Plug-type exhaust nozzle having a variable centerbody and translating shroud

An exhaust nozzle for containing and directing the flow of exhaust gases generated by a gas turbine engine comprising:

• a nozzle housing mountable to the aft end of said gas turbine engine so as to extend rearwardly therefrom, said nozzle housing having an inwardly facing annular surface for defining a flow passage for receiving said exhaust gases generated by said gas turbine engine;
• a support tube mountable to the aft end of said gas turbine to extend rearwardly therefrom, said support tube being mounted coaxially within said nozzle housing;
• and
• a variable circumference centerbody axially mounted on said support tube within said flow passage of said nozzle housing forming a throat passage between said inner surface of said nozzle housing and said centerbody, said centerbody including a first shell and a second shell, said first and said second shells each having a forward end and an aft end, the edge of said first and said second shells abutting one another along a plane that is parallel to the central axis of the exhaust nozzle when said shells are in a retracted position, the aft ends of said first and said second shells being pivotally connected to said support tube for pivotal movement of the forward ends of said shells away from one another into an extended position, said first and said second shells being configured to vary the cross-sectional flow area of said throat passage by pivoting said first and said second shells between said retracted and said extended positions, said throat passage having a minimum cross-sectional flow area when said centerbody is in an extended position and said throat passage having a maximum cross-sectional flow area when said centerbody is in a retracted position.

An exhaust nozzle for containing and directing the flow of exhaust gases generated by a gas turbine engine, comprising:

• an annular nozzle housing mountable to the aft end of said gas turbine engine so as to extend rearwardly therefrom;
• an annular shroud coaxially mounted to the aft end of said nozzle housing for axial sliding movement relative to said housing, said shroud being movable along a translational path between a forwardmost position and a rearmost position, said shroud having an inwardly facing surface for defining a flow passage for receiving said exhaust gases generated by said gas turbine, a first portion of said inwardly facing surface adjacent a forward end of said shroud being configured to form a flow passage of substantially constant cross-sectional area, and a second portion of said inwardly facing surface adjacent said first portion configured to form a flow passage of increasing cross-sectional area in the aft, axial direction;
• linear actuator means for moving said shroud between said forwardmost and said rearmost positions and for transferring tensile and compressive forces caused by bending moments within said shroud from said shroud to said nozzle housing;
• and,
• centerbody means for forming a throat passage within said flow passage of said shroud, said throat passage having a cross-sectional flow area;
• means for moving a circumference of said centerbody to vary said cross-sectional flow area;
• said shroud coacting with said centerbody means so that said cross-sectional flow area varies as a result of combined movements of said shroud between said forwardmost and said rearmost positions and said centerbody circumference.