Exhaust nozzle of a gas turbine engine

Abstract

An exhaust nozzle of a gas turbine engine which includes a nozzle wall, the nozzle wall including an upstream, fixed structure and a downstream, translatable structure that is translatable relative to the fixed structure, a flow channel which is limited radially outwards by the nozzle wall, a centerbody arranged in the flow channel, at least one strut connecting the centerbody to the nozzle wall, a thrust reverser unit that comprises blocking doors, a first actuation system for deployment of the blocking doors into a deployed position for thrust reversal, and a second actuation system for translating the translatable structure between a stowed, upstream position and a fully deployed, downstream position. It is provided that the at least one strut is connected to the fixed structure, that the blocking doors are connected to the translatable structure, and that the first actuation system and the second actuation system are independent actuation systems.

Claims

1. An exhaust nozzle of a gas turbine engine, wherein the exhaust nozzle comprises: a nozzle wall, the nozzle wall comprising an upstream, fixed structure and a downstream, translatable structure that is translatable relative to the fixed structure, a flow channel which is limited radially outwards by the nozzle wall, a centerbody arranged in the flow channel, at least one strut connecting the centerbody to the nozzle wall, a thrust reverser unit that comprises blocking doors, a first actuation system for deployment of the blocking doors into a deployed position for thrust reversal, and a second actuation system for translating the translatable structure between a stowed, upstream position and a fully deployed, downstream position, wherein the at least one strut is connected to the fixed structure, wherein the blocking doors are connected to the translatable structure, and wherein the first actuation system and the second actuation system are independent actuation systems; wherein the first actuation system comprises a motor, a profiled feed shaft driven by the motor, and a slider element that is both axially displaceable along a length of the profiled feed shaft and rotatable by rotation of the profiled feed shaft, and wherein the slider element is coupled to at least one element that transfers the rotation of the slider element to at least one of the blocking doors.

2. The exhaust nozzle of claim 1, wherein the nozzle wall comprises cascades which are configured to receive air from an interior of the nozzle and deflect the air towards an exterior front of the nozzle, wherein the cascades are fixed to the fixed structure of the nozzle wall.

3. The exhaust nozzle of claim 2, wherein, when the translatable structure of the nozzle wall is in the upstream position, the cascades are covered by the translatable structure, and when the translatable structure of the nozzle wall is in the downstream position, the cascades are free to receive the air from the interior of the nozzle.

4. The exhaust nozzle of claim 3, wherein the translatable structure of the nozzle wall comprises an outer extending wall element and an inner extending wall element, wherein, when the translatable structure is in the upstream position, the outer extending wall element is adjacent to the cascades to the exterior and the inner extending wall element is adjacent to the cascades to the interior.

5. The exhaust nozzle of claim 3, wherein, when the translatable structure of the nozzle wall is in the downstream position, and when the first actuation system has been actuated to deploy the blocking doors, the cascades are free to receive the air turned by the deployed blocking doors.

6. The exhaust nozzle of claim 1, wherein the first actuation system is configured to deploy the blocking doors only when the translatable structure is in the downstream position.

7. The exhaust nozzle of claim 1, wherein the blocking doors are located at the interior of the translatable structure of the nozzle wall in the non-deployed position, and are pivotable by the first actuation system into the deployed position in which the blocking doors point towards a centerline of the nozzle, wherein pivot points of the blocking doors are located in the translatable structure.

8. The exhaust nozzle of claim 7, wherein, when the blocking doors are deployed, inner ends of the blocking doors lie next to the centerbody.

9. The exhaust nozzle of claim 1, wherein the slider element has a same interior profile as the profiled feed shaft to cause the slider element to be both axially displaceable along the length of the profiled feed shaft and rotatable by the rotation of the profiled feed shaft.

10. The exhaust nozzle of claim 1, wherein the slider element is coupled to two coupling shafts whose axes are inclined to an axis of the profiled feed shaft and to each other, wherein each coupling shaft transfers the rotation of the profiled feed shaft to the at least one of the blocking doors.

