Detachable integral aircraft tailcone and power assembly

Abstract

The present invention provides a tailcone and power assembly mountable to the body of an aircraft using a height adjustable dolly. The tailcone assembly comprises a longitudinal support member, a gas turbine engine mounted to the support member; a firewall; two curved rotatable casings hingeably connected to the support member; an inlet duct extending form an aperture in one of the rotatable casings to the engine inlet; an integral exhaust casing, and interface means for making necessary engine accessory connections to the aircraft. The tailcone is installed on the aircraft by mounting the tailcone in the adjustable dolly, rolling the dolly up to the aircraft, adjusting the dolly until the auxiliary power assembly is properly aligned for attachment to the aircraft, connecting the engine accessories to the aircraft, and bolting the assembly to the aircraft.

1. An integrated muffler and exhaust cone for use in an aircraft tailcone having a gas turbine engine mounted therein, comprising:
 an exhaust cone portion of an aircraft tailcone extending from a forward end to and  an aft end that opens to ambient, said exhaust cone portion defining an interior chamber, said exhaust cone portion further having a bulkhead at the forward end that fluidly isolates the interior chamber from the remainder of said tailcone; said bulkhead also having an aperture;  
 a solid  casing defining a conduit having a first end extending through said aperture for coupling , said first end being arranged and structured to mechanically couple to the  an exhaust of the gas turbine engine for receiving the exhaust gas from said engine and a second end extending to said open aft end for porting the exhaust gas from said engine out of said tailcone, wherein at least a portion of said conduit is porous; and  
 a plurality of baffles circumscribing said casing  conduit, each of said baffles fluidly isolated from  in fluid communication with the hot gas flowing in said conduit by said solid casing .  
 
     
     
       2. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 1 , wherein said casing  exhaust cone portion is made of a honeycomb composite material comprising a honeycomb core and fiber reinforced composite layers overlaying said honeycomb core, said composite layers comprising carbon fiber and plastic matrix, wherein said plastic matrix is selected from a group consisting of bismaleimide and polyimide plastics. 
     
     
       3. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 1  wherein said baffles are lined with a felt metal material. 
     
     
       4. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 1  further comprising , wherein said porous portion of said conduit comprises a felt metal face sheet disposed around said casing . 
     
     
       5. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 1  wherein said baffles are in contact with the felt metal face sheet is disposed between said casing and said baffles  portion of said conduit. 
     
     
       6. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 1  wherein said casing is tapered. 
     
     
       7. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 1 , wherein said baffles extend from said conduit to an inner surface of said exhaust cone. 
     
     
       8. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 1  further comprising a bracket located on said bulkhead for connecting the integrated muffler and exhaust cone to the aircraft tailcone. 
     
     
       9. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 1 , wherein said exhaust cone portion is made from titanium sheets and stringer construction. 
     
     
       10. An integrated muffler and exhaust cone for use in an aircraft tailcone having a gas turbine engine mounted therein, comprising:
   an exhaust cone portion of an aircraft tailcone extending from a forward end to an aft end that opens to ambient, said exhaust cone portion defining an interior chamber, said exhaust cone portion further having a bulkhead at the forward end that fluidly isolates the interior chamber from the remainder of said tailcone; said bulkhead also having an aperture;        a casing defining a conduit having a first end extending to said aperture, said first end being arranged and structured to mechanically couple to an exhaust of the gas turbine engine for receiving the exhaust gas from said engine and a second end extending to said open aft end for porting the exhaust gas from said engine out of said tailcone, wherein at least a portion of said conduit is porous; and        a plurality of baffles circumscribing said conduit, each of said baffles in fluid communication with the hot gas flowing in said conduit, wherein said baffles extend from said conduit to an inner surface of said exhaust cone.     
     
     
       11. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 10 , wherein said porous portion of said conduit comprises a felt metal face sheet. 
     
     
       12. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 10 , wherein said baffles are connected to the felt metal face sheet portion of said conduit. 
     
     
       13. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 1 , wherein said exhaust cone portion comprises a surface defining an outer surface adapted and arranged to act as an extension of the aircraft tailcone. 
     
     
       14. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 1 , wherein said exhaust cone portion comprises a surface that defines an outer surface adapted and arranged to act as an extension of the aircraft tailcone and said baffles extend from said conduit to said surface of said exhaust cone portion. 
     
     
       15. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 1 , wherein said exhaust cone portion comprises a surface that defines an outer surface adapted and arranged to act as extension of the aircraft tailcone and said bulk head extends from said conduit to said outer surface. 
     
     
       16. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the wall of said casing that extends through the aperture of said bulkhead and couples to the exhaust of the engine is solid such that the bulkhead and the portion of the casing extending through the aperture fluidly isolates the interior chamber from the remainder of said tailcone. 
     
     
       17. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 10 , wherein the portion of the wall of said casing that extends through the aperture of said bulkhead and couples to the exhaust of the engine is solid such that the bulkhead and the portion of the casing extending through the aperture fluidly isolates the interior chamber from the remainder of said tailcone. 
     
     
       18. An integrated muffler and exhaust cone for use in an aircraft tailcone having a gas turbine engine mounted therein, comprising:
   an exhaust cone portion of an aircraft tailcone extending from a forward end to an aft end that opens to ambient, said exhaust cone portion defining an interior chamber, said exhaust cone portion further having a bulkhead at the forward end that fluidly isolates the interior chamber from the remainder of said tailcone; said bulkhead also having an aperture;        a casing defining a conduit having a first end accommodated by said aperture of said bulkhead, said first end being arranged and structured to mechanically couple to an exhaust of the gas turbine engine for receiving the exhaust gas from said engine and a second end extending to said open aft end for porting the exhaust gas from said engine out of said tailcone, wherein at least a portion of said conduit is porous; and        a plurality of baffles circumscribing said conduit, each of said baffles in fluid communication with the hot gas flowing in said conduit.     
     
