초록 ▼

A seal for bridging an interface between an aircraft exhaust deck and a trailing edge of an aircraft exhaust system includes a sheet, a spacing element, and a tensioning element. The sheet has a fixed end, a cover portion, a movable portion, and a free end. The fixed end is anchored to the trailing

A seal for bridging an interface between an aircraft exhaust deck and a trailing edge of an aircraft exhaust system includes a sheet, a spacing element, and a tensioning element. The sheet has a fixed end, a cover portion, a movable portion, and a free end. The fixed end is anchored to the trailing edge. The cover portion extends upstream from the fixed end and across the interface. The movable portion is located adjacent the aircraft exhaust deck. The spacing element engages the movable portion and defines a gap for cooling air between the movable portion and the aircraft exhaust deck. The tensioning element is attached to the free end and provides tensioning force keep the cover portion taut.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A seal for bridging an interface between an aircraft exhaust deck and a trailing edge of an aircraft exhaust system, the seal comprising: a first fitting having a top and a downstream side, the downstream side adjacent to the trailing edge on a first side of the interface;a second fitting having

1. A seal for bridging an interface between an aircraft exhaust deck and a trailing edge of an aircraft exhaust system, the seal comprising: a first fitting having a top and a downstream side, the downstream side adjacent to the trailing edge on a first side of the interface;a second fitting having a top and an upstream side, the upstream side in contact with the aircraft exhaust deck on a second side of the interface;a spring located between the first fitting and the second fitting, the spring exerting an expansion force against both the first fitting and the second fitting so as to keep the first fitting in contact with the trailing edge and the second fitting in contact with the aircraft exhaust deck to accommodate changes in interface size between the aircraft exhaust deck and the trailing edge, the expansion force being balanced by a force exerted on the first fitting by the trailing edge and a force being exerted on the second fitting by the exhaust deck;a sheet having a fixed end, a cover portion, a movable portion, and a free end, the fixed end being held between the first fitting and the trailing edge, the cover portion extending upstream from the fixed end and across the interface, the movable portion located adjacent the aircraft exhaust deck;a spacing element engaging the movable portion and defining a gap for cooling air between the movable portion and the aircraft exhaust deck; anda tensioning element connected at a first end to the free end of the sheet and at a second end to the first fitting, the tensioning element providing tensioning force to keep the cover portion taut in the event that there is a change in interface size between the aircraft exhaust deck and the trailing edge. 2. The seal of claim 1, wherein the gap for cooling air has a constant width regardless of a distance between the aircraft exhaust deck and the trailing edge. 3. The seal assembly of claim 2, wherein the cover portion of the sheet is coplanar with the aircraft exhaust deck and the trailing edge. 4. The seal of claim 3, further comprising: a slot in the movable portion of the sheet. 5. The seal of claim 4, wherein the spacing element comprises a protrusion extending from the aircraft exhaust deck and through the slot in the movable portion of the sheet. 6. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the aircraft exhaust deck comprises metal and the trailing edge comprises ceramic. 7. A seal for bridging an interface between a first material and a second material, the seal comprising: a first fitting having a top and a downstream side, the downstream side in contact with the first material on a first side of the interface;a second fitting having a top and an upstream side, the upstream side adjacent to the second material on a second side of the interface;a spring located between the first fitting and the second fitting, the spring exerting an expansion force against both the first fitting and the second fitting so as to keep the first fitting in contact with the first material and the second fitting in contact with the second material to accommodate changes in interface size between the first material and the second material, the expansion force being balanced by a force exerted on the first fitting by the trailing edge and a force being exerted on the second fitting by the exhaust deck;a sheet having a fixed end, a cover portion, a movable portion, and a free end, the fixed end being held between the first fitting and the first material, the cover portion extending upstream from the fixed end and across the tops of both the first fitting and the second fitting to bridge the interface, the movable portion extending along the upstream side of the second fitting;a spacing element engaging the movable portion and defining a gap for cooling air between the movable portion and the second material; anda tensioning element connected at a first end to the free end of the sheet and at a second end to the first fitting, the tensioning element providing tensioning force to keep the cover portion taut if there is a change in interface size between the first material and the second material. 8. The seal of claim 7, further comprising: a tang attached to the downstream side of the first fitting; anda notch extending into the first material, wherein the tang is received into the notch. 9. The seal of claim 7, wherein the upstream side of the second fitting rotates. 10. The seal of claim 7, wherein the tops of the first fitting and the second fitting are coplanar. 11. A seal for bridging an interface between a first material and a second material, the seal comprising: a first fitting having a top and a downstream side contacting the first material on a first side of the interface;a second fitting including a support and a tube, the tube having a rotating engagement with a concave side of the support and contacting the second material on a second side of the interface;an expansion element located between the first fitting and the second fitting, the expansion element exerting an expansion force against both the first fitting and the second fitting to keep the first fitting in contact with the trailing edge and the second fitting in contact with the aircraft exhaust deck to accommodate changes in interface size between the first material and the second material, the expansion force being balanced by a force exerted on the first fitting by the trailing edge and a force being exerted on the second fitting by the exhaust deck;a sheet having a fixed end, a cover portion, a movable portion, and a free end, the fixed end pressed between the first fitting and the first material, the cover portion extending upstream from the fixed end across the tops of both the first fitting and the second fitting to bridge the interface, the movable portion extending along the upstream side of second fitting;a spacing element engaging the movable portion of the sheet and defining a gap for cooling air between the movable portion and the second material; anda tensioning element connected at a first end to the free end of the sheet and at a second end to the first fitting, the tensioning element providing tensioning force to keep the cover portion taut when the first material and second material move toward or away from one another. 12. The seal of claim 11, wherein the tensioning force exerted by the tensioning element is dominant over the expansion force exerted by the expansion element. 13. The seal of claim 11, wherein a first side of the tensioning element is fastened to the first fitting and a second side of the tensioning element extends through holes in the free end of the sheet. 14. The seal of claim 11, wherein the free end of the sheet has a thickness greater than the cover portion of the sheet. 15. The seal of claim 11, wherein the spacing element comprises stand-off feet extending downstream from the second material, each foot extending through one of a plurality of slots in the movable portion of the sheet.