11. The exhaust nozzle of claim 10, wherein the slider element comprises a worm screw which interacts with a toothing formed around a circumference of the coupling shafts.

12. The exhaust nozzle of claim 10, wherein the coupling between the slider element and the two coupling shafts integrates a reduction function such that the coupling shafts rotate slower than the profiled feed shaft.

13. The exhaust nozzle of claim 10, wherein the blocking doors of the thrust reverser unit comprises more than two blocking doors, where the at least one of the blocking doors is coupled to a further one of the blocking doors by a joint to transfer the rotation of the profiled feed shaft to the further one of the blocking doors.

14. The exhaust nozzle of claim 13, wherein the blocking doors are coupled to each other to form two half-circular arrangements, wherein each of the two half-circular arrangements of the blocking doors is coupled to the slider element.

15. The exhaust nozzle of claim 1, wherein the translatable structure of the nozzle wall and the fixed structure of the nozzle wall comprise elements which, when the translatable structure is in the upstream position, overlap in an axial, circumferential and/or radial direction.

16. The exhaust nozzle of claim 1, wherein the first actuation system is positioned in an inboard area of the nozzle.

17. The exhaust nozzle of claim 1, wherein the at least one strut that connects the centerbody to the nozzle wall is connected in a fixed manner to the fixed structure of the nozzle wall.

18. The exhaust nozzle of claim 1, wherein the second actuation system comprises a plurality of actuators, each actuator comprising a shaft or piston that is axially displaceable to move the translatable structure of the nozzle wall relative to the fixed structure of the nozzle wall.

19. The exhaust nozzle of claim 1, wherein the second actuation system is configured to move the translatable structure into the stowed position when the aircraft speed surpasses a defined value.

20. The exhaust nozzle of claim 1, wherein the slider element rotates with the profiled feed shaft as the slider element axially displaces along the profiled feed shaft.

Description

(1) The invention will be explained in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional side view of a supersonic gas turbine engine;

(3) FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of an embodiment of an exhaust nozzle that comprises a nozzle wall with a fixed structure and a translatable structure, wherein the translatable structure is in a stowed, upstream position, wherein a centerbody of the nozzle is attached to the fixed structure by means of struts, and wherein blocking doors of a thrust reverser unit are connected to the translatable structure of the nozzle wall;

(4) FIG. 3 is the nozzle of FIG. 2 in a vertical sectional view;

(5) FIG. 4 is the nozzle of FIG. 2 in a cross-sectional view along the lines A-A of FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the nozzle of FIG. 2;

(7) FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the nozzle of FIG. 2;

(8) FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the nozzle of FIG. 2, wherein the translatable structure is in a partially deployed position relative to the fixed structure of the nozzle wall;

(9) FIG. 8 is the nozzle of FIG. 7 in a vertical sectional view;

(10) FIG. 9 is the nozzle of FIG. 7 in a cross-sectional view;

(11) FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the nozzle of FIG. 7;

(12) FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the nozzle of FIG. 7;

(13) FIG. 12 is a horizontal sectional view of the nozzle of FIG. 2, wherein the translatable structure is in a fully deployed position relative to the fixed structure of the nozzle wall, and wherein the blocking doors are in the deployed state;

(14) FIG. 13 is the nozzle of FIG. 12 in a vertical sectional view;

(15) FIG. 14 is the nozzle of FIG. 12 in a cross-sectional view;

(16) FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of the nozzle of FIG. 12;

(17) FIG. 16 is a rear perspective view of the nozzle of FIG. 12;

(18) FIG. 17 is a horizontal sectional view of the nozzle of FIG. 2, wherein the translatable structure is in a fully deployed position relative to the fixed structure of the nozzle wall, and wherein the blocking doors are not in the deployed state;

(19) FIG. 18 is the nozzle of FIG. 17 in a vertical sectional view;

(20) FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an actuating system for deploying a plurality of blocking doors, wherein the actuating system comprises a profiled feed shaft and a slider element that is displaceable along the feed shaft and rotatable by rotation of the feed shaft, wherein the blocking doors are in the retracted position;

(21) FIG. 20 an enlarged perspective view of the slider element of FIG. 19; and

(22) FIG. 21 the actuating system of FIG. 19, wherein the blocking doors are in the deployed position.

