Abstract: A nozzle having a movable diverging section, the nozzle including a stationary throat forming a ball joint and a diverging section having a top portion that is movably mounted around the throat; an annular lubrication chamber being interposed between the stationary throat and the top portion of the diverging section, the annular lubrication chamber containing a grease seal; an annular throttling element arranged between the stationary throat and the diverging section downstream from the annular lubrication chamber, the annular throttling element being made of refractory material; and an annular thermal protection element arranged between the stationary throat and the diverging section downstream from the annular lubrication chamber and upstream from the annular throttling element, the annular thermal protection element closing the lubrication chamber in its bottom portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combustion chamber for a gas turbine with a combustion chamber head and a heat shield which are designed in one piece, with the heat shield being provided with at least one recess, in which is arranged a burner or an annular sleeve enclosing the burner, with a burner seal being provided between the heat shield and the burner, characterized in that the heat shield is provided in the area of the recess with an annular groove, in which is arranged at least one elastic sealing element forming the burner seal.

Abstract: Systems and methods for utilizing gas turbine compartment ventilation discharge air. In one embodiment, a system may include a gas turbine engine having a compressor. The system also may include a gas turbine compartment disposed about the gas turbine engine. Moreover, the system may include an inlet bleed heat (IBH) manifold in fluid communication with the compressor. The gas turbine compartment may be in fluid communication with the IBH manifold for providing the IBH manifold with ventilation discharge air from the gas turbine compartment.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan including a plurality of fan blades rotatable about an axis, a compressor section, a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section, a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor, a geared architecture arranged in a housing and driven by the turbine section for rotating the fan about the axis, and a support member that supports the geared architecture within the gas turbine engine. The support member includes an inner portion and an outer portion. One of the inner and outer portions is configured to be coupled to the geared architecture and the other of the inner and outer portions is configured to be coupled to the housing. A plurality of removal features each have at least one engaging surface to facilitate a pulling force on the support member in a direction parallel to the axis.

Abstract: A mixing joint for adjacent can combustors may include a first can combustor with a first combustion flow and a first wall, a second can combustor with a second combustion flow and a second wall, and a flow disruption surface positioned about the first wall and the second wall to promote mixing of the first combustion flow and the second combustion flow.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an engine having two modes of operation—air breathing and rocket—that may be used in aerospace applications such as in an aircraft, flying machine, or aerospace vehicle. The engine's efficiency can be maximized by using a precooler arrangement to cool intake air in air breathing mode using cold fuel used for the rocket mode. By introducing the precooler and certain other engine cycle components, and arranging and operating them as described, problems such as those associated with higher fuel and weight requirements and frost formation can be alleviated.

Abstract: In one aspect, a fuel supply system may include a fuel injector having a primary and a secondary pilot fuel nozzle in fluid communication with a primary and a secondary fuel circuit, respectively, and a main fuel nozzle in fluid communication with a main fuel circuit. The fuel injector may also define a by-pass fuel circuit connected between the primary circuit and the secondary circuit and/or the main circuit. The system may also include a primary fuel manifold configured to be fluidly connected to the primary pilot fuel nozzle via the primary fuel circuit. Moreover, the system may include a by-pass valve provided in operative association with the by-pass fuel circuit. The by-pass valve may be configured to be opened such that a portion of the fuel flowing through the primary circuit from the primary fuel manifold is directed to the secondary circuit and/or the main circuit.

Abstract: A liquid fuel cartridge assembly for a gas turbine combustor comprising an elongated stem provided with a fuel injector tip at an aft end of said stem, said injector tip provided with a pilot fuel passage extending to a pilot fuel orifice; a plurality of air channels surrounding said pilot fuel passage and in communication with plural air holes; an annular main fuel passage surrounding said plurality of air channels and in communication with plural fuel exit holes; and a plurality of substantially radially oriented air supply holes in said stem upstream but proximate to a forward end of said tip in communication with said plurality of air channels.

Abstract: A multi-pulse gas generator includes a pressure vessel, an outer propellant arranged in the pressure vessel and which has a tubular shape, an intermediate propellant arranged inside the outer propellant and which has a tubular shape, an inner propellant arranged inside the intermediate propellant and which has a tubular shape, an internal structure arranged inside the inner propellant and fixed to the pressure vessel, a first barrier membrane arranged between the outer propellant and the intermediate propellant so as to isolate the outer propellant and the intermediate propellant from each other, and a second barrier membrane arranged between the intermediate propellant and the inner propellant so as to isolate the intermediate propellant and the inner propellant from each other. The outer propellant is supported on its outer surface by the pressure vessel. The inner propellant is supported on its inner surface by the internal structure.

Abstract: A thrust-vectoring rocket motor nozzle includes a forward assembly having a forward shell with a flange configured for connection to a motor and a throat portion opposite the flange. A ball joint sleeve may be disposed proximate the throat portion, and an exit cone assembly may include a ball joint socket configured to mate with the ball joint sleeve to allow movement of the exit cone assembly about one or more axes relative to the forward assembly. A thermal barrier may be disposed in a gap between the forward assembly and the exit cone assembly. The forward assembly may include a throat insulator mechanically locked within the forward shell. Related methods include forming thrust-vectorable rocket motor nozzles. Rocket motors may include such nozzles.

