Rotatable arms for thrust vectoring and changing the area of a nozzle throat

A nozzle apparatus for vectoring thrust and changing nozzle throat area comprising:

• a flow duct having an inner surface;
• two arms rotatable about at least one pivot axis;
• each of said arms having a first surface;
• each of said first surfaces having a longitudinal crest cooperating with said inner surface to define a nozzle throat section;
• each of said crest defining a respective straight line;
• and
• each of said at least one pivot axis intersecting at least one of said lines.

A nozzle apparatus for vectoring thrust and changing nozzle throat area comprising:

• a flow duct having an inner surface;
• two arms rotatable about at least one pivot axis;
• each of said arms having a first surface;
• each of said first surfaces having a longitudinal crest cooperating with said inner surface to define a respective rotatable nozzle throat section and corresponding throat plane;
• and
• each of said throat planes respectively containing one of said at least one pivot axis throughout rotation of said arms.

A nozzle apparatus for vectoring thrust and changing nozzle throat area consisting of:

• a duct having an inner surface;
• two arms, each having a first surface and a second surface;
• a respective throat formed between each of said first surfaces and said inner surface;
• said second surfaces slideably abutting said inner surface;
• each of said arms being rotatable about a pivot axis at a first end portion thereof;
• and
• a second opposite end portion of each arm slideably abutting said inner surface.

A nozzle apparatus for vectoring thrust and changing nozzle throat area consisting of:

• a duct having an inner surface;
• two arms, each having a first surface and a second surface;
• a throat formed by cooperation between said first surfaces and an opposing portion of said inner surface;
• said second surfaces slideably abutting said inner surface;
• said two arms being rotatable;
• and
• a distal end of each arm slideably abutting said inner surface.

A nozzle apparatus for vectoring thrust and changing nozzle throat area comprising:

• a duct having an inner surface;
• two arms rotatable about at least one pivot axis;
• each arm having a surface cooperating with said inner surface of the duct to form a throat;
• a flow bifurcation structure positioned in said duct, extending between opposing sides of said inner surface, and being static relative to said duct;
• and
• said at least one pivot axis intersecting said flow bifurcation structure.

A nozzle apparatus for vectoring thrust and changing throat area comprising:

• a duct;
• means for creating a throat in said duct;
• said throat having a throat area;
• said creating means including means rotatable about at least one pivot connected to said duct;
• said at least one pivot defining at least one pivot axis;
• said creating means also being capable of creating at least one sonic choke plane;
• rotation of said rotatable means about said at least one pivot being capable of changing said throat area and rotating said at least one sonic choke plane;
• and
• each of said at least one sonic choke plane containing one of said at least one pivot axis throughout rotation of said rotatable means.

A nozzle apparatus for vectoring thrust and changing throat area comprising:

• a duct having an inner surface;
• a throat in said duct having a throat area;
• said throat being formed by said inner surface and a changing means for changing said throat area, for creating two sonic choke planes in said duct, and for rotating said sonic choke planes relative to said duct;
• and
• said sonic choke planes being rotatable about a single axis that is generally coplanar with them throughout their rotation.