Moveable exhaust plug
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsAndre L. Bent, Steven H. Zysman, Nigel David Sawyers-Abbott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exhaust section of a gas turbine engine includes an exhaust plug defining a plurality of exhaust plug apertures circumferentially spaced from each other. Also included is an exhaust nozzle radially offset from the exhaust plug defining an exhaust pathway between the exhaust plug and the exhaust nozzle. Further included is an exhaust plug liner having a non-uniform outer surface axially aligned with the exhaust plug apertures. The exhaust plug liner is rotatable relative to exhaust plug between a first position and a second position to selectively change a cross-sectional area of the exhaust pathway during thrust reversal operation to increase an amount of reverse thrust.
Claims20
An exhaust section of a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- an exhaust plug defining a plurality of exhaust plug apertures circumferentially spaced from each other;
- an exhaust nozzle radially offset from the exhaust plug defining an exhaust pathway between the exhaust plug and the exhaust nozzle;
- and
- an exhaust plug liner having a non-uniform outer surface axially aligned with the exhaust plug apertures;
- wherein the exhaust plug liner is rotatable relative to exhaust plug between a first position and a second position to selectively change a cross-sectional area of the exhaust pathway during thrust reversal operation to increase an amount of reverse thrust.
A gas turbine engine comprising:
- a fan section defining a fan airflow pathway;
- a combustor section;
- a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor section;
- and
- an exhaust section in fluid communication with the turbine section, the exhaust section including:
- an exhaust plug defining a plurality of exhaust plug apertures circumferentially spaced from each other;
- an exhaust nozzle radially offset from the exhaust plug defining an exhaust pathway between the exhaust plug and the exhaust nozzle;
- and
- an exhaust plug liner having a non-uniform outer surface axially aligned with the exhaust plug apertures;
- wherein the exhaust plug liner is rotatable relative to exhaust plug between a first position and a second position to selectively change a cross-sectional area of the exhaust pathway during thrust reversal operation to increase an amount of reverse thrust.
A method of operating a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- actuating a fan thrust reverser to divert a fan airflow from a fan airflow pathway;
- and
- rotating an exhaust plug liner, relative to an exhaust plug, from a first position to a second position, thereby increasing a cross-sectional area of an exhaust pathway to increase an amount of reverse thrust.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.