Abstract: The described gas turbine engine fuel manifold includes one or more fuel conduits defined within a ring-shaped manifold body, each of the fuel conduits being fluidly connected to a respective separate group of fuel injection nozzles. Each of the fuel conduits, which extend from a conduit inlet to a conduit end, include a first portion extending continuously between the conduit inlet and an inflexion of the conduit, and a second portion downstream of the first portion and connected thereto in serial flow communication, the second portion extending between the inflexion and the conduit end. The inflexion being a single exit of the first portion such that fuel flows uninterrupted between the conduit inlet and the inflexion. The respective separate group of fuel injection nozzles of the fuel conduit fluidly communicating exclusively with the second portion of the fuel conduit.

Abstract: An exhaust impingement cooling device for reducing heating effects of an exhaust plume on an impinged surface. An exhaust nozzle exit screen is positioned across an exhaust plume flow path, and includes a plurality of flowpath diverging apertures that spread at least a portion of an exhaust plume that is being emitted along the exhaust plume flow path from an exhaust plume source. Flow control jets are arrayed within the exhaust plume flow path in respective positions where their operation will augment the flow of exhaust plume gases through the screen, thereby increasing the momentum and mixing of the exhaust plume with cooler ambient air.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for sealing variable area fan nozzles of jet engines are disclosed. An apparatus in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure includes a frame and a seal to be coupled to the frame. The seal to enclose petals of a variable area fan nozzle to substantially prevent airflow between the petals.

Abstract: A rigid raft is provided for a gas turbine engine. The raft has an electrical system and/or a fluid system embedded in the material of the raft. The raft further has one or more first mounts for mounting the raft to the gas turbine engine, and one or more second mounts for mounting a gas turbine engine component to the raft. The raft further has one or more tethers which extend between respective first and second mounts and are embedded in the material of the raft.

Abstract: A stage of a space launcher including an engine core, a tank secured above the engine core, and a nozzle including a first deployable nozzle section secured below the engine core, the nozzle further including a second and a third section configured to be situated extending from each other when the nozzle is in a deployed propulsion configuration. The stage further includes a structure for temporarily supporting nozzle sections mounted on the tank, configured to change the nozzle to a configuration for accessing the engine core wherein the nozzle sections are inserted into each other, with the third section bearing against a lower support of the temporary structure.

Abstract: The present application provides a combustor with a radial penetration. The combustor may include a combustion chamber, a liner surrounding the combustion chamber, a flow sleeve surrounding the liner, a penetration tube extending through the liner and the flow sleeve with the radial penetration positioned within the penetration tube, a flange extending from the penetration tube about the flow sleeve, and a ferrule positioned about the flange and the radial penetration so as to limit leakage about the radial penetration.

Abstract: A liquid injector system for a combustion engine, having a single feed inlet configured to receive a premixed liquid propellant under pressure or a purge gas under pressure, and having a liquid injector assembly. The assembly has a liquid injector having a hollow dome and injector holes configured to receive and inject the premixed liquid propellant or the purge gas through the liquid injector and into a combustion chamber. The liquid injector system has a liquid-to-gas zone between an injector outlet side and a flame front. A pressure gradient decrease between the liquid injector and the combustion chamber causes the premixed liquid propellant to expand from liquid to gas phases, which causes a temperature decrease at the liquid-to-gas zone, wherein the pressure gradient decrease and the temperature decrease prevent or mitigate the flame front from propagating upstream of the combustion chamber, which achieves an anti-flashback quenching liquid injector design.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gas turbine combustor including a combustion structure (10) having a combustor liner (14) and a flow sleeve (12). The combustor liner (14) includes inner and outer surfaces (31, 30) and defines a combustion zone (15). The gas turbine combustor further includes a plurality of hollow airfoil-shaped structures (22) affixed to the combustor liner (14) and extending radially outwardly into an airflow space (18) defined radially between the flow sleeve (12) and the combustor liner (14). Each hollow structure (22) includes at least one metering tube (26) providing acoustic communication between the combustion zone (15) and the hollow structure (22). The metering tubes (26) are detachably coupled to the combustor liner (14) for permitting interchanging of the metering tube (26) with at least one additional metering tube having at least one different dimension to effect a change in an acoustic characteristic of the hollow structure (22).

Abstract: A fuel system includes a fuel supply system. A plurality of fuel nozzles are connected in fluid communication with the fuel supply system to supply fuel from a fuel source to be issued for combustion from the fuel nozzles. A cooling system is included, wherein at least one of the fuel nozzles includes a cooling circuit in addition to a fuel circuit for issuing fuel from the fuel supply system for combustion. The cooling circuit includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is in fluid communication with the cooling system for circulation of coolant through the cooling circuit and back to the cooling system out the outlet of the cooling circuit for cooling the fuel circuit with the fuel circuit staged off.

Abstract: A method of operating of a gas turbine engine to inhibit vanadic corrosion of the gas turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine burns a vanadium-contaminated fuel and includes a component configured to be in contact with combustion gases. The method includes introducing into a combustion system of the gas turbine engine a first oxide and at least one second oxide. The first oxide includes magnesium oxide, and the at least one second oxide includes at least one of aluminum oxide, iron (III) oxide, titanium dioxide, and silicon dioxide. The method further includes cleaning at least a portion of the component using a cleaning agent containing a liquid vector and at least one descaling material that is suspended in the liquid vector. The at least one descaling material is an inorganic material.