Displayed at a local antique market, this intriguingly shaped thing wasn't identified. It's all metal and about 3 feet in diameter. My overactive mind pictures it as the outlet portion of a jet engine but what is it really? Ideas?
It reminds me of the diffuser designed to distribute grain evenly when filling a grain bin but iut seems too intricate for that. Maybe it's an extruder for REALLY big pasta.
I asked my friend who is a retired aerospace engineer who designed jet engines and hears his partial reply “ It is an exhaust mixer. They are quite common on more modern turbofan engines. If you remember Bill, my acoustics expert friend from Rolls-Royce who came to our vintage fly-in a few years ago, his department was responsible for designing and testing different types of these fluted exhaust mixers. What they do is mix the high temperature, high energy core exhaust with the cool lower energy fan bypass air. The end result is a well mixed exhaust stream that reduces noise and also reduces infrared signature. Both of which are needed for stealth applications. I can draw you a sketch next time we meet.” I had to edit it, he is, after all an engineer…
it looks extra scary... if I saw that thing on the floor, 3 foot diameter, I would jumpback away thinking it could be radioactive... then go call the Army. they would hang UP on me though, like they always do.
It reminds me of the diffuser designed to distribute grain evenly when filling a grain bin but iut seems too intricate for that. Maybe it's an extruder for REALLY big pasta.
ReplyDeletegoogle says you're correct; that it's a jet/gas turbine engine exhaust diffuser.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite the sculptural piece isn't it? Someone must have a spent a lot of time cleaning it. Unless it's NOS?
ReplyDeleteThe item pictured is an exhaust mixer for the Pratt & Whitney JT8D engine.
ReplyDeleteProduct: Exhaust mixer for JT8D engines, often part of "hush kits" for noise reduction.
Material: Made of Inconel, a special heat-resistant nickel-chromium alloy.
Uses: Due to their structure, these components are also creatively repurposed as fire bowls or lighting fixtures.
I asked my friend who is a retired aerospace engineer who designed jet engines and hears his partial reply “ It is an exhaust mixer. They are quite common on more modern turbofan engines. If you remember Bill, my acoustics expert friend from Rolls-Royce who came to our vintage fly-in a few years ago, his department was responsible for designing and testing different types of these fluted exhaust mixers. What they do is mix the high temperature, high energy core exhaust with the cool lower energy fan bypass air. The end result is a well mixed exhaust stream that reduces noise and also reduces infrared signature. Both of which are needed for stealth applications.
ReplyDeleteI can draw you a sketch next time we meet.” I had to edit it, he is, after all an engineer…
If Georgia O'Keeffe was still alive she would probably paint one.
ReplyDeleteit looks extra scary... if I saw that thing on the floor, 3 foot diameter,
ReplyDeleteI would jumpback away thinking it could be radioactive...
then go call the Army. they would hang UP on me though, like they always do.