Reduced weight nozzle actuation mechanism
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorDudley O. Nash
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid supply and synchronizing mechanism are provided for a jet engine exhaust nozzle. The exhaust nozzle has flaps which are moved by flap mounted actuators which move with the flaps. The fluid supply includes a supply tube, a return tube and a strut for each actuator. The two tubes and strut are connected to each actuator for movement with the actuator. The strut prevents flexing of the tubes during movement. The synchronizing mechanism interconnects the flaps so that movement of any one flap is transmitted to all other flaps thereby retaining nozzle symmetry.
Claims17
An exhaust nozzle actuation mechanism for a jet engine, comprising:
- an engine structure of said jet engine defining an exhaust duct for conveying combustion discharge gases to the exhaust nozzle;
- a plurality of first flaps, each having a forward end and an aft end, each pivotally attached at its forward end to the engine structure and positioned circumferentially to form an exhaust path;
- a symmetry controller including a plurality of first links having inner and outer ends, each having an inner end attached to an individual first flap, and a plurality of connecting links, each connected to an outer end of an individual first link so that all first links are interconnected by the connecting links so that movement of any one of the first flaps is transmitted to and moves all other first flaps to maintain the circumferential symmetry of the exhaust path;
- and
- means mounted on said engine structure for limiting the movement of the connecting links so that movement of any one of the first flaps is accurately transmitted to all other first flaps.
A jet engine exhaust nozzle fluid supply for actuators mounted on nozzle flaps, comprising:
- a plurality of exhaust nozzle flap sets circumferentially spaced to form an exhaust nozzle, each flap set consisting of an outer flap, a convergent flap and a divergent flap, each flap having a forward end and an aft end, said forward end of the outer flap being mounted for pivotal movement and said aft end of the outer flap being pivotally secured to the aft end of the divergent flap, said forward end of the divergent flap being pivotally secured to the aft end of the convergent flap, and said forward end of the convergent flap being mounted for pivotal movement, said outer, divergent and convergent flaps defining an annular flap space therebetween;
- a plurality of actuators positioned circumferentially in said annular flap space, each actuator being mounted on two adjacent divergent flaps for movement therewith;
- and
- a fluid supply connected to each actuator, the fluid supply including a rotary union for each actuator and a supply tube and strut connecting each rotary union to an actuator so that the supply tube and strut move up and down about the rotary union as its connected actuator moves up and down with the divergent flaps.
A jet engine exhaust nozzle fluid supply for actuators mounted on nozzle flaps, comprising:
- a plurality of exhaust nozzle flap sets circumferentially spaced to form an exhaust nozzle, each flap set consisting of an outer flap, a convergent flap and a divergent flap, each flap having a forward end and an aft end, said forward end of the outer flap being mounted for pivotal movement and said aft end of the outer flap being pivotally secured to the aft end of the divergent flap, said forward end of the divergent flap being pivotally secured to the aft end of the convergent flap, and said forward end of the convergent flap being mounted for pivotal movement, said outer, divergent and convergent flaps defining an annular flap space therebetween;
- a plurality of actuators positioned circumferentially in said annular flap space, each actuator being mounted on two adjacent convergent flaps for movement therewith;
- and
- a fluid supply connected to each actuator, the fluid supply including a rotary union for each actuator and a supply tube and strut connecting each rotary union to an actuator so that the supply tube and strut move up and down about the rotary union as its connected actuator moves up and down with the convergent flaps.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.