Pivoting stowable spray bar

Abstract

An exemplary fuel spray bar system can include a conduit, which is pivotally attached to an engine frame and configured to deliver fuel from a fuel line to an engine flow path. The system further includes a drive mechanism, which is configured to move the conduit between a stowed position and a deployed position.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A fuel spray bar system, comprising:
 a conduit pivotally attached to an engine frame of a nozzle of a gas turbine engine and configured to deliver fuel from a fuel line to an engine flow path of the nozzle; and 
 a drive mechanism configured to move the conduit between a stowed position and a deployed position; 
 wherein the conduit in the deployed position is disposed within the engine flow path and the conduit in the stowed position is disposed in a recess spaced apart from the engine flow path, 
 wherein the drive mechanism comprises:
 an outer drive ring configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the engine frame; 
 an inner drive ring disposed concentrically within the outer drive ring and configured to move along the longitudinal axis of the engine frame; 
 a roller bearing assembly attached to the outer drive ring and the inner drive ring, and the roller bearing assembly is configured to move the inner drive ring along the longitudinal axis in response to the outer drive ring rotating about the longitudinal axis; 
 
 wherein the conduit is attached to the inner drive ring, and the inner drive ring is configured to move the conduit between the stowed position and the deployed position in response to the inner drive ring moving along the longitudinal axis. 
 
     
     
       2. The fuel spray bar system of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit includes an inlet fluidly communicating with the fuel line. 
     
     
       3. The fuel spray bar system of  claim 2 , wherein the conduit includes a plurality of atomizing apertures fluidly communicating with the inlet, such that the conduit in the deployed position is configured to deliver the fuel from the inlet through the plurality of atomizing apertures and into the engine flow path. 
     
     
       4. The fuel spray bar system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fairing that defines the recess and defines an opening communicating with the engine flow path, wherein the recess communicates with the opening. 
     
     
       5. The fuel spray bar system of  claim 4 , wherein the drive mechanism is attached to the conduit on a side of the fairing opposite to the opening in the fairing. 
     
     
       6. The fuel spray bar system of  claim 1 , wherein the roller bearing assembly comprises:
 an outer channel attached to the outer drive ring; 
 an inner channel attached to the inner drive ring, and the inner channel is disposed in a position with respect to the outer channel such that a portion of the inner channel overlaps a corresponding portion of the outer channel; and 
 a ball bearing held between the portion of the inner channel and the corresponding portion of the outer channel, and the roller bearing assembly is configured to move the inner drive ring along the longitudinal axis in response to the outer drive ring rotating about the longitudinal axis by the ball bearing. 
 
     
     
       7. The fuel spray bar system of  claim 1 , wherein a first one of the inner drive ring and the conduit includes a clevis and a second one of the inner drive ring and the conduit includes a linkage pivotally attached to the clevis. 
     
     
       8. The fuel spray bar system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fuel fitting configured to pivotally attach the fuel line to the conduit. 
     
     
       9. A method for operating the fuel spray bar system of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 moving the conduit to the stowed position so the conduit is disposed in the recess and spaced apart from the engine flow path; 
 moving the conduit to the deployed position so the conduit is disposed within the engine flow path; and 
 delivering the fuel from the fuel line through the conduit and into the engine flow path when the conduit is disposed in the deployed position. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 rotating the outer drive ring about the longitudinal axis of the engine frame; 
 moving the inner drive ring along the longitudinal axis of the engine frame in response to the rotating of the outer drive ring about the longitudinal axis; and 
 wherein the moving of the conduit to the deployed position so the conduit is disposed within the engine flow path is in response to the moving of the inner drive ring along the longitudinal axis of the engine frame. 
 
     
     
       11. An exhaust nozzle of a gas turbine engine, the nozzle comprising:
 an engine frame including an outer casing and an outer liner disposed concentrically within the outer casing, and the outer liner surrounds an engine flow path of the nozzle; and 
 a fuel spray bar system having a conduit that is pivotally attached to the outer liner of the engine frame, and the conduit is configured to deliver fuel from a fuel line to the engine flow path; and 
 a drive mechanism configured to move the conduit between a stowed position and a deployed position; 
 wherein the conduit in the deployed position is disposed within the engine flow path and the conduit in the stowed position is disposed in a recess spaced apart from the engine flow path, 
 wherein the drive mechanism comprises:
 an outer drive ring configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the engine frame; 
 an inner drive ring disposed concentrically within the outer drive ring and configured to move along the longitudinal axis of the engine frame; 
 a roller bearing assembly attached to the outer drive ring and the inner drive ring, and the roller bearing assembly is configured to move the inner drive ring along the longitudinal axis in response to the outer drive ring rotating about the longitudinal axis; 
 
 wherein the conduit is attached to the inner drive ring, and the inner drive ring is configured to move the conduit between the stowed position and the deployed position in response to the inner drive ring moving along the longitudinal axis. 
 
     
     
       12. The exhaust nozzle of  claim 11 , wherein the conduit in the stowed position is disposed radially outward from the outer liner and radially inward from the outer casing. 
     
     
       13. The exhaust nozzle of  claim 11 , wherein the outer liner has a wall defining the engine flow path and the wall has a hole that is formed therein and configured to permit the conduit to move between the stowed position and the deployed position. 
     
     
       14. The exhaust nozzle of  claim 13 , further comprising a fairing that is attached to the outer liner, the fairing defines the recess and defines an opening that is aligned with the hole in the wall of the outer liner such that the opening communicates with the engine flow path, and the recess communicates with the opening. 
     
     
       15. The exhaust nozzle of  claim 11 , wherein the drive mechanism is spaced apart from the engine flow path. 
     
     
       16. The exhaust nozzle of  claim 11 , wherein the roller bearing assembly comprises:
 an outer channel attached to the outer drive ring; 
 an inner channel attached to the inner drive ring, and the inner channel is disposed in a position with respect to the outer channel such that a portion of the inner channel overlaps a corresponding portion of the outer channel; and 
 a ball bearing held between the portion of the inner channel and the corresponding portion of the outer channel, and the roller bearing assembly is configured to move the inner drive ring along the longitudinal axis in response to the outer drive ring rotating about the longitudinal axis by the ball bearing. 
 
     
     
       17. The exhaust nozzle of  claim 11 , wherein a first one of the inner drive ring and the conduit includes a clevis and a second one of the inner drive ring and the conduit includes a linkage pivotally attached to the clevis. 
     
     
       18. The exhaust nozzle of  claim 11 , further comprising a fuel fitting configured to pivotally attach the fuel line to the conduit.