(23) FIG. 1 shows a turbofan engine which is intended and suitable for use in a civil or military supersonic aircraft and, accordingly, is designed for operating conditions in the subsonic, transonic and supersonic ranges. However, it should be noted that the principles of this invention can also be implemented in a turbofan engine designed for subsonic operation only. The description of the invention in the context of an engine intended for a supersonic aircraft is therefore only to be understood as an example.

(24) The turbofan engine 100 comprises an engine intake 101, a fan 102 which may be a multi-stage fan, a primary flow channel 103 which passes through a core engine, a secondary flow channel 104 which bypasses the core engine, a mixer 105 and a nozzle 2 in which a thrust reverser 8 can be integrated.

(25) The turbofan engine 100 has a machine axis or engine centerline 10. The machine axis 10 defines an axial direction of the turbofan engine. A radial direction of the turbofan engine is perpendicular to the axial direction.

(26) The core engine comprises a compressor 106, a combustion chamber 107 and a turbine 108, 109. In the example shown, the compressor comprises a high-pressure compressor 106. A low-pressure compressor is formed by the areas close to the hub of the fan 102. The turbine behind the combustion chamber 107 comprises a high-pressure turbine 108 and a low-pressure turbine 109. The high-pressure turbine 108 drives a high-pressure shaft 110 which connects the high-pressure turbine 108 with the high-pressure compressor 106. The low-pressure turbine 109 drives a low-pressure shaft 111 which connects the low-pressure turbine 109 with the multi-stage fan 102. According to an alternative design, the turbofan engine may also have a medium-pressure compressor, a medium-pressure turbine and a medium-pressure shaft. Furthermore, in an alternative design it can be provided that the fan 102 is coupled to the low-pressure shaft 111 via a reduction gearbox, e.g., a planetary gearbox.

(27) The turbofan engine is arranged in an engine nacelle 1. The engine nacelle 1 may be connected to the aircraft fuselage via a pylon.

(28) The engine intake 101 forms a supersonic air intake and is, therefore, designed and suitable for decelerating the incoming air to velocities below Ma 1.0 (Ma=Mach number). The engine inlet is beveled in FIG. 1, with the lower edge protruding from the upper edge, but other kinds of supersonic intakes may be implemented instead.

(29) The flow channel through the fan 102 is divided behind the fan 102 into the primary flow channel 103 and the secondary flow channel 104. The secondary flow channel 104 is also referred to as the bypass channel.

(30) Behind the core engine, the primary flow in the primary flow channel 103 and the secondary flow in the secondary flow channel 104 are mixed by the mixer 105. Furthermore, an outlet cone 113 is mounted behind the turbine in order to achieve desired cross-sections of the flow channel.

(31) The rear area of the turbofan engine is formed by an integral nozzle 2, where the primary and secondary flows are mixed in the mixer 105 before being fed into the integral nozzle 2. The engine behind mixer 105 forms a flow channel 25, which extends through nozzle 2. Alternatively, separate nozzles can be provided for the primary flow channel 103 and the secondary flow channel 104 meaning that the flow through the secondary flow channel 104 has its own nozzle that is separate to and radially outside the core engine nozzle. One or both nozzles (whether mixed or split flow) may have a fixed or variable area.

(32) In the context of this invention, the design of the nozzle 2 is of relevance.

(33) FIGS. 2 and 3 show schematically the basic design of the nozzle 2 in sectional views that contain the engine centerline 10, wherein FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the horizontal direction and FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the vertical direction. Accordingly, the two wall sections shown in FIG. 2 correspond to right and left wall sections and the two wall sections shown in FIG. 3 correspond to upper and lower wall sections.

