Abstract:
A hanger assembly for use between a first duct and a second duct having an opening therein includes a spring having a first end and a second end, a first mount for attaching the first end to the first duct, a second mount for attaching the second end to the second duct, the second mount having an area greater than the opening, and a central aperture therethrough.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    A gas turbine engine typically includes a fan section, a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section, and in some configurations an augmenter section. A liner extending aft of the turbine section typically referred to as an exhaust or augmenter liner includes an inner liner exposed to hot exhaust gases. The inner liner is typically spaced from an outer structure with a plurality of hanger assemblies. The hanger assemblies are required to accommodate misalignment, complex shapes, large thermal growth differentials, significant pressure loads and high temperatures. Moreover, the hangers are positioned within a confined physical envelope that is difficult to access while accommodating relative movement within several planes simultaneously. 
         [0002]    Accordingly, it is desirable to design and develop a reduced cost hanger that performs as desired in the harsh environment of the exhaust duct while also simplifying assembly and reducing cost. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    According to an embodiment disclosed herein, a hanger assembly for use between a first duct and a second duct includes a spring having a first end and a second end, a first mount for attaching the first end to the first duct, a second mount for attaching the second end to the second duct, the second mount having an area greater than the opening, and a central aperture therethrough. 
         [0004]    According to any previous embodiment described herein, the spring is a coil spring. 
         [0005]    According to any previous embodiment described herein, the first mount includes a plate fixedly attached to the first end. 
         [0006]    According to any previous embodiment described herein, the plate has an orifice for cooperating with a stud extending radially outwardly from the first duct. 
         [0007]    According to any previous embodiment described herein, a diameter of the plate is less than a diameter of the opening. 
         [0008]    According to any previous embodiment described herein, a cover is disposed over the second mount the cover having an area greater than an area of the central aperture such that the cover forms a seal over the second mount. 
         [0009]    According to any previous embodiment described herein, the second mount is a plate fixedly attached to the second end. 
         [0010]    According to any previous embodiment described herein, the plate is for mounting outside of the second duct. 
         [0011]    According to any previous embodiment described herein, the first mount is a first plate fixedly attaching to the first end, the second mount is a second plate attaching to the second end of the spring and the spring is a coil spring. 
         [0012]    According to a further embodiment disclosed herein, a gas turbine engine includes a fan section including a plurality of fan blades rotatable about an axis; a compressor section in communication with the fan section; a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section; a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor and driving the fan section and the compressor section; and an exhaust liner aft of the turbine section, the exhaust liner including a liner defining an inner surface exposed to exhaust gases, a duct having an opening spaced radially outward of the liner; and a hanger assembly supporting the liner relative to the duct, the hanger assembly including: a spring having a first end and a second end, a first mount attaching the first end to the liner, a second mount attaching the second end to the duct, the second mount having an area greater than the opening, and a central aperture therethrough. 
         [0013]    According to any previous embodiment described herein, the first mount includes a plate fixedly attached to the first end and a diameter of the plate is less than a diameter of the opening, the plate being inserted through the opening. 
         [0014]    According to any previous embodiment described herein, the second mount is a plate fixedly attached to the second end. 
         [0015]    According to any previous embodiment described herein, the plate is mounted radially outside of the duct. 
         [0016]    According to a still further embodiment disclosed herein, a method of supporting a liner of a gas turbine engine includes the steps of providing a liner and a duct having an opening therein, such that the liner is within the duct, providing a spring having a first end and a second end, a first mount attaching the first end to the liner, and a second mount attaching the second end to the duct, the second mount having an area greater than the opening, and a central aperture therethrough, inserting the first end and the first mount through the central opening. 
         [0017]    According to any previous embodiment described herein, the method includes the further step of attaching the first mount to the liner. 
         [0018]    According to any previous embodiment described herein, the method includes the further step of attaching the second mount to a radially outwardly disposed side of the duct such that a seal is created between the second mount and the duct. 
         [0019]    According to any previous embodiment described herein, the method includes the further step of covering the central aperture such that that a seal is created between said cover and said second mount. 
         [0020]    According to any previous embodiment described herein, the method includes the further step of attaching the first mount to the liner through the central aperture in the second mount. 
         [0021]    According to any previous embodiment described herein, the method includes the further step of rotating the cover and the lock member to lock the leg between the lock member and the first duct. 
         [0022]    These and other features of this application will be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a sectional view of a gas turbine engine incorporating an embodiment of a spring hanger shown herein. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a side view partially in section proportion of the engine of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view in perspective of the hanger of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a view of the hanger assembly of  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view partially in section of the hanger assembly of  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a gas turbine engine  10  includes a fan section  12 , a compressor section  14 , a combustor section  16 , and a turbine section  18 . Air entering into the fan section  12  is initially compressed and fed to the compressor section  14 . In the compressor section  14 , the incoming air from the fan section  12  is further compressed and communicated to the combustor section  16 . In the combustor section  16 , the compressed air is mixed with gas and ignited to generate a hot exhaust stream  28 . The hot exhaust stream  28  is expanded through the turbine section  18  to drive the fan section  12  and the compressor section  14 . In this example, the gas turbine engine  10  includes an augmenter section  20  where additional fuel can be mixed with the exhaust gasses  28  and ignited to generate additional thrust. The exhaust gasses  28  flow from the turbine section  18  and the augmenter section  20  through an exhaust liner assembly  22 . 
