Patent ID: 6116015
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: B64C,B64D,Y02T

Abstract:
A breather outlet suitable for use with the gearbox of an aircraft mounted gas turbine engine enclosed within a nacelle, the breather outlet comprising a mast containing a breather duct, the mast being adapted to be located on the exterior of the nacelle, the breather duct being operationally interconnected with the interior of the gearbox, the mast comprising a main portion and a sub portion extending generally rearwardly from the main portion, the main portion of the mast being generally aerodynamically shaped between a leading edge and a trailing edge, the sub portion of the mast having an exhaust outlet for the breather duct, the exhaust outlet being generally rearwardly facing with respect to the operational flow of air over the mast and positioned so as to be spaced apart from the nacelle, the exhaust outlet being spaced from the trailing edge of the main portion of the mast, and the mast having vortex generators spaced from the exhaust outlet to generate vortices in the operational flow of air over the mast to act as a barrier between the airflow through the exhaust outlet and the wake from the mast.