IP Library Granted Patent US 12,559,249
Granted Patent B2
US 12,559,249 · App. 18/403,310 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Engine exhaust center body with acoustic attenuation

Inventor: Andrew J. Strutt (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
B64D33/06F01D25/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,559,249
App. No.
18/403,310
Granted
Feb 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An exhaust center body includes an inner skin, a perforated outer skin, a first bulkhead, a second bulkhead, a baffle and an acoustic chamber. The first bulkhead extends radially between the inner skin and the perforated outer skin. The second bulkhead extends radially between the inner skin and the perforated outer skin. The baffle includes a panel and a flange formed integral with the panel. The panel extends radially between the inner skin and the perforated outer skin. The panel extends axially along the axial centerline between the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead. The panel is attached to one of the inner skin, the first bulkhead or the second bulkhead by the flange. The acoustic chamber is formed radially between the inner skin and the perforated outer skin, axially between the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead, and circumferentially adjacent the baffle.

Claims (50)

1 . An assembly for an aircraft propulsion system, comprising:

an exhaust center body including an inner skin, a perforated outer skin, a first bulkhead, a second bulkhead, a baffle and an acoustic chamber;

the first bulkhead extending radially between and attached to the inner skin and the perforated outer skin, and the first bulkhead extending circumferentially about an axial centerline;

the second bulkhead extending radially between and attached to the inner skin and the perforated outer skin, and the second bulkhead extending circumferentially about the axial centerline;

the baffle including a panel and a flange formed integral with the panel, the panel extending radially between the inner skin and the perforated outer skin, the panel extending axially along the axial centerline between the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead, and the panel attached to one of the inner skin, the first bulkhead or the second bulkhead by the flange; and

the acoustic chamber formed within the exhaust center body radially between the inner skin and the perforated outer skin, axially between the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead, and circumferentially adjacent the baffle;

wherein the baffle further includes a baffle skin and a cellular core connected to and extending between the panel and the baffle skin.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flange is attached to the inner skin.

3 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the flange is attached to the inner skin with one or more mechanical fasteners.

4 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the flange extends along at least eighty percent of an axial length of the panel.

5 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flange is attached to the first bulkhead.

6 . The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the flange is attached to the first bulkhead with one or more mechanical fasteners.

7 . The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the flange extends along at least forty percent of a radial height of the panel.

8 . The assembly of claim 5 , wherein

the flange is a first flange, and the baffle further includes a second flange formed integral with the panel; and

the second flange is attached to the first bulkhead and is radially adjacent the first flange.

9 . The assembly of claim 5 , wherein

the flange is a first bulkhead flange, and the baffle further includes a second bulkhead flange formed integral with the panel; and

the second bulkhead flange is attached to the second bulkhead.

10 . The assembly of claim 9 , wherein

the baffle further includes an inner skin flange formed integral with the panel; and

the inner skin flange is attached to the inner skin.

11 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cellular core comprises a honeycomb core.

12 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein

the first bulkhead comprises a first bulkhead structural panel; and

the first bulkhead structural panel includes a first bulkhead panel, a first bulkhead skin and a first bulkhead cellular core connected to and extending between the first bulkhead panel and the first bulkhead skin.

13 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein

the second bulkhead comprises a second bulkhead structural panel; and

the second bulkhead structural panel includes a second bulkhead panel, a second bulkhead skin and a second bulkhead cellular core connected to and extending between the second bulkhead panel and the second bulkhead skin.

14 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first bulkhead comprises a flex feature configured to accommodate shifting between the inner skin and the perforated outer skin.

15 . The assembly of claim 14 , wherein

the flex feature comprises a bead formed into a panel of the first bulkhead; and

the bead extends circumferentially about the axial centerline.

16 . The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the flex feature comprises a portion of a panel of the first bulkhead with a smaller thickness than a radially adjacent portion of the panel.

17 . An assembly for a gas turbine engine, comprising:

an exhaust center body including an inner skin, a perforated outer skin, a first bulkhead, a second bulkhead, a baffle and an acoustic chamber;

the first bulkhead extending radially between and attached to the inner skin and the perforated outer skin, and the first bulkhead extending circumferentially about an axial centerline of the exhaust center body;

the second bulkhead extending radially between and attached to the inner skin and the perforated outer skin, and the second bulkhead extending circumferentially about the axial centerline of the exhaust center body;

the baffle extending radially between the inner skin and the perforated outer skin, the baffle extending axially along the axial centerline between the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead, the baffle attached to the inner skin, the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead, and the baffle comprising a structural panel with a honeycomb core; and

the acoustic chamber formed within the exhaust center body radially between the inner skin and the perforated outer skin, axially between the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead, and circumferentially adjacent the baffle.

18 . The assembly of claim 17 , wherein

the baffle includes a panel and a flange formed integral with the panel;

the panel extends radially and axially across the acoustic chamber; and

the flange is attached to one of the inner skin, the first bulkhead or the second bulkhead.

19 . An assembly for a gas turbine engine, comprising:

an exhaust center body including an inner skin, a perforated outer skin, a first bulkhead, a second bulkhead, a baffle and an acoustic chamber;

the first bulkhead extending radially between and attached to the inner skin and the perforated outer skin, the first bulkhead extending circumferentially about an axial centerline of the exhaust center body, and the first bulkhead comprising a first structural panel with a first cellular core;

the second bulkhead extending radially between and attached to the inner skin and the perforated outer skin, the second bulkhead extending circumferentially about the axial centerline of the exhaust center body, and the second bulkhead comprising a second structural panel with a second cellular core;

the baffle extending radially and axially across the acoustic chamber, and the baffle attached to the inner skin, the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead; and

the acoustic chamber formed within the exhaust center body radially between the inner skin and the perforated outer skin, axially between the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead, and circumferentially adjacent the baffle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2024
From: STRUTT, ANDREW J.
To: ROHR, INC.
Reel/Frame 066188/0761 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63436795 · Jan 3, 2023
Related Publication 20240217668A1 · Jul 4, 2024
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