Patent ID: 7111448

Claim:
A method of retrofitting a pre-existing engine assembly, comprising: providing a pre-existing engine enclosed within a housing, which is coupled to a pre-existing thrust reverser, and a first stage mixer coupled to the pre-existing engine and being located within the housing, the first stage mixer including first stage elements to mix exhaust gas with cooling air, the housing having an exhaust aperture, the pre-existing thrust reverser coupled to the housing and having a pre-existing stowed position fixed relative to the housing and having a pre-existing deployed position being positioned downstream of the exhaust aperture to reverse the gas flow; attaching a second stage noise reducing device to the exhaust aperture of the housing to receive gas exhausted from the first stage mixer, the second stage noise reducing device being unenclosed by the housing and having an exterior in contact with the ambient air, the second stage noise reducing device having a trailing edge forming the exit terminus for the gas flow, and the second stage noise reducing device permitting the pre-existing thrust reverser to maintain its pre-existing configuration and operation and permitting the pre-existing thrust reverser to have the pre-existing stowed position and the pre-existing deployed position, the pre-existing deployed position being positioned downstream of the exit terminus to reverse the gas flow; and the providing a pre-existing engine includes operating the engine without a second stage noise reducing device.