Variable geometry exhaust nozzle
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorMieczyslaw Konarski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exhaust nozzle for a gas turbine engine including a plurality of primary and secondary flaps which are pivotally positionable for varying the geometry of the nozzle and for providing thrust vectoring. Electromechanical actuators preferably are used to position the flaps. The inner surfaces of the primary flaps are preferably curved convexly to continually maintain the location of the nozzle throat on the primary flaps. Reverser doors can be added to permit thrust reversal and fairing flaps can be included outwardly of the primary and secondary flaps to maintain a smooth, aerodynamic flow.
Claims16
An exhaust nozzle for a gas turbine engine comprising:
- (a) a fixed structure;
- (b) a plurality of primary flaps each having a portion pivotally connected with said fixed structure and having an inner surface curved convexly in a downstream direction;
- (c) a plurality of secondary flaps disposed downstream of said primary flaps, each of said secondary flaps having a portion pivotally connected with a downstream end of one of said primary flaps in a cantilever arrangement therewith;
- and
- (d) means for pivotally positioning said primary and said secondary flaps;
- each of said primary flaps and each of said secondary flaps being pivotably positionable independently of any other primary or secondary flap.
An exhaust nozzle of a gas turbine engine comprising:
- (a) two transversely spaced apart sidewalls;
- (b) two primary flaps spaced vertically apart and extending between said sidewalls, each primary flap having an upstream portion pivotally connected with said sidewalls, having an inner surface curved convexly in the downstream direction, and having an inner flap connected with the downstream portion of said inner surface;
- (c) two secondary flaps disposed downstream of said primary flaps and extending substantially the width thereof, each of said secondary flaps having an upstream portion pivotally connected with a downstream end of one of said primary flaps in a cantilever arrangement therewith, the forward portion of the inner surface of each of said secondary flaps being slidingly engaged by said inner flap of an adjacent primary flap for providing a continuous surface between said primary and said secondary flaps;
- and
- (d) means for pivotally positioning said primary and said secondary flaps;
- each of said primary flaps and each of said secondary flaps being pivotably positionable independently of any other primary or secondary flap.
An exhaust nozzle for a gas turbine engine comprising:
- (a) two transversely spaced apart sidewalls extending downstream of said engine;
- (b) vertically spaced apart upper and lower walls;
- (c) outer and inner reverser doors which, together with the downstream ends of said upper and lower walls, define reverser passages for providing communication of exhaust gases from the interior to the exterior of said exhaust nozzle;
- (d) two primary flaps spaced vertically apart, extending between said sidewalls, and disposed downstream and apart from said upper and lower walls, each said primary flap including an electromechanical actuator disposed in the upstream portion thereof, said electromechanical actuator being secured with said primary flap and having at least one torque shaft secured with one of said sidewalls and being thereby effective for pivotally positioning said primary flaps;
- and
- (e) two secondary flaps spaced vertically apart, extending substantially between said sidewalls, and disposed downstream and adjacent said primary flaps, each of said secondary flaps including an electromechanical actuator disposed in the upstream portion thereof, each said electromechanical actuator being secured with said secondary flap and having at least one torque shaft secured with a downstream portion of one of said primary flaps and being thereby effective for pivotally positioning said secondary flap.
In a gas turbine engine having a fixed structure and including a nacelle having a downstream end for discharging exhaust gases generally along an longitudinal axis thereof to produce thrust, a variable exhaust nozzle attached to said fixed structure and communicating with said downstream end of said nacelle, said nozzle having a plurality of flap assemblies spaced from said longitudinal axis and defining an exhaust opening therebetween, each flap assembly comprising:
- (a) a primary flap having an upstream end and a downstream end, said upstream end being pivotably connected with said fixed structure;
- (b) a secondary flap disposed downstream of said primary flap and having an upstream end and a downstream end, said upstream end being pivotably connected with said downstream end of said primary flap in a cantilever arrangement therewith;
- said primary flap and said secondary flap being independently pivotable for enabling said exhaust opening to be selectively varied in size and said engine thrust to be vectored in a predetermined direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.