INFRARED SUPPRESSOR FOR A GAS TURBINE ENGINE

Assignee

UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, HARTFORD, CT A CORP. OF DE

Filed

Jun 30, 1989

Granted

Dec 23, 1997

Location

YONKERS NY US

Abstract

An IR suppressor produces a thin "ribbon" exhaust plume using a tapered exhaust manifold which has a plurality of discrete exhaust nozzles that are longitudinally aligned with the exhaust manifold. Optionally, the nozzles extend within but are spaced apart from mixing ducts which are open to the ambient air at both ends. The mixing ducts mix ambient air with the exhaust plume. In another aspect of this invention, a single nozzle (which is longitudinally aligned with the manifold) is substituted for the plurality of discrete exhaust nozzles. In this aspect, the nozzle extends within but is spaced apart from a mixing duct which is open at both ends and has a curve sufficient to block a line of sight to the nozzle. A helicopter that has a rotatable IR suppressor so that the exhaust can be directed substantially parallel to the helicopter blades when the blades are not turning to protect them from exhaust heat is also disclosed.

Source: Google Patents