(34) The nozzle 2 comprises an outer nozzle wall 20 which forms the radially outer boundary of a flow channel 25 through the nozzle 2. The nozzle 2 further includes a centerbody 5, which forms a surface 55. The centerbody 5 has a longitudinal axis identical to the engine centerline 10. The centerbody 5 forms an upstream end 51, a downstream end 52 and a maximum of its cross-sectional area between the upstream end 51 and the downstream end 52. In the example shown, but not necessarily, the centerbody 5 is conical adjacent to its downstream end 52.

(35) The nozzle 2 further comprises two struts 31, 32 connecting the centerbody 5 to the nozzle wall 20. They extend from the centerbody 5 in a radial direction through the flow channel 25 to the nozzle wall 20. The struts 31, 32 each have a profile with a front edge 311, 321 and a rear edge 312, 322, as well as an upper side and a lower side. Each strut 31, 32 has a radially outer end at which it is connected to the nozzle wall 20 and a radially inner end at which it is connected to the centerbody 5.

(36) The struts 31, 32 are approximately arranged in a plane containing the engine centerline 10. An arrangement of the struts “approximately” in a plane exists insofar as the struts have a three-dimensional extension corresponding to the profile they form. Furthermore, in embodiments, it may be provided that the two struts 31, 32 are arranged at an angle to each other.

(37) The nozzle wall 20 comprises two structures, an upstream, fixed structure 21 and a downstream, translatable structure 22 which is translatable relative to the fixed structure 21. Both structures comprise wall elements. In FIGS. 2 to 6, the translatable structure 22 is in a stowed, most forward position. The downstream end of the nozzle wall 20 forms a nozzle exit edge 23.

(38) As can be seen in the sectional view of FIG. 3, the nozzle wall 20 further contains cascades 28 which are formed by a plurality of vanes. The cascades serve to turn air that has been deflected and turned by deployed blocking doors further to the forward direction, as will be discussed in more detail with respect to FIGS. 12 to 16. The cascades 28 are fixed to the fixed structure 21 of the nozzle wall 20. To the radial inside of the cascades 28 is an inner extending wall element 222 and to the radial outside of the cascades is an outer extending wall element 221, wherein both extending wall elements to 21, 222 extend in the upstream direction, thereby overlapping parts of the fixed structure 21 of the nozzle wall 20 in the axial and circumferential directions.

(39) As can be seen in the sectional view of FIG. 3, the nozzle 2 comprises a thrust reverser unit which is integrated into the nozzle 2 and which comprises blocking doors 81. The blocking doors 81 are connected to the translatable structure 22 of the nozzle wall and are arranged in the innermost layer of the translatable structure 22. To deploy the blocking doors 81 for thrust reversal, and to retract the blocking doors 81 back to the non-deployed position, a first actuation system 4 is provided which comprises a motor 41, a profiled feed shaft 42 driven by the motor and a slider element 43 that is both displaceable along the length of the feed shaft 42 and rotatable by rotation of the feed shaft 42. In FIG. 1, the slider element 43 is in the most upstream position of the feed shaft 42. The construction and function of the feed shaft 42 and slider element 43 will be discussed in more detail with respect to FIGS. 19 to 21.

(40) The first actuation system 4 may be located in an area 91 of the nozzle 2 that is attached to the fuselage of an aircraft, either directly or through a pylon, although this is not necessarily the case. As the area in which the first actuation system is arranged may comprise a larger radial thickness, part of that radial thickness may be hidden in the pylon or fuselage.

(41) There is further provided a second actuation system for translating the translatable structure 22 between the stowed, upstream position shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 and a fully deployed, downstream position shown in FIGS. 12 to 18. The second actuation system comprises a plurality of actuators, which may be electric, pneumatic or hydraulic actuators and which may be linear or rotational actuators. Such actuators are connected to the fixed structure 21 of the nozzle wall or, alternatively, are placed in another fixed structure such as a pylon or a fuselage. In an embodiment, the actuators of the second actuating system each comprise a linearly movable piston, the end of which is connected to the translatable structure 22, such that by linear movement of the piston the translatable structure 22 can be moved relative to the fixed structure 21 in the axial direction. Such pistons are shown as pistons 61 in FIGS. 15 and 16.

