Thrust vectoring and variable exhaust area for jet engine nozzle
AssigneePropulsion Vectoring, L.P.
InventorJean-Pierre Lair
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A jet engine nozzle having a pair of pivoting extension arms and a pair of pivoting shells connected to a jet pipe is provided. The first extension arm is pivotally connected to the jet pipe at a first location, while the second extension arm is pivotally connected to the jet pipe at a second location. Each shell is pivotally connected at both the first and second locations. An axis of rotation associated with the first location is coaxial to an axis of rotation associated with the second location. Independent actuation means are provided to rotate the extension arms and the shells, thereby enabling adjustment of the thrust-vector angle or the exhaust area of the nozzle.
Claims19
An engine nozzle mounted on a jet pipe of an engine, the nozzle comprising:
- a first extension arm pivotally cooperating with an inner surface of the jet pipe at a first location;
- a second extension arm pivotally cooperating with the inner surface of the jet pipe at a second location, the first and second locations being coaxial about a fixed axis;
- a first shell pivotally connected to the jet pipe at the first and second location;
- and
- a second shell pivotally connected to the jet pipe at the first and second location, the first and second extensions cooperating with inner surfaces of the first and second shells to form an inner surface of the engine nozzle.
A jet engine nozzle mounted on a jet pipe of an engine and adapted to provide a variable exhaust area and a variable thrust-vector angle, the nozzle comprising:
- a first extension arm pivotally connected to the jet pipe at a first location;
- a second extension arm pivotally connected to the jet pipe at a second location;
- the first and second locations being coaxial about a fixed axis;
- a first shell pivotally connected to the jet pipe at the first and second location;
- a second shell pivotally connected to the jet pipe at the first and second location;
- and
- actuation means for selectively rotating the extension arms and the shells about pivotal axes of the first and second locations.
A jet engine nozzle mounted on a jet pipe of an engine and adapted to provide a variable nozzle exhaust area and a variable thrust-vector angle, the nozzle comprising:
- a first extension arm pivotally connected to a jet pipe at a first location;
- a second extension arm pivotally connected to the jet pipe at a second location;
- a first shell having a pair of first hinge arms, each first hinge arm having a distal end, one of the first hinge arms being pivotally connected to the jet pipe at the first location and the other of the first hinge arms being pivotally connected to the jet pipe at the second location;
- a second shell having a pair of second hinge arms, each second hinge arm having a distal end, one of the second hinge arms being pivotally connected to the jet pipe at the first location and the other of the second hinge arms being pivotally connected to the jet pipe at the second location;
- a first actuator having a first end connected to the jet pipe and a second end connected to the first extension arm;
- and
- a second actuator connected to one of the first and second extension arms, the second actuator being capable of driving a cross arm operably connected to both the first and second shells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.