GB2364829A

GB2364829A - Bulkhead feedthrough

Info

Publication number: GB2364829A
Application number: GB0017214A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Stephen Jackson
Original assignee: Rolls Royce PLC
Current assignee: Rolls Royce PLC
Priority date: 2000-07-14
Filing date: 2000-07-14
Publication date: 2002-02-06
Also published as: GB0017214D0

Abstract

A device 38 for supporting cables or pipes 28 passing through a bulkhead or firewall 30, eg in an aircraft gas turbine engine, comprises one or more tubes 40 having an intermediate flange 42, 46 fastened to the bulkhead by means of boltholes 36, 42, Figure 2, or by means of a nut 52 engaging a screwthread 50 on the tube, Figure 3. The tube 40 may be inclined relative to the flange.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> ENGINE HARNESS SUPPORT The present invention relates to the supporting of a harness of conduits which passes through a bulkhead or firewall, or other similar structure In particular, though not restrictively so, the present invention has efficacy when utilised in the organising of conduits which may comprise electrical wiring and/or fluid piping around the casings of a gas turbine engine.

Where harnesses are employed on a gas turbine engine, the wiring or piping at some point in its length, has to pass through a bulkhead or firewall. # It is known to form or provide coaxial tubes on each side of the structure, the end extremities of which tubes define connectors into which mating end connectors on given wires or pipes are plugged, so as to complete the electrical or fluid flow circuit. A drawback to such an arrangement is that a number of connectors are needed, over and above those that connect the wiring or piping to an associated relevant supply, and a device to be operated by that supply. It follows that there exists an equal number of positions at which inadvertent disconnection can occur. Should this occur in a wiring or fluid flow system on a gas turbine engine powering an aircraft, whilst that aircraft is flying, the result could be disastrous.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved engine harness support.

According to the present invention an engine harness support which in operation supports a harness comprising electrical wiring and/or fluid flow pipes at a position where said wiring or piping passes through an appertured bulkhead or firewall comprises a tube having a flange intermediate its ends via which flange, said tube is fixable to a said bulkhead or firewall, so that each end

extremity thereof will, via said aperture, extend beyond a respective side of said bulkhead or firewall.

The invention will now be described, by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a diagrammatic sketch of electrical wiring passing through a bulkhead surrounding a gas turbine engine; Fig 2 is a pictorial, exploded part view of the bulkhead of Fig 1 and an electrical harness support in accordance with the present invention, and; Fig 3 depicts an alternative form of an electrical harness support in accordance with the present invention. Referring to Fig 1 a gas turbine engine 10 has a compressor 12, combustion equipment 14, a turbine 16 and an exhaust nozzle 18. The whole is enclosed in a streamlined casing 20. A pylon 22 connects engine 10 to aircraft structure (not shown).

An electrical generator 24 is mounted on the casing 26 that encloses compressor 12, and is connected via gearing (not shown) for driven rotation by the compressor shaft (not shown) Wiring 28 conducts the resulting electrical current, via a bulkhead 30, and the pylon 22, to apparatus (not shown) that is to be driven thereby.

Bulkhead 30 serves a dual purpose, in that it maintains the peripheral shape of casing 20, and further acts as a firewall between generator 24 and the space 32 in which the fuel injection system for the combustion equipment 14 resides.

Referring now to Fig 2, bulkhead 30 has an aperture 34 therein and a number of holes 36 spaced around it. An electrical harness support 38 is positioned adjacent bulkhead 30, and aligned therewith so that it can be fitted to bulkhead 30 for use.

Electrical harness support 38 consists of a tube 40 which has a rectangular flange 42 intermediate its ends, and which lies in a plane normal to the axis of tube 40.

Holes 44, the number, size and disposition of which correspond to holes 36, 30 are provided in flange 42, so that on placement of flange 42 against bulkhead 30, so that one end of tube 40 passes through aperture 34, and holes 36 and 44 are in alignment bolts (not shown) are pushed through them and nuts (not shown) screwed thereon, so as to retain harness support 38 against bulkhead 30, with opposing ends projecting from opposite sides thereof. Wiring 28 is then pushed through tube 40, for connection at one end to generator 24, and by its other end to the apparatus (not shown).

Whilst Fig 2 depicts only one tube 40 projecting either side of flange 42, if a number of separate but closely spaced wires 28 need to be passed through aperture 34, a flange similar to flange 42, but carrying an appropriate number of tubes 40 can be constructed.

Referring now to Fig 3 this arrangement wherein like parts have like numbers, tube 40 has a circular flange 46 formed intermediate its ends. Flange 46 is followed by a land 48 which is long enough to project beyond bulkhead 30. The projecting part 48 has a screw thread 50, onto which a nut 52 is fitted, thus clamping flange 46 to bulkhead 30. Wiring 28 may then be pushed through tube 40, as described with respect to Fig 2.

Pipes (not shown) which in operation pass fluids such as fuel, lubricating fluids, or hydraulic fluids, may make up the harness to be supported by the harness support 38. Further, the tube or tubes 40 of the harness support 38 may be formed with its axis or their axes at same angle other than normal to the face of associated flange 42, so as to

enable leading the harness around obstacles, if any are fixed to casing 26.

Claims

Claims: 1 . An engine harness support which in operation supports a harness comprising electrical wiring or fluid flow pipes at a position where said wiring or piping passes through an apertured bulkhead or firewall, comprising a tubular structure having a flange intermediate its ends, via which flange said tube fixable to a said apertured bulkhead or firewall, so that each end extremity there of will, via said aperture, extend beyond a respective of a said bulkhead or firewall.
2. An engine harness support as claimed in claim 1 wherein the axis or axes of said tubular structure lies or lie at some angle other than normal to the face of its associated flange.
3. An engine harness support as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said flange is substantially rectangular and said tubular structure comprises a plurality of tubes.
4. An engine harness support as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said flange is annular and the or each tubular structure includes a screw threaded portion which in situ extends beyond the associated bulkhead or firewall so as to receive a nut with which to clamp said flange against the opposing side of said bulkhead or firewall.
5. An engine harness support as claimed in any previous claim which in use supports electrical wiring which passes through a bulkhead or firewall on a gas turbine engine.
6. An engine harness support as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 which in use supports fluid flow piping which passes through a bulkhead or firewall on a gas turbine engine.
7. An engine harness support substantially as described in this specification and with reference to the accompanying drawings.