(42) The first actuation system and the second actuation system are separate. Thereby, actuation of one system is independent of actuation of the other system in the sense that moving the translatable structure 22 of the nozzle wall between the stowed position and the deployed position is independent of a deployment of the blocking doors 81. In particular, the translatable structure 22 may be moved without deployment of the blocking doors 81.

(43) It can be seen in FIG. 3 that the nozzle 2 forms a nozzle throat area A8 where the cross-sectional area between centerbody 5 and nozzle wall 20 is minimum. Typically, the axial position of the nozzle throat area A8 is defined by the axial position of the maximum 53 of the centerbody 5. However, this is not necessarily the case. At the nozzle exit edge 23, the thrust nozzle forms a nozzle exit area A9. The ratio A9 to A8 defines the degree of expansion of the flow channel 25 behind the nozzle throat area A8.

(44) The cascades 28 are not formed along the complete circumference of the nozzle wall 20, but in upper and lower areas of the nozzle wall 20 only. This can be further seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4 which is taken along the lines A-A of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 also shows that the cascades 28 which are part of the fixed structure 21 are neighbored both to the inside and the outside by the extending wall elements 221, 222 which of part of the translatable structure 22. The area 91 which in embodiments is adjacent the fuselage of the aircraft has a larger radial thickness than the opposite area 92.

(45) The perspective depictions of the nozzle 2 from the front and from the rear in FIGS. 5 and 6 further shows a guiding structure 24 which serves to guide the translating structure 22 relative to the fixed structure 21. It is pointed out that the outer extending wall element 221 of the translatable structure 22 cannot be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, it is hidden by the outer wall 210 of the fixed structure 21.

(46) FIGS. 7 to 11 correspond to FIGS. 2 to 6 and show the nozzle 2 in a state in which the translating structure 22 has been moved in the axial direction into a partially deployed position. In this respect, it is pointed out that the translatable structure 22 may take at least one position between the stowed position and the fully deployed position.

(47) In the position shown in FIGS. 7 to 11, the outer extending wall element 221 and the inner extending wall element 222 have been moved in the rearward direction, but still lie next to the cascades 28, as is shown in particular in FIGS. 8 and 9. Accordingly, the cascades 28 are still closed. The blocking doors 81 which are connected to the innermost side of the translatable structure 22 have also been moved in the rearward direction. They are still in the non-deployed position.

(48) According to FIGS. 10 and 11, the outer extending wall element 22 is no longer hidden by the outer wall 210 of the fixed structure 21 but now forms the outer envelope of the nozzle in the area radially outward of the cascades.

(49) The slider element 43 is in a middle position of the feed shaft 42 in FIG. 7 as the slider element 43 is coupled to the blocking doors 81 such that, when the blocking doors 81 are displaced in the axial direction by axial displacement of the translatable structure 22, the slider element 43 slides along the feed shaft 42.

(50) FIGS. 12 to 16 correspond to FIGS. 2 to 6 and show the nozzle 2 in a state in which the translating structure 22 has been moved in the axial direction into the fully deployed position in which the blocking doors 81 have been actuated. The slider element 43 is now in the most downstream position at the feed shaft 43 and has been actuated to rotate the blocking doors 81 into the deployed position, as will be explained with respect to FIGS. 19 to 21.

(51) The blocking doors 81 point into the flow channel 25, with their radial inner ends 810 resting at the centerbody 5 such that the flow channel 25 is fully blocked. Accordingly, the airstream is turned and directed towards the cascades 28 which are now free, i.e., not anymore covered by the inner and outer extending wall elements 22, 21. This is shown in particular in FIGS. 13 and 14.

