Abstract:
A support hanger is provided for a turbine engine. The support hanger includes a pin with a pin head, a retainer and a flexible seal. The retainer is pivotally connected to the pin head. The retainer includes a seal bearing surface facing towards the pin head. The seal includes a retainer bearing surface sealingly engaging the seal bearing surface.

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Appln. No. 61/707,333 filed Sep. 28, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This disclosure relates generally to a panel support hanger and, more particularly, to a support hanger for flexibly connecting panels such as, for example, a turbine engine exhaust liner and a turbine engine exhaust duct. 
     2. Background Information 
     A turbine engine may include a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section, an augmentor section and/or an exhaust section, which are sequentially arranged between an airflow inlet and an airflow exhaust. The exhaust section may include a tubular exhaust liner arranged within and connected to a tubular exhaust duct. An exhaust gas path extends axially through the exhaust section, adjacent to a radial inner side of the exhaust liner. A cooling gas path also extends axially through the exhaust section, between a radial outer side of the exhaust liner and a radial inner side of the exhaust duct. 
     Exhaust gas directed through the exhaust gas path may have a significantly higher temperature than that of cooling gas directed through the cooling gas path. These gases may also have different pressures. The exhaust liner and the exhaust duct therefore may be subject to different temperature and/or pressure gradients during turbine engine operation. These different temperature and pressure gradients may cause the exhaust liner and the exhaust duct to move (e.g., deflect, expand, contract, shift, etc.) relative to one another. 
     There is a need for a support hanger that connects a turbine engine exhaust liner to a turbine engine exhaust duct, while also accommodating movement therebetween. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     According to an aspect of the disclosure, a support hanger is provided for a turbine engine. The support hanger includes a retainer, a flexible seal and a pin with a pin head. The retainer is pivotally connected to the pin head. The retainer includes a seal bearing surface facing towards the pin head. The seal includes a retainer bearing surface sealing that engages the seal bearing surface. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, a turbine engine section is provided that includes a movable first panel, a second panel, a pin head, a retainer, and an annular flexible seal. The pin head is fixedly connected to the first panel. The retainer is engaged pivotally to the head. The retainer includes a seal bearing surface facing towards the pin head. The seal is engaged sealably between the seal bearing surface and the second panel. 
     The seal may extend radially between a first seal segment and a second seal segment. The first seal segment is axially displaced relative to the second seal segment, and the second seal segment includes the retainer bearing surface. 
     The seal may include a first seal segment, a second seal segment and a transition segment extending radially and axially between the first seal segment and the second seal segment. The second seal segment includes the retainer bearing surface. 
     A collar may be included, which has a threaded first collar segment and a second collar segment pivotally connected to the pin head. The retainer has a retainer bore, and the first collar segment is mated with a threaded portion of the retainer bore. 
     The pin head may have a parti-spherical collar bearing surface. The second collar segment may include a parti-spherical pin bearing surface that engages the collar bearing surface to pivotally connect the collar to the pin head. The pin bearing surface may at least partially define a collar bore that extends axially into the collar. The collar bearing surface may be convex. The pin bearing surface may be concave. 
     One or more slots may extend radially though a sidewall of the collar, and axially through the pin engagement segment. The collar may include an intermediate segment axially connecting the first collar segment and the second collar segment. The one or more slots may extend axially into the intermediate segment to respective slot ends. 
     The retainer may include a first retainer segment and a second retainer segment. The first retainer segment includes the seal bearing surface and the threaded portion of the retainer bore. At least a portion of the second collar segment is nested within a portion of the retainer bore in the second retainer segment. 
     The first retainer segment may include a flange and a base. The flange extends radially out from the base and includes the panel bearing surface. The base includes the threaded portion of the retainer bore. The flange may have an arcuate cross-sectional geometry. 
     The retainer may include a plurality of torquing features arranged around the retainer base. The collar may include an anti-rotation feature arranged at an end of the first collar segment. 
     A (e.g., cooling) gas path may be defined between the first and the second panel. The first panel may be a tubular, dual wall turbine engine exhaust liner. The second panel may be a tubular turbine engine exhaust duct. 
     The pin head may be arranged in the gas path. The retainer may project through the second panel. 
     The second panel may have a first side opposed to the first panel and an opposite second side engaged directly to the flexible seal. 
