Cmc oxide-oxide mixer design

Abstract

A method of manufacturing an exhaust mixing system may include fabricating an annular lobed mixer attachment flange. The fabricating may include forming a ring having a first leg and a second leg substantially perpendicular to the first leg, and forming a plurality of coupling fingers projecting from the second leg in a direction substantially parallel to the first leg.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing an exhaust mixing system comprising:
 fabricating an annular lobed mixer attachment flange, wherein fabricating the lobed mixer attachment flange comprises:
 forming a ring having a first leg and a second leg substantially perpendicular to the first leg; and 
 forming a plurality of coupling fingers projecting from the second leg in a direction substantially parallel to the first leg. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 15  further comprising fabricating a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) lobed mixer configured to enhance mixing of bypass airflow with core airflow, wherein the CMC lobed mixer comprises a plurality of lobes. 
     
     
         17 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 15 , further comprising affixing the second leg of the ring to an engine interface to couple the lobed mixer attachment flange to a turbofan engine. 
     
     
         18 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 15 , wherein forming the coupling fingers comprises forming two to four times as many coupling fingers as there are lobes in the plurality of lobes. 
     
     
         19 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 16 , further comprising affixing the CMC lobed mixer to each coupling finger of the plurality of coupling fingers. 
     
     
         20 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 19 , wherein affixing the CMC lobed mixer to each coupling finger of the plurality of coupling fingers comprises affixing the CMC lobed mixer to each coupling finger such that there is a gap between the CMC lobed mixer and the second leg of the ring. 
     
     
         21 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of coupling fingers has a thickness in a radial direction that, at a distal end of the respective coupling finger, increases by extending further both radially inward and radially outward. 
     
     
         22 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 15 , wherein a thickness of each coupling finger increases from a uniform thickness beginning from a first end at the annulus a first end at the second leg to an enlarged portion at a second end opposite the first end, the thickness sloping from the uniform thickness to a radially outer surface of the enlarged portion and stepping from the uniform thickness to the a radially inner surface of the enlarged portion. 
     
     
         23 . A method of manufacturing an exhaust mixing system comprising:
 fabricating an annular lobed mixer attachment flange, wherein fabricating the lobed mixer attachment flange comprises:
 forming an annulus configured to be coupled to a turbine engine; 
 forming a plurality of projections each extending linearly linearly from a first end at the annulus along a first direction substantially parallel to a central axis of the annulus to a second end opposite the first end, wherein the plurality of projections is configured to couple to the lobed exhaust mixer; 
   wherein each of the plurality of projections has a thickness in a radial direction that, at the second end, increases by extending further both radially inward and radially outward.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the lobed exhaust mixer is comprised of a ceramic matrix composite material. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the annulus comprises:
 a first annular leg having the plurality of projections extending therefrom; and   a second annular leg in union with the first annular leg.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the first annular leg is substantially perpendicular to the second annular leg. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein a total number of projections in the plurality of projections is twice as many as a total number of lobes in the lobed exhaust mixer. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the attachment flange is comprised of a superalloy. 
     
     
         29 . A method of manufacturing an exhaust mixing system comprising:
 fabricating an annular lobed mixer attachment flange, wherein fabricating the lobed mixer attachment flange comprises:
 forming a coupling ring configured to couple to an engine interface of a turbine engine; 
 forming a plurality of coupling fingers each having a first end adjacent to the coupling ring and a second end opposite the first end, and projecting linearly from the first end to the second end, and wherein the second end of each coupling finger of the plurality of coupling fingers is configured to be coupled to an exhaust mixer that is configured to mix an engine core air flow with a bypass air flow; 
   wherein a thickness of each coupling finger increases from a uniform thickness beginning from the first end to an enlarged portion at the second end, the thickness sloping from the uniform thickness to a radially outer surface of the enlarged portion and stepping from the uniform thickness to the a radially inner surface of the enlarged portion.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein a direction in which the plurality of coupling fingers projects is substantially parallel to a central axis of the coupling ring. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the exhaust mixer is a lobed exhaust mixer comprising ceramic matrix composite oxide-oxide materials, and wherein the coupling ring and the plurality of coupling fingers comprises a metallic alloy material. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein a total quantity of coupling fingers in the plurality of coupling fingers is from two to four times a total quantity of lobes in the lobed exhaust mixer. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein each coupling finger of the plurality of coupling fingers includes a void at the second end configured to allow mounting hardware to pass therethrough to the lobed exhaust mixer to couple each coupling finger to the lobed exhaust mixer. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the coupling ring comprises:
 a first leg substantially parallel to the first direction; and   a second leg in union with the first leg, wherein the second leg is substantially perpendicular to the first leg.