Abstract:
An energy bleed apparatus and method for a detonation gun (2) apparatus utilizing bleed to remove reflected energy from interfering with the detonation wave front (100). The energy bleed system is positioned in the downstream portion of the combustion chamber (12) of a detonation gun. The bleed apertures of the present invention extract energy from the combustion chamber (12) that would otherwise be reflected off the combustion chamber walls and collide with the detonation wave front. The bleeding off of this energy allows the detonation wave front to progress into a barrel (13) of a detonation relatively undisturbed and permits a maximum amount of energy to be transferred directly to the coating powder. The increase in energy available to be transferred from the detonation wave front (100) to the coating powder translates into better quality coatings and an associated increase in productivity of the overall coating process.
Abstract:
A gas detonation apparatus and method for powder coating a workpiece. The present invention lies in the ability to preselect a discrete number of detonation cells and the judicious selection of a suitable barrel diameter. The present invention employs an energy bleed system positioned in the downstream end of a combustion chamber of a detonation gun to bleed off unwanted energy from the combustion chamber (12) leaving behind a discrete number of detonation cells. The detonation cells are then discharged into the barrel (13) of the detonation gun (2). The barrel (13) diameter is selected to match the total area of the discrete detonation cells selected. The effect is to discharge a discrete number of detonation cells into the barrel (13) to preclude energy loss to the detonation cells from interference with reflected energy within the barrel itself. The present invention substantially increases the productivity of the detonation coating process.
Abstract:
Resin curing of a composite laminated structure is monitored using an optical fiber (20) having a grating sensor (28) embedded therein. The fiber (20) is surrounded by upper and lower buffer regions (12, 14) having a predetermined minimum number of layers (30) (or thickness) with uni-directional reinforcing filaments (32) and resin (34) therebetween. When the filaments (32) are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fiber (20), the buffer regions (12, 14) allow the sensor (28) to exhibit maximum sensitivity to detection of the minimum resin viscosity and the gelation point (i.e., the onset of a rapid cross-linking rate) of the resin (34). The buffer regions (12, 14) also have a minimum thickness which serves to isolate the sensor (28) from interfering stresses from arbitrarily angled filaments (32) in layers (30) of outer regions (10, 16) which surround the buffer regions (12, 14).
Abstract:
A pressure sensor (12) is located in the compressor stage of a gas turbine engine (10) to provide a pressure signal (PR1) that shows the compressor flow characteristics. The pressure signal (PR1) is applied to a bandpass filter (16) with roll-offs above and below N2. The difference between the filter output and a stored value for the pressure signal is integrated, and compressor bleed valves (18) are opened if the integral exceeds a stored threshold. The health of a compressor stage is determined by analyzing the magnitude of compressor pressure variations at N2 while accelerating the engine and by comparing the magnitude with values obtained from a compressor with a known stall margin.
Abstract:
A hollow airfoil (10) for a gas turbine engine having a leading edge (12), a trailing edge (14), a pressure side (20), and a suction side (22) includes a plurality of internal spanwise stiffening ribs (31-35) that are arranged in a logarithmic pattern. The particular arrangement of internal ribs (31-35) optimizes stiffness of the airfoil (10) without significantly increasing the weight thereof.
Abstract:
An airseal assembly (54) for a gas turbine engine (10) includes an airseal body (62) with a forward rail (68) and a ring rail (58). Both rails extend radially outward from the airseal body (62) and are spaced apart from each other by a plurality of spacers (60) to define a space therebetween. The airseal assembly (54) is segmented in at least two portions so that the forward rail (68) and the ring rail (58) are detached from each other. Each rail (68, 58) includes a contact surface (70, 80) that can be sprayed with wear resistant coating prior to assembly of the airseal in order to reduce wear on the forward rail (68) and the ring rail (58).
Abstract:
An air mixer (10), with a water collector (46), is disclosed for supplying recirculated cabin air in aircraft. In the preferred embodiment: used cabin air flows over pipes of colder fresh air to cool the used air and condense out most of the moisture contained in it; the fresh air and used air are passed over opposite faces of a ring of stator vanes (36), thereby imparting swirls to both types of airstreams; and the streams meet at the trailing tips of the stator vanes, where they corkscrew together to throw remaining coalesced moisture against a collection trough (40), from where it is discharged. The airstreams can now be injected into the cabin without droplets raining down on the passengers, nor ice clogging any pipes for the fresh air, which is typically supplied at below-freezing temperature.
Abstract:
A thrust reverser (30) of a gas turbine engine (10) includes a blocker door (36) and a plurality of cascades (38). The thrust reverser (30) and the blocker door (36) have a stowed position and a deployed position. In the deployed position the blocker door (36) "leaks" airflow therethrough without generating substantial forward thrust. The leaked airflow reduces the amount of total airflow that must be accommodated by the cascades (38) of the thrust reverser (30), thereby decreasing the overall size of the cascades (38) and of the associated thrust reverser hardware and subsequently reducing the overall weight thereof.
Abstract:
A mounting arrangement securing a gas turbine engine (10) onto a pylon (45) includes a front mount (48), a thrust mount (50), and a rear mount (52). The front mount (48) is disposed forward of a forward end of the thrust mount (50). The thrust mount (50) is angled to point onto an intersection line (L) between a vertical plane (Y) traversing the gas turbine engine (10) and passing through the front mount (48) and a horizontal plane (X) passing through a longitudinal center axis (20). The mounting arrangement of the present invention significantly reduces the bending moment resulting from aerodynamic loading and engine thrust.