Engine component test apparatus
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorRichard S. Wesorick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A component test apparatus is provided for measuring the torque of an aircraft engine inducer nozzle to characterize the efficiency of the nozzle prior to engine launch. A frictionless mount rotatably supports a forward inner nozzle support which combines with the support to form a pressurizable plenum for communicatively discharging air through the nozzle and imparting annular motion to the apparatus characteristic of the efficiency of the nozzle.
Claims16
A component test apparatus for evaluating airflow efficiency in a vaned inducer nozzle comprising:
- (a) sealing means for supporting a forward inner nozzle support including an inducer nozzle and forming a first plenum with said forward inner nozzle support, said first plenum having a primary axis;
- (b) means for supplying pressurized air to said first plenum;
- (c) an exterior support structure partially surrounding said first plenum;
- (d) a frictionless support means for demountably supporting said first plenum for substantially frictionless rotation relative to said exterior support structure in a first direction and only in a first plane substantially perpendicular to said primary axis in response to an airflow through said nozzle;
- and
- (e) measuring means attached to said first plenum and to said exterior support for measuring a force produced by rotation of said first plenum in response to said applied airflow exiting said vaned inducer nozzle wherein said force is linearly related to airflow.
A component test apparatus for evaluating airflow efficiency in an inducer nozzle comprising:
- (a) means for demountably supporting a forward inner nozzle support, including an inducer nozzle, for substantially planar frictionless rotation in response to an airflow through said inducer nozzle;
- (b) means coupled to said forward inner nozzle support for supplying air thereto and producing a torque which rotates said inducer nozzle about a fixed axis;
- and
- (c) means for measuring said torque for the purpose of determining the efficiency of said inducer nozzle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.