Variable exit area ramjet nozzle
AssigneeGeneral Dynamics Corporation
InventorsGeorge B. Nicoloff, Clark Kerr, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ramjet missile with a variable size exhaust nozzle formed by a plurality of flaps having heat resistant blocks displaced circumferentially about the nozzle which are latched within the divergent contour of the nozzle during missile climb condition and extendable radially into the exhaust nozzle exit area to reduce the size thereof for missle cruise and descent. These heat resistant blocks are jetisonable so that the nozzle exit area may be increased to its original size upon the missile return to low level flight condition. Actuators are also provided for operating the flaps for unlatching, extending and jetisoning the heat resistant blocks at the appropriate time.
Claims9
An adjustable exhaust nozzle for a ramjet missile, said nozzle being of the conically diverging type for discharging exhaust gases,
- a plurality of flaps located circumferentially about the exit area of the nozzle and arranged to pivot radially into the exit area,
- said flaps including plate means and heat resistant blocks releasably attached to said plate means and of a configuration to conform to the contour of the nozzle in a flap retract position and in a flap extend position where said flaps pivot radially into the exit area to reduce the exit area of the nozzle, and
- means for latching heat resistant blocks to said plate means and for releasing said heat resistant blocks from said plate means at selected times.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.