Nose cone with actuated debris deflection flow

1 . A nose cone for debris deflection comprising:

a deflector formed in the nose cone; and

an actuator in operative communication with the deflector, the actuator configured to engage the deflector configured to create a deflection air stream; the deflection air stream being configured to manipulate a fan inlet air flow such that any debris entrained in the fan inlet air flow has a trajectory line directed away from a core flow of a gas turbine engine and toward a bypass flow of the gas turbine engine; wherein the deflector comprises an inlet formed in the nose cone, the inlet configured to receive a portion of the fan inlet airflow into a deflector flow passage; the deflector flow passage fluidly coupled with an outlet, the outlet configured to direct the deflection air stream into the fan inlet air flow, wherein the actuator is configured to move the nose cone to open and close at least one of the inlet of the deflector and the outlet of the deflector.

2 . The nose cone for debris deflection according to claim 1 , wherein the deflector is configured to create the deflection air stream which is configured to manipulate a boundary layer flow proximate the nose cone radially from a centerline axis of the nose cone.

3 . The nose cone for debris deflection according to claim 1 , wherein the deflector is located upstream of a fan blade and arrayed circumferentially around the nose cone relative a centerline axis of the nose cone.

4 . The nose cone for debris deflection according to claim 1 , wherein the deflector comprises an annular shape formed around the nose cone.

5 . The nose cone for debris deflection according to claim 1 , wherein the deflector is formed with multiple individual portions arrayed about the nose cone.

6 . The nose cone for debris deflection according to claim 1 , wherein the deflector flow passage comprises a converging cross sectional flow area which changes from a first flow area proximate the inlet to a second flow area proximate the outlet; the first flow area being larger than the second flow area; wherein the deflector is configured to accelerate the deflection air stream passing through the deflector flow passage and exiting the outlet.

7 . A gas turbine engine having a nose cone for debris deflection comprising:

a fan section including a fan blade upstream from a bypass duct and a core separated by a splitter;

a deflector formed in the nose cone, the deflector comprising an inlet fluidly coupled with a deflector flow passage, the deflector flow passage fluidly coupled with an outlet; the deflector being located upstream of the fan blade and arrayed circumferentially around the nose cone relative a centerline axis of the nose cone; and

an actuator in operative communication with the deflector, the actuator configured to open and close at least one of the inlet and the outlet; wherein the actuator is configured to move the nose cone to open and close at least one of the inlet and the outlet.

8 . The gas turbine engine having a nose cone for debris deflection according to claim 7 , wherein the deflector flow passage comprises a converging cross sectional flow area which changes from a first flow area proximate the inlet to a second flow area proximate the outlet; the first flow area being larger than the second flow area; wherein the deflector is configured to accelerate a deflection air stream passing through the deflector flow passage and exiting the outlet.

9 . The gas turbine engine having a nose cone for debris deflection according to claim 7 , wherein the outlet of the deflector flow passage is shaped to accelerate a deflection air stream to prevent formation of flow vortices in the deflection air stream or the fan inlet airflow.

10 . The gas turbine engine having a nose cone for debris deflection according to claim 7 , wherein the actuator is coupled to a shutter, the shutter is in operative communication with at least one of the outlet and the inlet.

11 . The gas turbine engine having a nose cone for debris deflection according to claim 7 , wherein the-actuator is configured to move a portion of the nose cone relative to the inlet to open and close the inlet and/or wherein the actuator moves a portion of the nose cone relative to the outlet to open and close the outlet.

12 . The gas turbine engine having a nose cone for debris deflection according to claim 7 , wherein the actuator is operable responsive to a gas turbine engine condition.

13 . A process for forming a nose cone for debris deflection comprising:

a fan section including a fan blade upstream from a bypass duct and a core separated by a splitter;

forming a deflector in the nose cone, the deflector comprising an inlet;

fluidly coupling the inlet with a deflector flow passage;

fluidly coupling the deflector flow passage with an outlet;

locating the deflector upstream of the fan blade;

arraying the deflector circumferentially around the nose cone relative a centerline axis of the nose cone;

coupling an actuator in operative communication with the deflector; configuring the actuator to open and close at least one of the inlet and the outlet; and

configuring the actuator to move the nose cone to open and close at least one of the inlet and the outlet.

14 . The process of claim 13 , further comprising:

forming the deflector flow passage with a converging cross sectional flow area which changes from a first flow area proximate the inlet to a second flow area proximate the outlet;

forming the first flow area larger than the second flow area; and

configuring the deflector to accelerate a deflection air stream passing through the deflector flow passage and exiting the outlet.

15 . The process of claim 13 , further comprising:

shaping the outlet of the deflector flow passage to accelerate the deflection air stream to prevent formation of flow vortices in a deflection air stream or the fan inlet airflow.

16 . The process of claim 13 , further comprising:

coupling the actuator to a shutter; and

coupling the shutter in operative communication with at least one of the outlet and the inlet.

17 . The process of claim 13 , further comprising:

configuring the actuator to move a portion of the nose cone relative to the inlet to open and close the inlet and configuring the actuator to move a portion of the nose cone relative to the outlet to open and close the outlet.

18 . The process of claim 13 , further comprising:

configuring the deflector to create a deflection air stream to manipulate a boundary layer flow proximate the nose cone radially from the centerline axis of the nose cone.

19 . The process of claim 13 , further comprising:

configuring the deflector to create a deflection air stream;

configuring the actuator operable responsive to a gas turbine engine condition; and

configuring the deflection air stream to manipulate a fan inlet air flow such that any debris entrained in the fan inlet air flow has a trajectory line directed away from a core flow of a gas turbine engine and toward a bypass flow of the gas turbine engine.