(52) FIGS. 15 and 16 show both the cascades 28 and the deployed blocking doors 81. The inner and outer extending wall elements 22, 21 have been moved even further downstream.

(53) FIGS. 17 and 18 show an embodiment in which the translatable structure 21 is in the fully deployed position, similar as in FIGS. 12 to 16. However, the blocking doors 81 have not been actuated. This is possible as the first actuation system for actuating the blocking doors 81 is separate from the second actuation system for translating the translatable structure 21 between the stowed and the deployed positions.

(54) The configuration of FIGS. 17 and 18 may be used at idle thrust.

(55) The axial distance that the translatable structure 22 is displaceable relative to the fixed structure 21 may lie in the range between 500 mm and 1500 mm, in particular in the range between 800 mm and 1200 mm.

(56) FIGS. 19 to 21 show in more detail the first actuation system 4. As already mentioned, the first actuation system 4 comprises a motor 41, a profiled feed shaft 42 and a slider element 43. The slider element 43 is shown in the most downstream position at the feed shaft 43, wherein a stop element 421 is provided to stop the slider element 43 at the end of the feed shaft 42.

(57) As can be seen in particular in FIG. 20, the profile 430 of the slider element 43 is identical to the profile 420 of the feed shaft 42 (female and male profile). This allows the slider element 43 to slide along the longitudinal length of the feed shaft 42. It further enables the feed shaft 42 to rotate the slider element 43 by rotation of the feed shaft 42. Rotation of the feed shaft is effected by the motor 41. The profile 420 may be a polygonal profile or a TORX® profile.

(58) The slider element 43 is coupled to two coupling shafts 83, 84, wherein the coupling shafts 83, 84 comprise axes which are inclined to the axis of the feed shaft 42. To transfer the rotational movement of the slider element 43 to the coupling shafts 83, 84, the slider element comprises a thread 431 which forms a warm screw which interacts with toothings 830, 840 formed around the circumference of the coupling shafts 83, 84.

(59) The coupling between the slider element 43 and the two coupling shafts 83, 84 can integrate a reduction function such that the coupling shafts 83, 84 rotate slower than the feed shaft 42. Accordingly, the feed shaft 42 transfers a low torque only on the coupling shafts 83, 84 which allows to reduce the weight of the feed shaft 42.

(60) As can be seen in FIGS. 19 and 21, the coupling shafts 83, 84 are each connected to a blocking door 81, such that rotation of the feed shaft 42 translates into a rotation of blocking doors 81.

(61) Further, the blocking doors 81 are connected to each other by further joints 82 that transmit the rotary motion of one blocking door onto the next blocking door. The further joints 82 may be formed as universal joints. This way, the rotary motion of the coupling shaft 83 is transferred to a plurality of blocking doors 81 and the rotary motion of the other coupling shaft 84 is also transferred to a plurality of a blocking doors 81. In particular, the blocking doors 81 coupled to the coupling shaft 83 form a half-circular arrangement and the blocking doors coupled to the coupling shaft 84 form a half circular arrangement such that, by a single motor 41, feed shaft 42 and slider element 43 all blocking doors 81 it can be rotated and deployed.

(62) In alternative embodiments, more than one feed shaft 42 and slider element 43 may be provided, with the same principle as in FIGS. 19 and 21, but with less blocking doors 81 coupled to one feed shaft 42.

(63) In further embodiments, there are provided more than two struts, such as three, four or five struts, to connect the centerbody 5 to the nozzle wall 20. In a further embodiment, there is just a single strut that connects the centerbody 5 to the nozzle wall 20.

(64) It should be understood that the above description is intended for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. Also, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other aspects of the disclosure can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. Various features of the various embodiments disclosed herein can be combined in different combinations to create new embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure. In particular, the disclosure extends to and includes all combinations and sub-combinations of one or more features described herein. Any ranges given herein include any and all specific values within the range and any and all sub-ranges within the given range.