Abstract: A pressure wave apparatus utilizing the principles of pulsed detonation and wave rotor technologies. The apparatus includes inlet and outlet ports that interface with a plurality of fluid flow passageways on a rotor. A buffer gas is routed through some of the inlet and outlet ports and into and out of the plurality of fluid flow passageways. One of the inlet ports is a buffer gas inlet port that when placed in registry with a fluid flow passageway allows the flow of buffer gas into the respective passageway. Fuel is delivered into the buffer gas proximate the buffer gas inlet port so that only a portion of the buffer gas inlet port receives any fuel.

Abstract: An active blade clearance control system for a gas turbine engine. The clearance between the tip of a rotatable blade and an inner surface of a blade track is adjusted by moving the blade track relative to the tip of the blades. A split control ring is manipulated to adjust tension therein and a resulting force is transmitted to an inner member. The plurality of blade tracks are coupled to the inner member and move in response to the force transmitted from the split control ring.

Abstract: An assembly including inner and outer overlapping annular elements with interengaging threads. An axial abutment between the two elements is spaced from the threaded section to permit a structural and fluid seal at the joint. Pilot joints are provided to stabilize the joint and provide additional sealing.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine blade platform including a par of platform retention members. The pair of platform retention members are configured to be located on opposite sides of a disk lug. The retention members interact with the disk lug to restrain radial movement of the platform during rotation of a disk.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine blade comprises a housing, a composite core located within the housing, and a gas damper located within the housing for damping vibration of the blade.

Abstract: A system located with the housing of a gas turbine engine for increasing the pressure of working fluid from the compressor that will be utilized to cool a component. In one form the system includes a pump rotatable with a turbine component to increase the pressure of the working fluid.

Abstract: A passive clearance control system for a gas turbine engine component. The system provides a blade shroud that is isolated from the component case and can move radially to maintain blade clearance. A plurality of vane sectors define a stator ring including a blade shroud. The stator ring and the control ring are coupled together and mounted within the component by a plurality of radial extending mounting members.

Abstract: A method for mechanically cutting a continuous circular shaped groove in a foil sheet for use in a metal matrix composite product. In one form the foil sheet is held adjacent a rotating machine tool by vacuum and a cutting tool is moved relative thereto to cut a spiral groove.

Abstract: The clearances between an array of turbine blades and its surrounding blade track may be controlled by an expansion control material system supporting the blade tracks. The blade track support hoop is placed in tension by the expansion control material placed therein and the expansion control material is placed in compression.

Abstract: A combustor module includes a pre-vaporizing chamber defined by an inner wall, and an outer wall, and a heat shield. The heat shield separates the pre-mixing zone from the reaction zone of the combustor. At least one fueling nozzle is disposed in the pre-vaporizing chamber for injecting fuel into the pre-vaporizing chamber. Fuel from the fueling nozzle is sprayed onto the surface of the heat shield, thereby simultaneously vaporizing the fuel and cooling the heat shield. The heat shield also includes a pilot fueling spray opening to allow fuel to pass directly into the reaction zone of the combustor to provide a piloting flame stability region therein.

Abstract: A propulsion pod for a twin tube, rotary inlet valve, pulse detonation engine includes a shared, two-dimensional, low aspect ratio wedge nozzle in which each side of the wedge is transitioned into the discharge end of the detonation tubes of the engine. The nozzle design results in a quasi-separate exhaust flow path with two separate nozzle throat areas, one for each detonation tube. Actuation of the center wedge of the nozzle provides pitch vectoring of the exhaust. Actuation of flaps integrated into the side walls of the nozzle provides yaw vectoring. The detonation tubes are cooled by flowing bypass air over cooling means coupled to the detonation tubes.

Abstract: A fuel spraybar assembly for spraying fuel within a gas turbine engine. The spraybar assembly includes radial and lateral members that distribute fuel within the flowpath. In one embodiment two lateral members are located at the radially inward end of a radial member and generally form a “T” shape. Circumferentially spaced adjacent spraybars subdivide the flowpath into a plurality of circumferential combustion zone segments. In one embodiment the junction of the radial and lateral members provides a flameholding feature that stabilizes the combustion flame. In another embodiment, fuel is introduced non-uniformly within the afterburner resulting in thermal vectoring of the engine thrust.

