2D variable-area plug nozzle
AssigneeFlorida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
InventorRobert A. Ress, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A two-dimensional variable area plug (2D VAP) nozzle assembly for a high-speed flight vehicle. In one embodiment, a 2D VAP nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle including a plurality of sidewalls; a plug body within the nozzle, the plug body abutting at least two of the plurality of sidewalls; a first convergent flap hingedly connected to at least one of the plurality of sidewalls; and a second convergent flap hingedly connected to at least one of the plurality of sidewalls. In one embodiment, the nozzle assembly includes only a first convergent flap and a second convergent flap, without diverging flaps. The 2D VAP nozzle assembly has a simplified design with reduced sidewall length, which results in reduced manufacturing and maintenance costs.
Claims19
A variable-area plug nozzle assembly comprising:
- a nozzle including a plurality of sidewalls;
- a plug body within the nozzle, the plug body abutting at least two of the plurality of sidewalls, the plug body including an upstream end and a downstream end opposite the upstream end;
- and
- only a single pair of convergent flaps, the single pair of convergent flaps including:
- a first convergent flap hingedly connected to at least one of the plurality of sidewalls at a location proximate the upstream end of the plug body;
- and
- a second convergent flap hingedly connected to at least one of the plurality of sidewalls at a location proximate the upstream end of the plug body.
A two-dimensional variable-area plug nozzle, comprising:
- a plurality of sidewalls and a longitudinal axis, the plurality of sidewalls including:
- a first sidewall;
- a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall;
- a third sidewall between the first sidewall and the second sidewall;
- and
- a fourth sidewall opposite the third sidewall;
- a plug body, the plug body having an upstream end and a downstream end, the downstream end having a longitudinal axis that is at least substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the two-dimensional variable-area plug nozzle;
- a first convergent flap having a first edge that is hingedly connected to at least one of the plurality of sidewalls at a location proximate the upstream end of the plug body, the first convergent flap further having a second edge that is a free edge;
- and
- a second convergent flap having a first edge that is hingedly connected to at least one of the plurality of sidewalls at a location proximate the upstream end of the plug body, the second convergent flap further having a second edge that is a free edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.