Devices and methods for exhaust vectoring in tilt rotor aircraft
OwnerAbe Kareminventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Exhaust redirecting devices are described that are suitable for use in tilt rotor aircraft. Such devices are constructed of light weight material and permit redirection of exhaust gases from turbojet engines of tilt rotor aircraft as nacelles of the aircraft transition between vertical and horizontal flight. Use of a controller permits coordination between exhaust redirection and nacelle position.
Claims9
An exhaust direction device (600) for a tilt rotor aircraft having a nacelle tiltable from a vertical orientation in rotor borne flight to a horizontal orientation during forward flight, the exhaust directing device comprising:
- an inlet portion (610) positioned with respect to the nacelle such that orientation of the inlet portion changes with the orientation of the nacelle;
- an outlet portion (630) coupled to a nozzle assembly (640);
- and
- an intermediate portion (620) interposed between the inlet portion (610) and the outlet portion (630),
- wherein the intermediate portion (620) is rotatable with respect to each of the inlet portion (610) and the outlet portion (630), such that an exhaust stream exists the nozzle assembly (640) horizontally when the nacelle is oriented vertically.
A system (800) for directing exhaust from a tilt rotor aircraft having a nacelle that is tiltable from a vertical position in rotor borne flight to a horizontal position during forward flight, the system comprising:
- an exhaust directing device having (a) an inlet portion (810) in fluidic communication with an exhaust stream of the nacelle, (b) an outlet portion (830) coupled to a nozzle assembly, and (c) an intermediate portion (820) interposed between the inlet portion (810) and the outlet portion (830);
- a driver (850) configured to rotate at least one of the inlet portion (810), the intermediate portion (820), and the outlet portion (830) such that an exhaust stream nozzle assembly (640) in directions independtly of orientation of the nacelle;
- a controller (840) in electrical communication with the driver, and configured to control orientation of the exhaust stream exiting the nozzle assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.