Methods and apparatus for providing uniform ignition in an augmenter
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsLarry L. Vacek, Thomas C. Gerrety, William R. Haskiell, Elvin D. Hirtle, Richard M. Holcombe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An augmenter includes at least one igniter which provides a uniform ignition within the augmenter. The igniter is secured to an igniter housing with a self-locking nut and each igniter includes a biasing mechanism which biases the igniter against the augmenter. Biasing the igniter against the augmenter ensures that each igniter tip is maintained at a proper immersion depth within the augmenter during gas turbine engine operation. Additionally, the igniter includes an alignment support boss to ensure that the igniter tip is properly aligned within the augmenter as the igniter is attached to the augmenter.
Claims20
A method for providing a uniform ignition in an gas turbine engine augmenter using at least one augmenter igniter, the augmenter including a flameholder and an augmenter duct, each augmenter igniter including a biasing mechanism and an igniter lead, the biasing mechanism biasing and coupled to the igniter lead, the igniter lead including a first body portion and a second body portion, the first body portion extending from the second body portion to an igniter end, the second body portion extending from the first body portion to an igniter tip, said method comprising the steps of:
- installing the at least one igniter within the gas turbine engine augmenter;
- coupling the biasing mechanism to the igniter lead;
- installing the biasing mechanism to maintain the igniter tip at a constant immersion depth within the augmenter;
- and
- operating the gas turbine engine.
An augmenter igniter for a gas turbine engine, the engine including a flameholder and an augmenter duct, said augmenter igniter comprising:
- an igniter lead comprising a first body portion, a second body portion, an igniter tip, and an igniter end, said first body portion extending from said second body portion to said igniter end, said second body portion extending from said first body portion to said igniter tip;
- and
- a biasing mechanism coupled to said igniter lead to bias said igniter lead against the flameholder to maintain said igniter tip at a substantially constant immersion depth during gas turbine engine operation.
An augmenter for a gas turbine engine comprising:
- a flameholder comprising at least one opening;
- an augmenter duct circumferentially disposed around said flame holder and comprising at least one opening;
- and
- at least one igniter inserted through said flameholder and said augmenter duct, said igniter comprising an igniter lead, an igniter tip extending from said igniter lead, and a biasing mechanism coupled to said igniter lead to bias said igniter lead against said augmenter, said biasing mechanism configured to maintain said igniter tip at a constant immersion depth within said augmenter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.