         [0029]    The example exhaust liner assembly  22  includes a liner  24  that defines an inner surface exposed to the hot exhaust gasses  28 . The liner  24  (e.g., a first duct) is supported by a duct  26  (e.g., a second duct) disposed radially outward of the liner  24 . An annular space  30  is disposed between the liner  24  and the duct  26  for a cooling airflow. The example exhaust liner assembly  22  includes a first section  32 , a second section  34 , and third section  36 . Each of the first, second and third sections  32 ,  34 ,  36  are movable relative to each other to provide a thrust vectoring function. As appreciated, although the gas turbine engine  10  is disclosed and described by way of example and other configurations and architectures of gas turbine engines are within the contemplation of this disclosure and would benefit from the disclosures within this application. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , casing/duct  26 / 100  is shown having a major opening  105  and a plurality of attachment holes  110 . Though three attachment holes  110  are shown herein, another number of attachment holes  110  may be used. 
         [0031]    A liner  24 / 115  is placed coaxially within the casing  26 / 100  the liner  24 / 115  has a bracket  117  attached thereto (see also  FIG. 5 ). The bracket  117  has a plurality of L-shaped legs  120  that are riveted or the like through apertures  125  into liner  115 . 
         [0032]    The bracket  117  has a body  130  that is generally flat and has a stud  135  extending radially outwardly and perpendicularly from the body  130 . The casing  100  and the liner  115  form a volume  140  therebetween through which cooling air flows. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , coil spring  145  has a first end  150  that is attached to a casing plate  155  by welding or the like. The casing plate  155  has a body  160  that is show herein as triangularly shaped though other shapes may be appropriate. Casing plate  155  has a plurality of attachment holes  165  that align with the attachment holes  110  in the casing as will be discussed herein. The casing plate  155  has an orifice  170  that is located in a center area of the casing of the body  160  to allow access to the stud  135  and the bracket  117  as will be discussed herein. 
         [0034]    The coil spring has a second end  175  attached to a bracket plate  180  by welding or the like. The bracket plate  180  has a circular shape  185  and a passageway  190  through which the stud  135  may protrude. A cover  195  has a shape that mimics the shape of the casing plate body  160  to minimize the number of attachment bolts required. The cover  195  has a plurality of attachment holes  200  that align with the attachment holes  110  in the casing  100  and the attachment holes  165  in the casing plate  155 . The major opening  105  in the casing  100  has a greater diameter than the largest dimension the bracket plate  180  to enable the insertion of the back bracket plate  180  and the coil spring  145  through the major opening  105 . The casing plate  155  has a greater area than the major opening  105  so that the casing plate may create a seal over the casing  100 . Similarly, the cover  195  has a greater area than orifice  170  so that the cover may create a seal over the cover plate  155 . 
         [0035]    To assemble the apparatus, the bracket(s)  117  is riveted or the like to the liner  115  and the liner  115  is inserted into the casing so that the body  130  is in approximate registration with major opening  105 . Registration may not be perfect because of manufacturing and part tolerances. The bracket plate  180  and the coil spring  145  are inserted through the major opening  105  until the bracket plate is in contact with the bracket  117  and the stud  135  extends radially outwardly through the passageway  190  in the bracket plate  180 . Nut  205  is inserted through the orifice  170  of the coil spring  145 , which acts as a hanger, and screwed lightly onto the stud  135 . The casing plate  155  is then rotated until the attachment holes  165  are in register with the attachment holes  110  in the casing  100 . The nut  205  is then torqued onto the stud  135 . 
         [0036]    The cover  195  is then placed over the casing plate  155 . When the attachment holes  200  in the cover are in alignment with the attachment holes  165  in the casing plate  155  and the attachment holes  110  and the casing, a bolt  210  is then inserted through each set of holes  110 ,  165 ,  200  and secured thereto by nuts  215 . 
         [0037]    By placing the cover  195  over the casing plate  155 , any air leaking through the orifice  170  is minimized. Because the casing plate is greater in area than the major opening,  105  leakage through the major opening  105  is minimized by the casing plate  155  and the cover  195 . Any appropriate sealing material such as silicone may be placed between the cover  195  and the casing plate  155 , and the between the casing plate  155  and the casing  100 . 
         [0038]    By utilizing a coil spring liner hanger assembly, build tolerances are accommodated in all directions, there is a minimal part count compared to other systems, there are no moving parts relative to each other, there is minimal leakage of air through the volume  140 , thermal movement the liner  115  and the casing  100  is accommodated all directions, the hanger assembly acts in tension and compression, the coil spring  145  can be adapted for required loads in terms of hardness and flexibility, and no shimming or rigging is required during assembly. 
         [0039]    Although an embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.