Heated booster splitter plenum
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsBenjamin Roby, Jarmo Monttinen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A splitter apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes: a splitter including: an annular outer wall which defines a convex-curved leading edge at a forward end thereof; an annular floorplate positioned radially inboard of the outer wall; and an annular first bulkhead spanning between the outer wall and the floorplate. The outer wall, the floorplate, and the bulkhead collectively define an annular splitter plenum positioned adjacent the leading edge of the outer wall. At least one exhaust passage formed in the outer wall extends past the floorplate and communicates with the exterior of the splitter. At least one jumper tube assembly passes through the first bulkhead, each configured to pass air flow from the exterior of the splitter into the plenum.
Claims13
A splitter apparatus for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a splitter including an annular outer wall which defines a convex-curved leading edge at a forward end thereof;
- an annular floorplate positioned radially inboard of the outer wall;
- an annular groove is defined by the outer wall just aft of the leading edge, an annular step is formed in the outer wall aft and radially outboard of the groove, and a forward edge of the floorplate is received in the step;
- an annular outer band disposed radially inboard of the floorplate and a forward edge of the annular outer band is received into annular groove;
- and
- an annular first bulkhead spanning between the outer wall and the floorplate, wherein the outer wall, the floorplate, and the bulkhead collectively define an annular splitter plenum positioned adjacent the leading edge of the outer wall, and wherein at least one exhaust passage formed in the outer wall extends past the floorplate and communicates with the exterior of the splitter;
- and
- at least one jumper tube assembly passing through the first bulkhead, each of the at least one jumper tube assemblies configured to pass air flow from the exterior of the splitter into the plenum.
A gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a rotatable fan;
- a rotatable booster disposed aft of the fan;
- a turbomachinery core disposed aft of the booster and operable to generate a flow of pressurized combustion gases;
- an annular core nacelle surrounding the booster and the turbomachinery core;
- a low-pressure turbine disposed aft of the turbomachinery core and mechanically coupled to the booster and the fan;
- a radial array of airfoils disposed forward of the booster and circumscribed by an annular outer band;
- a splitter disposed at a forward end of the core nacelle and surrounding the outer band, the splitter including:
- an annular outer wall which defines a convex-curved leading edge at a forward end thereof;
- an annular groove is defined by the outer wall just aft of the leading edge, an annular step formed in the outer wall;
- an annular floorplate positioned radially inboard of the outer wall wherein a forward edge of the floorplate is received in the step;
- an annular outer band disposed radially inboard of the floorplate and a forward edge of the annular outer band is reiceived into the annular groove;
- and
- an annular first bulkhead spanning between the outer wall and the floorplate, wherein the outer wall, the floorplate, and the bulkhead collectively define an annular splitter plenum positioned adjacent the leading edge of the outer wall, and wherein at least one exhaust passage formed in the outer wall extends past the floorplate and communicates with the exterior of the splitter;
- and
- at least one jumper tube assembly passing through the first bulkhead, each of the at least one jumper tube assemblies configured to pass air flow from the exterior of the splitter into the plenum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.