US 12,135,039 B2
Variable pipe diffuser
Craig M. Beers, Wethersfield, CT (US); and Brent J. Merritt, Southwick, MA (US)
Assigned to Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Sep. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/942,971.
Prior Publication US 2024/0084818 A1, Mar. 14, 2024
Int. Cl. F04D 29/44 (2006.01); B64D 13/06 (2006.01); F04D 15/00 (2006.01); F04D 17/10 (2006.01); F04D 29/46 (2006.01)
CPC F04D 29/441 (2013.01) [F04D 15/0022 (2013.01); F04D 17/10 (2013.01); F04D 29/464 (2013.01); B64D 2013/0603 (2013.01); B64D 2013/0618 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A variable diffuser comprising:
a backing plate;
a shroud;
a diffuser body extending axially between the backing plate and the shroud;
a plurality of passages extending through the diffuser body from an inlet at a first end to an outlet at a second end, the plurality of passages spaced axially between the backing plate and the shroud and spaced circumferentially, wherein passages of the plurality of passages are frustoconical in shape, having an inlet diameter smaller than an outlet diameter, and wherein adjacent passages diverge axially from each other; and
a valve adjacent to the shroud and the diffuser body, wherein the valve movably occludes a portion of the plurality of passages.