IP Library Granted Patent US 8,800,261
Granted Patent B2
US 8,800,261 · App. 12/838,620 · Granted Aug 12, 2014

Gas turbine engine with noise attenuating variable area fan nozzle

Inventors: Andre M. Hall (East Hartford, CT); Oliver V. Atassi (Longmeadow, MA); Jonathan Gilson (West Hartford, CT)
Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
F02K1/09F02K3/06F05D2260/96
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,800,261
App. No.
12/838,620
Granted
Aug 12, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bypass gas turbine engine includes a variable area fan nozzle with a leading edge region that defines an increased airfoil leading edge radius.

Claims (12)

1. A method of reducing a total effective perceived noise level of a gas turbine engine with a variable area fan nozzle in communication with a fan bypass flow path, the variable area fan nozzle having a first fan nacelle section and a second fan nacelle section, the second fan nacelle section axially movable relative the first fan nacelle section to define an auxiliary port to vary a fan nozzle exit area and adjust a fan bypass airflow comprising:

defining an airfoil leading edge region of the second fan nacelle section by an elliptical contour which defines a baseline configuration with a radius less than 0.05δ where δ represents an upstream boundary layer thickness;

increasing the semi-minor axis relative to the baseline configuration; and

rotating the elliptical contour to align tangentially to a suction surface of the airfoil leading edge region to increase an airfoil leading edge radius relative to a baseline configuration to reduce boundary layer turbulence ingestion leading edge noise.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

maintaining the suction surface constant relative to the baseline configuration; and

altering a leading edge curvature of a pressure surface to define the increased airfoil leading edge radius.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

defining the leading edge region along an approximately first quarter chord of the second fan nacelle section.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

redefining a pressure surface, corresponding to the increase in semi minor axis, to align tangentially, to increase the airfoil leading edge radius relative to the baseline configuration of radius <0.05δ to reduce boundary layer turbulence ingestion leading edge noise.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the leading edge radius is increased to 0.1δ to 0.5δ.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064714/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE AND REMOVE PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 11886281 AND ADD PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 14846874. TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054062 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS. Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055659/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 4, 2020
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054062/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2010
From: HALL, ANDRE M.; ATASSI, OLIVER V.; GILSON, JONATHAN
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024703/0652 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120011825A1 · Jan 19, 2012