     The foregoing features and the operation of the invention will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional illustration of a support hanger that flexibly connects a first panel to a second panel; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional illustration of a support hanger pin included in the support hanger of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional illustration of a support hanger flexible seal included in the support hanger of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional illustration of a support hanger retainer included in the support hanger of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of an end of the retainer of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional illustration of a support hanger collar included in the support hanger of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an illustration of an end of the collar of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an illustration of another end of the collar of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is another sectional illustration of the support hanger of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional illustration of another support hanger that flexibly connects a first panel to a second panel. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A turbine engine includes a plurality of turbine engine sections. Examples of a turbine engine section include a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section, an augmentor section and an exhaust section. Referring to  FIG. 1 , at least one of the turbine engine sections  20  (e.g., the exhaust section) includes a first panel  22  (e.g., a tubular, dual wall turbine engine exhaust liner) and a second panel  24  (e.g., a tubular turbine engine exhaust duct), which form a first (e.g., exhaust) gas path  26  and a second (e.g., cooling) gas path  28 . The first gas path  26  extends through the turbine engine section  20 , adjacent a first (e.g., inner) side  30  of the first panel  22 . The second gas path  28  extends at least partially through the turbine engine section  20 , between a second (e.g., outer) side  32  of the first panel  22  and a first (e.g., inner) side  34  of the second panel  24 . 
     The first panel  22  is connected to the second panel  24  with one or more support hangers  36 . One or more of the support hangers  36  has an axial centerline  38 , and includes a support hanger pin  40 , a support hanger annular flexible seal  42  (e.g., annular spring diaphragm), a support hanger retainer  44  (e.g., nut) and a support hanger collar  46 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the pin  40  extends axially between a first pin end  48  and a second pin end  50 . The pin  40  includes a pin shaft  52  that extends axially between the first pin end  48  and a substantially spherical pin head  54 . The pin head  54  is arranged at (e.g., proximate or carries) the second pin end  50 , and includes a (e.g., convex) parti-spherical collar bearing surface  56 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the flexible seal  42  extends circumferentially around the centerline  38 , and axially between a first seal end  58  and a second seal end  60 . The flexible seal  42  also extends radially between a radial outer perimeter  62  of a first seal segment  64  and a radial inner perimeter  66  of a second seal segment  68 . The first seal segment  64  is arranged at the first seal end  58 . The second seal segment  68  includes a retainer bearing surface  70  arranged at the second seal end  60 . In the flexible seal  42  embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the first seal segment  64  is axially displaced relative to the second seal segment  68  by an axial distance  72 . A transition segment  74  extends, for example, axially and radially between the first seal segment  64  and the second seal segment  68 . The flexible seal  42  may be constructed from metals such, for example, nickel and/or titanium alloy. The present disclosure, of course, is not limited to any particular seal materials. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the retainer  44  extends axially between a first retainer end  76  and a second retainer end  78 . The retainer  44  includes a first retainer segment  80  and a second retainer segment  82 . The first retainer segment  80  includes a base  84  and an annular flange  86 . The base  84  extends axially between the second retainer end  78  and the second retainer segment  82 . The base  84  also extends radially between a threaded inner surface  88  and an outer surface  90  as well as an outer surface  92 . The outer surface  90  may include a plurality of torquing features  94  (e.g., flats) arranged, for example, in a hexagonal bolt head configuration. The flange  86  includes an annular seal bearing surface  96  that extends radially from the outer surface  92  to a distal flange end  98 . The second retainer segment  82  extends axially between the first retainer end  76  and the base  84 . The second retainer segment  82  also extends radially between an inner surface  100  and the outer surface  92 . 
     The retainer  44  also includes a retainer bore  102  that extends axially through the retainer  44  between the first retainer end  76  and the second retainer end  78 . A threaded portion  104  of the retainer bore  102  is defined by the inner surface  88 . A second portion  106  of the retainer bore  102  is defined by the inner surface  100 . A diameter of this second portion  106  of the retainer bore  102  may be greater than that of the threaded portion  104  of the retainer bore  102 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 to 8 , the collar  46  extends axially between a first collar end  108  and a second collar end  110 . The collar  46  includes a threaded first collar segment  112 , a second collar segment  114  and an intermediate segment  116 . The threaded first collar segment  112  extends axially between the second collar end  110  and the intermediate segment  116 . The threaded first collar segment  112  also extends radially between an inner collar surface  118  and an outer threaded collar surface  120 . The second collar segment  114  extends axially between the first collar end  108  and the intermediate segment  116 . The second collar segment  114  also extends radially between a (e.g., concave) parti-spherical pin bearing surface  122  and an outer retainer engagement surface  124 . The intermediate segment  116  axially connects the threaded first collar segment  112  and the second collar segment  114 , and extends radially between the inner collar surface  118  and an outer collar surface  126 . 
