Jet engine nozzle with variable thrust vectoring and exhaust area

Abstract

A variable area exhaust nozzle with a variable thrust vector angle for a turbo-fan engine and mounted on the aft portion of the nacelle which wraps said engine. The nozzle may include a fixed structure having at least two lateral arms separating two radial cutouts. The cutouts are positioned one above the other, one being located above the engine axis, the other one below the engine axis. At least two shells close the fixed structure cutouts and are pivotally mounted on the fixed structure to form a portion of the exhaust nozzle of the engine. A sealing means ensures fluid tightness between the shells and the fixed structure for any angular position of said shells. Actuator means are provided for pivoting the shells either to a symmetrical configuration for changing of the value of the exhaust area of the nozzle or to an unsymmetrical configuration for changing the angle of the thrust vector of the exhaust nozzle. In operation, the value of the exhaust area and the thrust vector angle of the exhaust nozzle are varied during flight to optimize performance of the aircraft.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.