Jet flow deflector for aircraft
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorEdsel S. Farris
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A jet flow deflector is provided on an aircraft engine nacelle. In high speed cruise conditions, the deflector engages in a recess in the upper part of the nacelle and forms part of the jet nozzle, providing an efficient flow passage and an outer surface having minimum drag. For low speed flight, the deflector is moved downward and aft with respect to the nacelle to deflect the jet flow downward to increase the lift by use of the Coanda flap principle. By moving the deflector in this manner, an additional flow area is created above the deflector and at one side to increase the effective nozzle area. If desired, the deflector may be divided into two or more segments which are spaced from each other in the low speed configuration.
Claims12
In an aircraft having jet propulsion means, a nacelle mounted in a wing of the aircraft and containing said propulsion means, said nacelle providing a nozzle at its end portion for discharging a jet flow in the aft direction of the aircraft, and deflector means on the nacelle movable between first and second positions, the deflector means engaging the nacelle at the aft end thereof in its first position to form a continuous interior surface with the nacelle constituting a part of said nozzle, and the deflector means being movable downwards and aft relative to the nacelle to its second position in which the deflector means deflects the jet flow downward and is spaced from the nacelle to provide additional jet flow in the aft direction over the deflector means between the nacelle and the upper surface of the deflector means to increase the effective nozzle area.
In an aircraft having jet propulsion means, a nacelle mounted in a wing of the aircraft and containing said propulsion means, said nacelle having its end portion formed to provide a nozzle for discharging a jet flow in the aft direction of the aircraft, said end portion of the nacelle having a recess in the upper part thereof adjoining a circumferential opening in the aft edge of the nacelle, a curved deflector on the nacelle, said deflector having a first position in which it engages in said recess and closes said opening, the configuration of the deflector being such that in said first position it forms with the nacelle a continuous interior surface providing a single effective flow passage for the entire jet flow and the upper surface of the deflector forming with the nacelle a smooth continuous exterior surface, and the deflector having a second position in which it is displaced downwards of the nacelle and aft from the first position to deflect the jet flow downward and to provide an open flow area between the upper surface of the deflector and the nacelle to provide additional jet flow in the aft direction over the upper surface of the deflector to increase the effective nozzle area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.