METHOD OF FABRICATING A COMBUSTION CHAMBER

Abstract

A welded assembly of combustion chamber elements. Two subassemblies of the combustion chamber are fabricated by butt-welding, and a first subassembly has an intermediate connection ring welded thereto suitable for performing final welding with the second subassembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood and other advantages thereof appear more clearly in the light of the following description of a method of fabricating a “reverse-flow” combustion chamber in compliance therewith, given purely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A to 1C show various welding operations for making up a first subassembly;

FIGS. 2A to 2C show various welding operations for making up a second subassembly; and

FIG. 3 shows an orbital welding operation for uniting the two subassemblies to constitute a reverse-flow combustion chamber.

Claims

1. A method of fabricating a combustion chamber essentially made up of welded-together shells, the method comprising: making separately two subassemblies of such shells by butt-welding the shells together, with an intermediate connection ring being welded to one end of a first subassembly, the intermediate ring including an assembly surface;engaging one end of a second subassembly on said surface; andwelding it to said intermediate ring.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a said butt-welding is performed by adjusting the docking of the two shells concerned by using radial expander tools.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said intermediate connection ring is made at least in part by machining.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate connection ring includes or constitutes the filler metal needed for welding with said second subassembly.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein other connection rings are butt-welded with respective other ends of the two subassemblies.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein, in order to fabricate a “reverse-flow” combustion chamber, an outer first subassembly and an inner second subassembly are built up by butt-welding preformed shells together, one of the subassemblies including an end wall of the chamber with one end thereof constituting the end of said second subassembly that is to be welded to said intermediate ring.

7. A combustion chamber constituted by a plurality of preformed shells including a chamber end wall that are assembled together by butt-welding, with the exception of a junction between two subassemblies of said shells, said junction being made with an interposed intermediate connection ring.

8. A combustion chamber according to claim 7, wherein said intermediate connection ring includes an assembly surface, wherein it is butt-welded to the first shell subassembly, and wherein it is welded to a second shell subassembly by welding on said assembly surface.

9. A turbojet including a combustion chamber obtained by implementing the method according to claim 1.

10. A turbojet including a combustion chamber according to claim 7.