Methods and apparatus for sealing gas turbine engine nozzles using a flap system
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsBernard J. Renggli, Darrell Senile
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for assembling a flap system for a gas turbine engine exhaust nozzle including a plurality of backbone assemblies facilitates extending a useful life of the exhaust nozzle. The method includes providing a flap basesheet having a width defined between a pair of side edges that are coupled together by a leading edge and a trailing edge, and including at least one stiffener that extends between the basesheet side edges and includes an intermediate portion that has a width that is smaller than that of the basesheet and is at least one of bonded to and formed integrally with the basesheet, and coupling the basesheet to the gas turbine engine with a backbone assembly.
Claims18
A method for assembling a flap system for a gas turbine engine exhaust nozzle including a plurality of backbone assemblies, said method comprising:
- providing a flap basesheet having a width defined between a pair of side edges that are coupled together by a leading edge and a trailing edge, and including at least one stiffener that extends between the basesheet side edges and includes an intermediate portion that has a width that is smaller than that of the basesheet and is at least one of bonded to and formed integrally with the basesheet;
- and forming a first slot in the stiffener that extends from the basesheet first side edge through the stiffener to the stiffener intermediate portion;
- and forming a second slot in the stiffener that extends from the basesheet second side edge through the stiffener to the stiffener intermediate portion;
- and coupling the basesheet to the gas turbine engine with a backbone assembly.
A flap basesheet assembly for a gas turbine engine exhaust nozzle, said flap basesheet assembly comprising:
- a body comprising a first side edge and a second side edge coupled together by a leading edge and a trailing edge, said body having a width extending between said first and second sides;
- and at least one stiffener extending across said body between said first and second edges, said stiffener comprising an intermediate section having a width smaller than said body width, said stiffener comprises at least one slot extending through said stiffener from at least one of said body first side edge and said body second side edge to said stiffener intermediate section;
- and said intermediate section at least one of integrally formed with and bonded to said basesheet assembly body.
A gas turbine engine comprising a variable engine area exhaust nozzle comprising a flap basesheet system coupled to said engine exhaust nozzle, said flap basesheet system comprising a body and at least one stiffener, said body comprising a first side edge and a second side edge coupled at a leading edge and a trailing edge, and having a width extending between said first and second sides, said at least one stiffener extending across said body between said first and second edges, said stiffener comprising an intermediate section having a width smaller than said body width, said stiffener comprising at least one slot extending through said stiffener from at least one of said body first edge and said intermediate section is at least one of integrally formed with and bonded to said flap basesheet assembly body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.