Abstract: Disclosed is an exhaust mixer (50) including a passage (54) extending from an inlet (56) to an outlet (58) that is coincident with a centerline axis of mixer (50). Several ridges (68) are circumferentially disposed about the axis and each flare away from the centerline axis relative to a direction along the centerline axis from inlet (56) toward outlet (58). Ridges (68) each define a corresponding one of several inner channels (74) radially disposed about passage (54) that each intersect passage (54) between inlet (56) and outlet (58). Several outer channels (84) are also radially disposed about passage(54) and are each positioned between a corresponding pair of inner channels (74). Ridges are each shaped to turn inner channels (74and outer channels (84) about the axis as ridges (68) extend along the indicated direction. Inner channels (74) diverge away from the axis and one another in this direction while outer channels (84) converge toward the axis and one another in this direction.

Abstract: A propulsion module including a wave rotor detonation engine having a rotor with a plurality of fluid flow channels. The fluid flow channels extend between an inlet rotor plate, which has a pair of fixed inlet ports, and an outlet rotor plate, which has a pair of fixed outlet ports. The propulsion module includes a pair of inlet ducts have a stowed mode and a deployed mode. The pair of inlet ducts include a fluid flow passageway adapted to convey air to the pair of inlet ports. A fueling system is positioned prior to the inlet ports to deliver fuel into the air introduced through the pair of inlet ducts and into the pair of inlet ports. A pair of ignition chambers are disposed adjacent to the inlet rotor plate.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates an apparatus for forming a combustion mixture in a gas turbine engine. In one form, the apparatus includes a diffuser having at least two flowpath structures spaced apart to define a flowpath for directing fluid flow. At least one of the flowpath structures includes a flowpath surface and a plurality of edges disposed along a trailing end portion of the flowpath surface. The edges extend perpendicularly from the flowpath surface and are arranged generally parallel to the fluid flow to define a plurality of corners. A fluid vortex is generated as the fluid flow rolls over each of the corners. A spray ring is disposed along a trailing edge of one of the flowpath structures and is integrally attached to the diffuser. The spray ring includes a plurality of fuel delivery apertures adapted to spray fuel into respective ones of the fluid vortices to form the combustion mixture.

Abstract: An annular diffuser for a gas turbine engine includes inner and outer walls spaced apart to define a diffuser flow path, and a support member coupling the inner wall to the outer wall while allowing independent radial displacement therebetween. The support member includes a first end portion rigidly connected to the inner wall, and a second end portion extending outside of the diffuser flowpath and coupled to the outer wall by a radially extending pin. An aerodynamically-shaped shroud member surrounds the support member to thermally isolate the support member from the diffuser flowpath, thereby shielding the support member from transient thermal loads. The shroud member is pinned to the support member at a single axial location. A combustor dome panel is attached to the downstream end portion of the shroud member and is adapted to independently support inner and outer combustor liners in spaced relation to define a combustion chamber therebetween.

Abstract: A compression system endwall bleed system having a plurality of bleed slots formed in a mechanical housing downstream of a rotating shrouded rotor. In one embodiment, the plurality of bleed slots bleed off a separated tip boundary layer to relieve back pressure associated with this blockage. A sealing structure downstream of the shrouded rotor is utilized to minimize working fluid leakage ahead of the plurality of bleed slots.

Abstract: A cast heat exchanger, having an inlet and an outlet and defining an internal passage therebetween, includes a wall structure disposed within the internal passage that defines a series of interconnected chambers through which a cooling medium flows in a serpentine path. The outer surface of the heat exchanger is covered with pin fins that transfer heat away from the hot working medium flowing over the pin fins and into the cooling medium within the chambers of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A method by which the heat transfer quality of a cooled gas engine component can be quantified for inspection purposes. A system is utilized to determine the heat transfer performance of an internally cooled structure, by analyzing the transient thermal response of the structure based upon a full field surface temperature measurement using an infrared thermal imaging system.

Abstract: The present invention contemplate a seal assembly for reducing the passage of fluid between a combustor liner and a turbine vane segment in a gas turbine engine. In one embodiment, the turbine vane segment has a lip portion defining a sealing surface. A seal element having first and second seal portion is coupled to the turbine vane segment by a support element. The support element urges the first seal portion into engagement with an aft edge of the combustor liner and positions the second seal portion adjacent the sealing surface of the turbine vane segment, while allowing relative movement between the second seal portion and the sealing surface in a direction substantially parallel to the sealing surface.