Back to results
US 6,622,472 B2Granted
Apparatus and method for thrust vector control
AssigneeGateway Space Transport, Inc.
InventorWilliam Henry Plumpe, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-lobed, low friction vane, thrust vector controller is disclosed. Low friction vanes are independently movable into and out of the thrust of the exhaust of a jet engine. All vanes may be used together to adjust exhaust surface area to maximize thrust and fuel efficiency in varying conditions. Vanes also move independently to impart directional force to roll, pitch and yaw traditional aircraft and hover VTOL aircraft. A bleed air pressure actuator for moving the vanes is disclosed.
Claims17
A thrust vector controller for a jet engine comprising:
- an actuator housing;
- a piston in said housing;
- maintained by an air bearing;
- in a disposition defining a drive air chamber;
- and
- defining a retraction air chamber;
- a piston rod having a first end and a second end;
- said first end being in operative engagement with said piston;
- and second end being in operative engagement with a thrust vector control surface;
- and
- said piston rod being hollow;
- and
- said piston rod having air exit ports;
- a valve disposed in said housing to mediate air flow through at least one drive air chamber port communicating with said drive air chamber and through at least one retraction air chamber port communicating with said retraction air chamber;
- a valve actuator in operative engagement with said valve;
- a bleed air intake port receiving a flow of bleed air from the jet engine, said bleed air intake port being disposed to supply air flow into said drive air chamber and into said retraction air chamber;
- whereby said piston rod is driven or retracted by selectively controlling air flow through said drive air chamber and said retraction air chamber to selectively bias said piston and whereby the air flow exits through said air exit ports in said hollow piston rod;
- a vane housing fixedly attached to the jet engine and proximate to an exhaust thrust of the jet engine and said housing having at least one lobe, said lobe having walls;
- at least one vane having edges, said vane further comprising:
- a fulcrum rotatably fixed to said at least one lobe;
- a pivot operatively engaged with said second end of said piston rod such that movement of said piston rod actuates translation of said at least one vane in relation to the exhaust of the jet engine;
- a pressure surface disposed to selectively translate between a closed position that constricts the exhaust of the jet engine and an open position that does not constrict the exhaust of the jet engine;
- an air flow continuity surface dimensioned to maintain a smooth flow of the exhaust of the jet engine over said vane when said pressure surface is in said open position and when said pressure surface is in said closed position and as said pressure surface translates between said open position and said closed position;
- and
- an air seal on each edge of said at least one vane, said air seal being dimensioned to maintain close cooperation with said walls of said at least one lobe such that leakage of the exhaust of the jet engine between each of said edges of said at least one vane and said walls of said at least one lobe is minimized.
22 more elements
A thrust vector control actuator for a jet engine comprising:
- a housing;
- a piston maintained in said housing;
- by an air bearing;
- in a disposition defining a drive air chamber;
- and
- a retraction air chamber;
- a piston rod having a first end and a second end;
- said first end being in operative engagement with said piston;
- and second end being operatively engageable with a thrust vector control surface;
- and
- said piston rod being hollow;
- and
- said piston rod having air exit ports;
- a valve disposed in said housing to communicate with said drive air chamber and with said retraction air chamber;
- and
- said valve being selectively positionable to mediate air flow through a drive air chamber port communicating with said driver chamber and through a retraction air chamber port communicating with said retraction air chamber;
- a valve actuator in operative engagement with said valve;
- a bleed air intake port receiving bleed air from the jet engine, said bleed air intake port being disposed to supply air flow into said drive air chamber and into said retraction air chamber, and, thereafter, into said hollow piston rod;
- whereby said piston rod is driven or retracted by selectively controlling air flow through said drive air chamber and said retraction air chamber.
16 more elements
A method of controlling jet engine thrust comprising:
- disposing proximate to a jet engine exhaust path a housing having at least one lobe;
- supporting in said at least one lobe at least one moveable vane at a fulcrum such that the edges of said moveable vane closely cooperate with said at least one lobe but do not touch said at least one lobe;
- moving said at least one moveable vane into the jet engine exhaust path to generate a thrust vector in a direction different than the jet engine exhaust path;
- actuating said moving through a selectably positionable actuator linkage;
- controlling said actuating step with a pneumatically driven piston by selectively varying pressure levels on either side of said pneumatically driven piston;
- and
- powering said actuating of said pneumatically driven piston with a flow of air bled from the jet engine being controlled.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.