Systems and methods for altering inlet airflow of gas turbine engines
First Claim
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1. A system for altering inlet airflow to a gas turbine engine comprising:
- a gas turbine engine inlet having a top side and a bottom side meeting at a leading edge thereof, and a slat, the slat being movable between a retracted position and an extended position;
in the extended position, the slat increasing an effective diameter of the inlet compared to the diameter of the inlet when in the retracted position; and
in the retracted position, said slat has an aft inner surface that conforms along its entire length to and rests atop a forward surface of the inlet on said lip over said top side and said bottom side beyond the leading edge thereof.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for altering airflow to gas turbine engines are provided. In this regard, a representative system includes a gas turbine engine inlet having a slat, the slat being movable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the slat increases an effective diameter of the inlet compared to the diameter of the inlet when in the retracted position.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for altering inlet airflow to a gas turbine engine comprising:
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a gas turbine engine inlet having a top side and a bottom side meeting at a leading edge thereof, and a slat, the slat being movable between a retracted position and an extended position; in the extended position, the slat increasing an effective diameter of the inlet compared to the diameter of the inlet when in the retracted position; and
in the retracted position, said slat has an aft inner surface that conforms along its entire length to and rests atop a forward surface of the inlet on said lip over said top side and said bottom side beyond the leading edge thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for altering inlet airflow to a gas turbine engine comprising:
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a slat configured as an annular segment, said annular segment having a generally parabolic shape; and a slat actuator operative to move the slat between a retracted position in which said slat conforms along its entire length to and rests atop a lip and on a top and on a bottom of a leading edge of said inlet, and an extended position wherein; the system further comprises a gas turbine engine inlet; the slat is mounted to the inlet; and in the extended position, the slat increases an effective diameter of the inlet compared to the diameter of the inlet when in the retracted position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for altering airflow to a gas turbine engine comprising:
selectively increasing an effective diameter of a nacelle inlet while a gas turbine engine mounted within the nacelle is operating wherein increasing the diameter comprises extending movable inlet slats located in a vicinity of the inlet and wherein decreasing said effective diameter of said nacelle inlet comprises resting said inlet slats that have an aft inner surface that conforms along its entire length and rests on a lip, a top surface and a bottom surface of a nacelle inlet at a leading edge thereof. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A system for altering inlet airflow to a gas turbine engine comprising:
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a gas turbine engine inlet having a slat, the slat being movable between a retracted position and an extended position wherein the extended position, the slat increasing an effective diameter of the inlet compared to the diameter of the inlet when in the retracted position; a pneumatic actuator operative to move the slat between the extended position and the retracted position; a bleed air regulator operative to provide air to the pneumatic actuator for actuating the slat; and
,wherein the inlet defines an inlet plenum and the pneumatic actuator and bleed air regulator are located within the inlet plenum.
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Specification