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A thermal expansion includes a bottom portion extending between a support structure and a trailing edge, and the support structure is positioned proximate to a heat source. Furthermore, the thermal expansion joint includes a side portion. In some embodiments, the thermal expansion joint includes an

A thermal expansion includes a bottom portion extending between a support structure and a trailing edge, and the support structure is positioned proximate to a heat source. Furthermore, the thermal expansion joint includes a side portion. In some embodiments, the thermal expansion joint includes an overlapping portion coupled to the bottom portion and extending from a flange portion towards the side portion. Moreover, the overlapping portion overlays and is biased against the side portion to enable thermal expansion during heating by extending towards the flange portion and sliding along a top surface of the side portion.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A thermal expansion joint, comprising: a bottom portion coupled to a support structure and extending between the support structure and a trailing edge, the support structure being proximate to a heat source;a side portion coupled to the support structure independent of the bottom portion, the sid

1. A thermal expansion joint, comprising: a bottom portion coupled to a support structure and extending between the support structure and a trailing edge, the support structure being proximate to a heat source;a side portion coupled to the support structure independent of the bottom portion, the side portion having a top surface defining a first wear surface; andan overlapping portion having a first end overlaying the bottom portion, the first end of the overlapping portion being coupled to the bottom portion to form a flange portion of the thermal expansion joint, the overlapping portion having a second end opposite and spaced from the first end and overlaying the side portion, a bottom surface of the overlapping portion at the second end defining a second wear surface oriented toward the first wear surface of the side portion, the overlapping portion being pre-formed so that the second end of the overlapping portion exerts a compression bias against the side portion thereby to form a fluid tight seal between the first wear surface and the second wear surface while permitting the second wear surface to slide relative to the first wear surface in response to thermal expansion of the bottom portion. 2. The thermal expansion joint of claim 1, further comprising at least one first aperture extending through the overlapping portion, at least one second aperture extending through the bottom portion, and at least one fastener being inserted into the first aperture and the second aperture to fixedly attach the overlapping portion to the bottom portion in a compression shear joint formed along the flange portion. 3. The thermal expansion joint of claim 1, wherein the first wear surface of the side portion and the second wear surface of the overlapping portion are each formed from a layer of thermal spray coating. 4. A thermal expansion joint, comprising: a bottom portion coupled to a support structure and extending between the support structure and a trailing edge, the support structure being proximate to a heat source;a side portion coupled to the support structure independent of the bottom portion, the side portion having a first end overlaying the bottom portion at a flange portion of the thermal expansion joint, the side portion further having a top surface defining a first wear surface spaced from the first end of the side portion; andan overlapping portion having a first end overlaying the bottom portion and the first end of the side portion, the first end of the overlapping portion being coupled to the bottom portion at the flange portion of the thermal expansion joint, the overlapping portion having a second end opposite and spaced from the first end of the overlapping portion, a bottom surface of the overlapping portion defining a second wear surface aligned with and oriented toward the first wear surface of the side portion, wherein the second wear surface engages the first wear surface with a compression bias to form a fluid tight seal between the first wear surface and the second wear surface while permitting the second wear surface to slide relative to the first wear surface in response to thermal expansion of the bottom portion. 5. The thermal expansion joint of claim 4, further comprising at least one first aperture extending through the overlapping portion, at least one second aperture extending through the side portion and at least one third aperture extending through the bottom portion, and at least one fastener being inserted through the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture to couple the overlapping portion, the side portion, and the bottom portion together along the flange portion in a compression shear joint. 6. The thermal expansion joint of claim 5, wherein a plug is disposed in the first aperture of the overlapping portion, the plug extending from the overlapping portion top surface, through the second aperture of the side portion, to a bottom portion top surface, and the plug including a plug aperture to accommodate the fastener. 7. The thermal expansion joint of claim 6, wherein the a diameter of the second aperture of the side portion is larger than a diameter of the plug. 8. The thermal expansion joint of claim 7, wherein a side portion bottom surface has a third wear surface which mates with a fourth wear surface on the bottom portion top surface. 9. The thermal expansion joint of claim 8, wherein the first wear surface, the second wear surface, the third wear surface, and the fourth wear surface are each formed from a layer of thermal spray coating, such that during thermal expansion the first wear surface slides against the second wear surface, and the third wear surface slides against the fourth wear surface. 10. An aircraft, comprising: a wing;a propulsion unit coupled to the wing;a heat shield assembled coupled to the wing downstream of the propulsion unit, the heat shield assembly including: a support structure;a trailing edge spaced downstream of the support structure; anda thermal expansion joint comprising: a bottom portion coupled to the support structure and extending between the support structure and the trailing edge;a side portion coupled to the support structure independent of the bottom portion, the side portion having a top surface defining a first wear surface; andan overlapping portion having a first end overlaying the bottom portion, the first end of the overlapping portion being coupled to the bottom portion to form flange portion of the thermal expansion joint, the overlapping portion having a second end opposite and spaced from the first end and overlaying the side portion, a bottom surface of the overlapping portion at the second end defining a second wear surface oriented toward the first wear surface of the side portion, the overlapping portion being pre-formed so that the second end of the overlapping portion exerts a compression bias against the side portion thereby to form a fluid tight seal between the first wear surface and the second wear surface while permitting the second wear surface to slide relative to the first wear surface in response to thermal expansion of the bottom portion. 11. The aircraft of claim 10, further comprising at least one first aperture extending through the overlapping portion, at least one second aperture extending through the bottom portion, and at least one fastener being inserted into the first aperture and the second aperture to couple the overlapping portion to the bottom portion along the flange portion in a compression shear joint, such that as the bottom portion thermally expands, the overlapping portion extends towards the flange portion and slides along a side portion top surface to accommodate the thermal expansion. 12. The aircraft of claim 10, wherein both the overlapping portion and the bottom portion extend towards the flange portion and slide along the side portion during heating to accommodate thermal expansion. 13. The aircraft of claim 12, further comprising at least one first aperture extending through the overlapping portion, at least one second aperture extending through the side portion, and at least one third aperture extending through the bottom portion, and at least one fastener being inserted through the first aperture, the second aperture and the third aperture to fixedly attach the overlapping portion to the bottom portion along the flange portion in a compression shear joint. 14. The aircraft of claim 13, wherein a plug is disposed in the first aperture of the overlapping portion, the plug extending from the overlapping portion top surface, through the second aperture of the side portion, to the bottom surface top surface, and the plug including a plug aperture to accommodate the fastener. 15. The aircraft of claim 14, wherein a diameter of the second aperture of the side portion is larger than a diameter of the plug to accommodate thermal expansion of the bottom portion. 16. The aircraft of claim 12, wherein a side portion bottom surface has a third wear surface and the bottom portion top surface has a fourth wear surface. 17. The aircraft of claim 16, wherein the first wear surface, the second wear surface, the third wear surface, and the fourth wear surface are each formed from a layer of thermal spray coating.