Axisymmetric vectoring exhaust nozzle thermal shield
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsJonathan M. Wood, Thomas A. Hauer, William C. Lippmeier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thrust vectoring axisymmetric vectoring exhaust nozzle having universally pivoting divergent flaps is provided with a surrounding thermal shield of overlapping outer flaps and seals generally disposed in an aftwards converging conical arrangement and having a means for changing its shape from axisymmetrical to asymmetrical. Additional thermal and cooling protection is provided by a series of ejector slots located on the divergent universally pivotal flaps and adjacent interflap seals of the nozzle to both cool and thermally shield the flaps and seals.
Claims20
An outer flap and seal assembly for an axisymmetric convergent/divergent nozzle, said outer flap and seal assembly comprising:
- a plurality of overlapping outer flaps and outer seals having a general disposition about a longitudinal axis and a means for changing said outer flap and seal disposition from axisymmetrical to asymmetrical.
A flap cooling means for cooling an axisymmetric thrust vectoring nozzle, said flap cooling means comprising:
- a plurality of circumferentially disposed universally pivotal divergent flaps including radially spaced apart and axially overlapping forward and aft flap plates wherein said aft flap plates are disposed radially outward of said forward flap plates providing ejector flap slots therebetween.
A nozzle thermal shield for thermally shielding and cooling an axisymmetric thrust vectoring nozzle, said nozzle thermal shield comprising:
- a plurality of universally pivotal divergent flaps circumferentially disposed about a longitudinal axis and including radially spaced apart and axially overlapping forward and aft flap plates wherein said aft flap plates are disposed radially outward of said forward flap plates so as to provide flap slots therebetween,
- a plurality of circumferentially disposed universally pivotal divergent interflap seals including radially spaced apart and axially overlapping forward and aft seal plates,
- said aft seal plates disposed radially outward of said forward seal plates providing seal slots therebetween,
- said respective circumferentially adjacent forward and aft flap plates and seal plates are disposed in overlapping slidably sealing engagement wherein said flap plates are radially outward of respective adjacent ones of said seal plates, and
- an outer flap and seal assembly disposed radially outward of said divergent flaps and seals comprising a plurality of overlapping outer flaps and outer seals having a general disposition about a longitudinal axis and a means for changing said outer flap and seal disposition from axisymmetrical to asymmetrical.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.