Detachable integral aircraft tailcone and power assembly

• US 6,244,539 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alliedsignal Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alliedsignal Inc.
• Inventors: Liston, Laurence D. N., Royalty, Charles Michael, Schoepf, Joseph L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eldred, J. Woodrow
• Application Number:
  US09/456,251
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 244/54, 244/55, 244/120, 181/212, 181/222, 248/554
• US Class Current: 244/54
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2041/002 Mounting arrangements for auxiliary power units (APU's)
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 29/00 Power-plant nacelles, fairings, or cowlings nacelles not otherwise provided for B64C
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 33/04 of exhaust outlets or jet pipes exhaust outlets for combustion engines in general F01N; jet pipes or nozzles for jet-propulsion plants per se F02K; plants characterised by the form or arrangement of the jet pipe or nozzle F02K ; attitude, flight direction, or altitude control by jet reaction B64C
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 33/06 Silencing exhaust or propulsion jets ground installations B64F
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 41/00 Power installations for auxiliary purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/50 Handling or transporting aircraft components
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/20 Mounting or supporting of plant; Accommodating heat expansion or creep
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 1/827 Sound absorbing structures or liners
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/50 for auxiliary power units (APU's)
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2230/68 using auxiliary equipment for lifting or holding
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/91 on a stationary structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

The present invention provides a tailcone and power assembly mountable to the body of an aircraft using a height adjustable dolly. The tailcone assembly comprises a longitudinal support member, a gas turbine engine mounted to the support member; a firewall; two curved rotatable casings hingeably connected to the support member; an inlet duct extending from an aperture in one of the rotatable casings to the engine inlet; an integral exhaust casing, and interface means for making necessary engine accessory connections to the aircraft. The tailcone is installed on the aircraft by mounting the tailcone in the adjustable dolly, rolling the dolly up to the aircraft, adjusting the dolly until the auxiliary power assembly is properly aligned for attachment to the aircraft, connecting the engine accessories to the aircraft, and bolting the assembly to the aircraft.

Claims

1. An integrated muffler and exhaust cone for use in an aircraft tailcone having a gas turbine engine mounted therein, comprising:

an exhaust cone portion of an aircraft tailcone extending from a forward end to and an aft end that opens to ambient, said exhaust cone portion defining an interior chamber, said exhaust cone portion further having a bulkhead at the forward end that fluidly isolates the interior chamber from the remainder of said tailcone;

said bulkhead also having an aperture;

a solid casing defining a conduit having a first end extending through said aperture for coupling to the exhaust of the gas turbine engine for receiving the exhaust gas from said engine and a second end extending to said open aft end for porting the exhaust gas from said engine out of said tailcone; and

a plurality of baffles circumscribing said casing, each of said baffles fluidly isolated from the hot gas flowing in said conduit by said solid casing.

2. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of claim 1, wherein said casing is made of a honeycomb composite material comprising a honeycomb core and fiber reinforced composite layers overlaying said honeycomb core, said composite layers comprising carbon fiber and plastic matrix, wherein said plastic matrix is selected from a group consisting of bismaleimide and polyimide plastics.

3. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of claim 1 wherein said baffles are lined with a felt metal material.

4. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of claim 1 further comprising a felt metal face sheet disposed around said casing.

5. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of claim 1 wherein said felt metal face sheet is disposed between said casing and said baffles.

6. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of claim 1 wherein said casing is tapered.