     The collar  46  also includes a collar bore  128 , one or more relief (e.g., collar expansion) slots  130 , and an anti-rotation feature  132 . The collar bore  128  extends axially into (e.g., through) the collar  46  from the first collar end  108  to the second collar end  110 , and is defined by the inner collar surface  118  and the pin bearing surface  122 . The relief slots  130  are arranged circumferentially around the collar bore  128 , and are configured to permit a diameter  134  of the collar bore  128  at the first collar end  108  to temporarily or resiliently increase during support hanger  36  assembly. The relief slots  130 , for example, extend axially through the second collar segment  114  and into the intermediate segment  116  to respective distal slot ends  136 . The relief slots  130  also extend radially through a sidewall of the collar  46 . The anti-rotation feature  132  may be configured as, for example, one or more slots that extend axially into the threaded first collar segment  112  at the second collar end  110 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the first pin end  48  is fixedly mounted (e.g., fastened, welded, brazed or otherwise attached) to the second side  32  of the first panel  22 . The second collar segment  114  is snapped onto the pin head  54  and the pin bearing surface  122  engages (e.g., contacts) the collar bearing surface  56 , which pivotally connects the collar  46  to the second pin end of the pin  40 . The threaded first collar segment  112  projects through an aperture  138  in the flexible seal  42  and a support hanger aperture  140  in the second panel  24 . The threaded first collar segment  112  is mated with the threaded portion  104  of the retainer bore, which connects the collar  46  and the retainer  44  together. The retainer  44  is seated against the second seal segment  68  and the seal bearing surface  96  engages the retainer bearing surface  70 . The first seal segment  64  is fixedly mounted (e.g., fastened, welded, brazed or otherwise attached) to a second side  142  of the second panel  24 , which pivotally mounts the retainer  44  to the second panel  24 . At least a portion of the second collar segment  114  is nested within the second portion  106  of the retainer bore, which may prevent the second collar segment  114  from disconnecting from the pin head  54 . The surface  100 , for example, may prevent the retainer engagement surface  124  from moving radially outwards, which may prevent the diameter (see  FIG. 6 ) of the collar bore  128  at the first collar end  108  from increasing. 
     Gas (e.g., exhaust gas) directed through the first gas path  26  may have a significantly higher temperature than that of gas (e.g., cooling gas) directed through the second gas path  28 . These gases within the first and the second gas paths  26  and  28  may also have different pressures. The first and the second panels  22  and  24  therefore may be subject to different temperature and/or pressure gradients during turbine engine operation. These different temperature and pressure gradients may cause the first panel  22  and the second panel  24  to move (e.g., deflect, expand, contract, shift, etc.) relative to one another as illustrated, for example, in  FIG. 9 . The support hangers  36  may accommodate such movement via the pivoting connection  144  between the retainer  44  and the second panel  24  and/or the pivoting connection  146  between the pin  40  and the collar  46 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an alternative support hanger  148  embodiment. In contrast to the support hanger  36  of  FIG. 1 , the flange  86  has an arcuate cross-sectional geometry that, for example, follows a curvature of the transition segment  74  of the flexible seal  42 . 
     A person of skill in the art will recognize the support hangers may have alternate quantities and/or configurations of torquing features, anti-rotation features and/or relief slots than those described above and/or illustrated in the drawings. The torquing features, for example, may alternatively be configured within the retainer bore. The present disclosure therefore is not limited to any particular torquing feature, anti-rotation feature and/or relief slot quantities and/or configurations. A person of skill in the art will also recognize the disclosed support hangers may be utilized for applications other than those described above. One or more of the support hangers, for example, may be utilized to connect any type of panels together that may (or may not) move relative to one another during use. The present disclosure therefore is not limited to turbine engine applications. 
     While various embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the invention. For example, the present invention as described herein includes several aspects and embodiments that include particular features. Although these features may be described individually, it is within the scope of the present invention that some or all of these features may be combined within any one of the aspects and remain within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.