Patent ID: 7431126

Claim:
An auxiliary power unit (APU) exhaust system comprising: an annular bellmouth having an outer surface; an acoustic liner having a tubular sidewall at least partially disposed proximate the annular bellmouth, the tubular sidewall having an outer surface, a first longitudinal edge, a second longitudinal edge, and an axial gap formed between the first and the second longitudinal edges; an annular support disposed substantially symmetrically about a longitudinal axis, the annular support comprising: a weld leg disposed around the annular bellmouth outer surface and extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; a flexural bend having a first end extending from the weld leg away from the longitudinal axis, a first U-shaped curve, and a second end extending toward the longitudinal axis; and a clamping surface extending from the flexural bend second end and having a second U-shaped curve, the clamping surface disposed radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis relative to the weld leg and contacting and supplying a force against the acoustic liner outer surface; and a linear support disposed at least partially in the acoustic liner axial gap, the linear support comprising: a longitudinal clamping element having a weld section, a flexural bend having a first end extending from the weld section and a second end, and a clamping surface extending from the flexural bend second end; and a back strip having a first section coupled to the longitudinal clamping element weld section and a second section forming a longitudinal gap with the clamping surface, wherein the first longitudinal edge is disposed within the longitudinal gap.