Infrared suppressor apparatus and method
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsWilliam Steyer, Christopher Marlow Kieffer, Walter J. Tingle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for suppressing infrared radiation from an engine of an aircraft operating in an environment includes directing hot exhaust from the aircraft engine into a lobed mixer of a single baffle infrared suppressor having a collapsible, translatable baffle to generate alternating flows of hot exhaust gas and cold air. The method further includes directing the alternating flows of hot exhaust gas and cold air towards the single baffle assembly to mix the hot exhaust gas with the cold air.
Claims20
A method for suppressing infrared radiation from an engine of an aircraft operating in an environment, said method comprising:
- directing hot exhaust from the aircraft engine into a lobed mixer of a single baffle infrared suppressor having a collapsible, translatable baffle to generate alternating flows of hot exhaust gas and cold air;
- and
- directing the alternating flows of hot exhaust gas and cold air towards the collapsible, translatable baffle to mix the hot exhaust gas with the cold air.
An infrared suppressor for suppressing infrared radiation from an engine of an aircraft operating in an environment, said infrared suppressor comprising:
- a stage I duct configured to direct hot exhaust from the aircraft engine towards a stage II duct;
- a gap around the stage I duct configured to channel a flow of cold air towards said stage II duct;
- and
- a lobed mixer of a single baffle assembly having a collapsible, translatable baffle positioned in said stage II duct, said single baffle assembly configured to generate alternating flows of hot exhaust gas and cold air.
An infrared suppressor for suppressing infrared radiation from an engine of an aircraft, said infrared suppressor comprising:
- a stage I duct having an adapter ring configured to slide over a tailpipe of the engine and a lobed mixer;
- a stage II duct coupled to said stage I duct and having a collapsible and translatable single baffle assembly, said stage II duct configured to receive exhaust from the engine that leaves said stage I duct;
- and
- a stage III duct coupled to said stage II duct and configured to receive exhaust from the engine that leaves said stage II duct, said stage III duct comprising a hood and a panel that are at least one of positionable or rotatable to turn exhaust leaving said stage III duct.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.