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US 10,704,465 B2Granted
Variable supersonic engine inlet
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRichard K. Scharnhorst, Robert A. Olivo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for generating an oblique shock in a supersonic inlet are disclosed. The system can comprise an inlet with a slot disposed at an oblique angle to the main incoming air stream. High-pressure air can be provided through the slot into the main air stream. The high-pressure air can be introduced at a high enough pressure ratio—i.e., the ratio of pressure of the air stream from the slot to the pressure for the main flow—such that an aerodynamic ramp is created in the main air flow. The aerodynamic ramp, in turn, can cause one or more oblique shock waves to eventually slow the main air stream velocity to a subsonic speed prior to the face of the engine. Systems and methods for controlling the slot pressure ratio to create these shocks are also disclosed.
Claims20
A variable supersonic inlet system for an air-breathing engine comprising:
- a cowl lip;
- a surface spatially separated from the cowl lip to define a duct therebetween, the duct having an upstream end proximate, and downstream of, a free stream air flow and a downstream end proximate, and upstream of, the air-breathing engine, the surface having one or more slots disposed therethrough and upstream of the duct;
- a pressurized air source for expulsion of pressurized air through the one or more slots into the free stream air flow;
- at least one slot sensor disposed within the one or more slots to measure at least one slot condition;
- at least one downstream sensor disposed downstream of the one or more slots to measure at least one downstream condition;
- at least one upstream sensor disposed upstream of the one or more slots to measure at least one upstream condition;
- wherein the pressurized air creates one or more oblique shock waves upstream of the duct to slow the free stream air flow from a supersonic speed to a subsonic speed prior to the air-breathing engine;
- and
- a valve disposed in the one or more slots for metering a flow from the pressurized air source through the one or more slots based on the at least one slot condition, the at least one downstream condition, and the at least one upstream condition;
- and
- a processor operatively connected to the at least one slot sensor, the at least one downstream sensor, the at least one upstream sensor, and the valve, the processor configured to:
- determine a slot pressure ratio (SPR) based on the at least one slot condition, the at least one downstream condition, and the at least one upstream condition;
- and
- control the valve to provide the pressurized air based on at least the SPR to the one or more slots to generate the one or more oblique shock waves.
11 more elements
A system for generating one or more oblique shock waves, the system comprising:
- an air-breathing engine;
- a variable supersonic inlet having a duct between a cowl lip and a surface spatially separated from the cowl lip, the duct having an upstream end proximate, and downstream of, a free stream air flow and a downstream end proximate, and upstream of, the air breathing engine, the surface having one or more slots disposed therethrough and upstream of the duct;
- at least one slot sensor disposed within the one or more slots to measure at least one slot condition;
- at least one upstream sensor disposed upstream of the one or more slots to measure at least one upstream condition;
- at least one downstream sensor disposed downstream of the one or more slots to measure at least one downstream condition;
- a pressurized air source for expulsion of pressurized air through the one or more slots into the free stream air flow;
- a valve disposed in the one or more slots for metering a flow from the pressurized air source through the one or more slots;
- a processor operatively connected to the at least one slot sensor, the at least one upstream sensor, the at least one downstream sensor, and the valve, the processor configured to:
- determine a slot pressure ratio (SPR) based on the at least one slot condition, the at least one downstream condition, and the at least one upstream condition;
- and
- control the valve to provide the pressurized air based on at least the SPR to the one or more slots to generate the one or more oblique shock waves upstream of the duct to decelerate the free stream air flow from a supersonic speed to a subsonic speed prior to the air-breathing engine.
8 more elements
A system for decelerating a main air flow in a supersonic inlet of an air-breathing engine, the system comprising:
- a variable supersonic inlet having a duct between a cowl lip and a surface spatially separated from the cowl lip, the duct having an upstream end proximate, and downstream of, a free stream air flow and a downstream end proximate, and upstream of, the air-breathing engine;
- a variable slot disposed through the surface and upstream from the duct, the variable slot having an adjustable ramp to vary the variable slot;
- at least one slot sensor disposed within the variable slot to measure at least one slot condition;
- at least one upstream sensor disposed upstream of the variable slot to measure at least one upstream condition;
- at least one downstream sensor disposed downstream of the variable slot to measure at least one downstream condition;
- a pressurized air source for expulsion of pressurized air through the variable slot into the free stream air flow;
- a valve disposed in the variable slot for metering a flow from the pressurized air source through the variable slot;
- a ramp servo of the variable slot to control an adjustable ramp to vary the variable slot;
- a processor operatively connected to the at least one slot sensor, the at least one upstream sensor, the at least one downstream sensor, the ramp servo, and the valve, the processor configured to:
- determine a desired slot pressure ratio (SPR) based on the at least one slot condition, the at least one upstream condition, and the at least one downstream condition;
- control the valve and the ramp servo to maintain the desired SPR to generate one or more oblique shock waves upstream of the duct to decelerate the free stream air flow from a supersonic speed to a subsonic speed prior to the air breathing engine.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.