of components that are joined together by at least one field joint that connects the respective field joint interfaces of the components, the method comprising the following steps:

• disassembling the at least one field joint connecting at least a pair of components of the engine;
• removing from the engine at least one of the components with the disassembled field joint;
• removing a field joint interface from at least the one component that was removed from the engine;
• on each of the components from which at least one field joint interface was removed, installing a replacement field joint interface that includes at least one opposed stepped liner.