Divergent flap
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorMeggan Harris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A divergent flap includes a hinge joint to connect the divergent flap to a convergent flap, a plow structure, a first wall, a second wall, and two side walls. The plow structure is at a plow end of the flap opposite the hinge joint. The first wall and the second wall each extend from the hinge joint to the plow end. The second wall is spaced apart from the first wall by the two side walls to form at least one cooling channel extending between the hinge joint and the plow end. The divergent flap is integrally formed in layer-by-layer fashion as a single piece.
Claims18
A divergent flap for a convergent and divergent nozzle comprising:
- a hinge joint to connect the divergent flap to at least a convergent flap of the convergent and divergent nozzle;
- a plow structure at a plow end of the divergent flap opposite the hinge joint;
- a first wall extending from the hinge joint to the plow end;
- two side walls;
- and
- a second wall extending from the hinge joint to the plow end, the second wall spaced apart from the first wall by the two side walls to form at least one cooling channel extending between the hinge joint and the plow end, the second wall having a thickness that increases from the hinge joint to a middle of the divergent flap and decreases from the middle of the divergent flap to the plow end;
- wherein a distance between the first wall and the second wall decreases from the hinge joint to the middle of the divergent flap and increases from the middle of the divergent flap to the plow end to produce increased convective cooling between the hinge joint and the plow end, and
- wherein the divergent flap is integrally formed in layer-by-layer fashion as a single piece.
A convergent and divergent nozzle comprising:
- a plurality of convergent flaps arranged circumferentially around an axis of the nozzle;
- and
- a plurality of divergent flaps arranged circumferentially around the axis of the nozzle,
- each of the divergent flaps pivotally mounted to a corresponding convergent flap of the plurality of convergent flaps, each of the divergent flaps including:
- a hinge joint to connect the divergent flap to the corresponding convergent flap;
- a plow structure at a plow end of the divergent flap opposite the hinge joint;
- a first wall extending from the hinge joint to the plow end;
- two side walls;
- and
- a second wall facing the axis of the nozzle and extending from the hinge joint to the plow end, the second wall spaced apart from the first wall by the two side walls to form at least one cooling channel extending between the hinge joint and the plow end with the second wall having a thickness that gradually increases from the hinge joint towards a middle of the second wall and gradually decreases between the middle of the second wall and the plow end;
- wherein a distance between the first wall and the second wall decreases from the hinge joint to a middle of the divergent flap and increases from the middle of the divergent flap to the plow end to produce increased convective cooling between the hinge joint and the plow end;
- wherein the divergent flap is integrally formed in layer-by-layer fashion as a single piece.
A method for making a divergent flap for a convergent and divergent nozzle, the method comprising:
- building the divergent flap by a layer-by-layer additive manufacturing process;
- forming, while building the divergent flap, a hinge joint and a plow structure at a plow end of the divergent flap opposite the hinge joint;
- and integrally forming at least one cooling channel together with the hinge joint and the plow structure by forming first and second walls extending from the hinge joint to the plow structure with two side walls therebetween,
- the cooling channel extending between the hinge joint and the plow end,
- the second wall having a thickness that increases from the hinge joint to a middle of the divergent flap and decreases from the middle of the divergent flap to the plow end, and
- a distance between the first wall and the second wall decreasing from the hinge joint to the middle of the divergent flap and increasing from the middle of the divergent flap to the plow end to produce increased convection cooling between the hinge joint and the plow end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.