Improvements in coupling system for ducted fan power plant

摘要

1,062,377. Aircraft power plant. GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. July 2, 1965 [July 30, 1964], No. 28156/65. Addition to 1,062,376. Heading B7G. [Also in Division F1] The invention of the parent Specification is modified or improved in that the wall of the plenum chamber from which the plurality of ducts connected to the segmented sections of the turbine inlet scroll emanate, is rotatable with the nacelle relative to the structure supporting the nacelle. A motor is provided to rotate the nacelle and plenum chamber wall. In Fig. 2 the plenum chamber is of cylindrical form comprising end walls 22, 23 and a cylindrical wall 24, combustion gases from a gas generator (not shown) mounted within the aircraft fuselage pass through a series of ducts 21 disposed within the engine support structure 20 to the plenum chamber. The gases pass from the plenum chamber through a series of ducts 26 disposed in side-by-side spiral formation within the engine nacelle 17 to the individual segments of the turbine inlet scroll, the gases impinging on the blades of the tip turbine so as to drive the ducted fan 18. The ducts 26 emanate from the cylindrical wall 24 of the plenum chamber, this wall 24 also the wall 23 being secured to the engine nacelle so as to be rotatable therewith when the engine is rotated to the vertical position when vertical thrust is required. The other end wall 22 of the plenum chamber through which the ducts 21 pass is fixed relative to the support structure 20. The engine is rotated between the horizontal and vertical dispositions by means of a motor 30 and shaft 29. In Fig. 4 (not shown) the ducts 26 emanate from the wall 23 of the plenum chamber, the wall 23 only being rotatable with the engine nacelle. In Fig. 5 (not shown) the ducts again emanate from the cylindrical wall 24 of the plenum chamber but in this case both end walls 22, 23 of the chamber are fixed; the engine is rotatable by the means indicated at 28.