Swing link flexible wind tunnel nozzle

Abstract

A flexible duct for conveying a gaseous flow, with the duct useable as the flexible nozzle in a wind tunnel. The duct includes a flexible plate member which is attached at the downstream end to a frame support member, with the upstream end of the flexible plate member being slideable and pivotable upon a member attached to the frame support member. A plurality of swing link members in spaced-apart relationship are pivotally connected at one end to the flexible plate member, and pivotally connected at the other end to a translatable and rotatable cradle-like member which is supported by crank members from the frame support member. An actuator is used to selectively move the cradle-like member. The resultant movement of the cradle-like member causes the flexible plate member to deflect, resulting in predetermined contours (and profiles) of the flexible plate member. If the duct is used as the flexible nozzle of a wind tunnel, this contouring of the flexible plate member allows generation of a large range of uniform velocities at the downstream exit end of the duct which is in communication with the testing section of the wind tunnel. Unlike the Pierce invention which was very restricted in the range of velocities attainable, this duct can be used to provide a large range of uniform velocities including supersonic.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.