     
       19. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 18 , wherein said exhaust cone portion is made of a honeycomb composite material comprising a honeycomb core and fiber reinforced composite layers overlaying said honeycomb core, said composite layers comprising carbon fiber and plastic matrix, wherein said plastic matrix is selected from a group consisting of bismaleimide and polyimide plastics. 
     
     
       20. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 18 , wherein said porous portion of said conduit comprises means for suppressing exhaust noise. 
     
     
       21. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 18 , wherein said porous portion of said conduit comprises a felt metal face sheet. 
     
     
       22. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 18 , wherein said baffles are formed of felt metal face sheet. 
     
     
       23. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 21 , wherein said baffles are in contact with the felt metal face sheet portion of said conduit. 
     
     
       24. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 18  wherein said casing is tapered. 
     
     
       25. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 18 , wherein said baffles extend from said conduit to an inner surface of said exhaust cone. 
     
     
       26. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 18  further comprising a bracket located on said bulkhead for connecting the integrated muffler and exhaust cone to the aircraft tailcone. 
     
     
       27. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 18 , wherein said exhaust cone portion is made from titanium sheets and stringer construction. 
     
     
       28. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 18 , wherein said exhaust cone portion comprises a surface defining an outer surface adapted and arranged to act as an extension of the aircraft tailcone. 
     
     
       29. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 18 , wherein said exhaust cone portion comprises a surface that defines an outer surface adapted and arranged to act as an extension of the aircraft tailcone and said baffles extend from said conduit to said surface of said exhaust cone portion. 
     
     
       30. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 18 , wherein said exhaust cone portion comprises a surface that defines an outer surface adapted and arranged to act as extension of the aircraft tailcone and said bulkhead extends from said conduit to said outer surface. 
     
     
       31. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 18 , wherein a portion of the wall of said casing that extends through the aperture of said bulkhead and couples to the exhaust of the engine, wherein said portion is solid such that the bulkhead and said portion of the casing extending through the aperture fluidly isolates the interior chamber from the remainder of said tailcone. 
     
     
       32. An integrated muffler and exhaust cone for use in an aircraft tailcone having a gas turbine engine mounted therein, comprising:
   an exhaust cone portion of an aircraft tailcone extending from a forward end to an aft end that opens to ambient, said exhaust cone portion defining an interior chamber, said exhaust cone portion further having a bulkhead at the forward end that fluidly isolates the interior chamber from the remainder of said tailcone; said bulkhead also having an aperture;        a casing defining a conduit having a first end accommodated by said aperture of said bulkhead for receiving exhaust gas from a gas turbine engine and a second end extending to said open aft end for porting the exhaust gas from said engine out of said tailcone, wherein at least a portion of said conduit is porous, and wherein said first end of said conduit is located at a fixed position relative to an exhaust of the gas turbine engine; and        a plurality of baffles circumscribing said conduit, each of said baffles in fluid communication with the hot gas flowing in said conduit.     
     
     
       33. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 32 , wherein said porous portion of said conduit comprises means for suppressing exhaust noise. 
     
     
       34. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 32 , wherein said porous portion of said conduit comprises a felt metal face sheet. 
     
     
       35. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 32 , wherein said baffles are formed of felt metal face sheet. 
     
     
       36. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 34  wherein said baffles are in contact with the felt metal face sheet portion of said conduit. 
     
     
       37. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 32 , wherein said baffles extend from said conduit to an inner surface of said exhaust cone. 
     
     
       38. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 32 , wherein said exhaust cone portion comprises a surface defining an outer surface adapted and arranged to act as an extension of the aircraft tailcone. 
     
     
       39. An integrated muffler and exhaust cone for use in an aircraft tailcone having a gas turbine engine mounted therein, comprising:
   an exhaust cone portion of an aircraft tailcone extending from a forward end to an aft end that opens to ambient, said exhaust cone portion defining an interior chamber, said exhaust cone portion further having a bulkhead at the forward end that fluidly isolates the interior chamber from the remainder of said tailcone; said bulkhead also having an aperture;        a casing defining a conduit having a first end accommodated by said aperture of said bulkhead for receiving exhaust gas from a gas turbine engine and a second end extending to said open aft end for porting the exhaust gas from said engine out of said tailcone, wherein at least a portion of said conduit is porous, and wherein said conduit being capable of suppressing exhaust noise; and        a plurality of baffles circumscribing said conduit, each of said baffles in fluid communication with the hot gas flowing in said conduit.     
     
     
       40. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 39 , wherein said porous portion of said conduit comprises means for suppressing exhaust noise. 
     
     
       41. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 39 , wherein said porous portion of said conduit comprises a felt metal face sheet. 
     
     
       42. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 39 , wherein said baffles are formed of felt metal face sheet. 
     
     
       43. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 41  wherein said baffles are in contact with the felt metal face sheet portion of said conduit. 
     
     
       44. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 39 , wherein said baffles extend from said conduit to an inner surface of said exhaust cone. 
     
     
       45. The integrated muffler and exhaust cone of  claim 39 , wherein said exhaust cone portion comprises a surface defining an outer surface adapted and arranged to act as an extension of the aircraft tailcone.