US 11,891,964 B1
Method of manufacture of plug nozzle with thrust reverser
Kenneth M. Pesyna, Indianapolis, IN (US); and Andrew M. Simonich, Indianapolis, IN (US)
Assigned to Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed by Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed on Aug. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/233,675.
Int. Cl. F02K 1/60 (2006.01); B23P 15/00 (2006.01); F02K 1/56 (2006.01)
CPC F02K 1/566 (2013.01) [B23P 15/008 (2013.01); F02K 1/56 (2013.01); F02K 1/60 (2013.01); B23P 2700/01 (2013.01); B23P 2700/13 (2013.01); F05D 2220/323 (2013.01); F05D 2230/60 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49323 (2015.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing a propulsion unit including a gas turbine engine and an exhaust nozzle coupled to an aft end of the gas turbine engine, the method comprising
forming an outer nozzle case for the exhaust nozzle, the outer nozzle case extending circumferentially around a central axis of the gas turbine engine and having a radially inner surface defining at least a portion of an interior space radially inward of the outer nozzle case and a radially outer surface defining at least a portion of an exterior of the exhaust nozzle,
forming a nozzle plug,
attaching the nozzle plug to at least one of the gas turbine engine and the outer nozzle case to reside within the interior space and along the central axis, the nozzle plug cooperating with the outer nozzle case to define an annular exhaust flow path radially therebetween,
forming a thrust reverser including a first thrust reverser panel, a second thrust reverser panel, and an actuator system coupled to the first and second trust reverse panels, and
attaching the thrust reverser to the outer nozzle case,
wherein the first and second thrust reverser panels each include an inner surface facing toward the outer surface of the outer nozzle case and an outer surface facing away from the outer surface of the outer nozzle case, and
wherein forming the outer nozzle case includes forming a first panel receiving indentation into the outer surface of the outer nozzle case and forming a second panel-receiving indentation into the outer surface of the outer nozzle case, and
wherein attaching the first and second thrust reverser panels to the outer nozzle case includes placing the first thrust reverser panel in the first panel-receiving indentation and placing the second thrust reverser panel in the second panel-receiving indentation such that the outer surface of both the first and second thrust reverser panels cooperate with the outer surface of the outer nozzle case to provide the exterior surface of the exhaust nozzle.