Flap-type nozzle with built-in reverser
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorEdward B. Thayer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lightweight exhaust nozzle/thrust reverser for a gas turbine engine comprises a flap-type exhaust nozzle with a thrust reverser door built into a cutout within each flap. The flaps may be hinged at their forward edges to the engine exhaust duct and may either be actuated or may float freely. Preferably, when the reverser doors are stowed they blend smoothly with the internal and external surfaces of the flaps. Actuation means deploys the doors such that they extend into the gas flow path and coact with each other to form a wall which blocks the axial flow of gas, and they simultaneously open the cutout within which they are disposed and redirect the exhaust gas through the cutouts in an upstream direction. In a preferred embodiment the flaps define the divergent portion of a convergent/divergent exhaust nozzle.
Claims10
A thrust reverser/exhaust nozzle assembly for a gas turbine engine having an axis comprising:
- gas turbine engine exhaust case structure;
- first nozzle means including a plurality of axially extending flaps circumferentially disposed about the engine axis and mounted on said case structure, said flaps being movable between a closed position wherein they define a first exhaust gas flow path having a minimum exit area and an open position wherein they define an exhaust gas flow path having a maximum exit area, each of said flaps including a cutout therethrough;
- and
- a deflector door attached to each flap and movable between a stowed position wherein said door fits within and closes the said cutout and a deployed position wherein said door extends into the flow path and coacts with deployed doors of adjacent flaps to redirect at least a portion of the flow in an upstream direction through the said cutouts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.