Back to results
US 8,910,464 B2Granted
Lift fan spherical thrust vectoring nozzle
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorDavid Ambrose
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thrust-vectoring nozzle is disclosed that includes a cylindrical case and a flow director. The flow director includes a cylindrical ring having a dimension to fit within the cylindrical case. The cylindrical ring has an inner wall and an outer wall and a plurality of fixed vanes are coupled to the inner wall of the ring. The flow director is configured to rotate about first and second mutually perpendicular axes.
Claims18
A thrust-vectoring nozzle comprising:
- a cylindrical case through which air flows;
- and
- a flow director disposed within the case, the flow director comprising:
- a cylindrical ring having a dimension to fit within the cylindrical case, the cylindrical ring having an inner wall and an outer wall;
- and
- a plurality of fixed vanes coupled to the inner wall of the ring, the plurality of fixed vanes extending radially inward from the inner wall of the ring;
- wherein the flow director is configured to rotate about first and second mutually perpendicular axes.
4 more elements
A lift fan assembly comprising:
- a cylindrical case;
- a flow director disposed within the case, the flow director comprising:
- a cylindrical ring having a dimension to fit within the cylindrical case, the cylindrical ring having an inner wall and an outer wall;
- and
- a plurality of fixed vanes coupled to the inner wall of the ring, the plurality of fixed vanes extending radially inward from the inner wall of the ring;
- a fan disposed within the cylindrical case and configured to cause air to flow through the flow director;
- and
- wherein the flow director is configured to rotate about first and second mutually perpendicular axes.
5 more elements
A method of vectoring the output air flow from an aircraft lift fan, the method comprising the steps of:
- flowing the output air flow through a flow director that comprises a plurality of fixed vanes, the plurality of fixed vanes extending radially inward from an inner wall of a ring having a dimension to fit within a case, and that is disposed within a case that is fixed to the aircraft;
- and
- rotating the flow director about first and second mutually perpendicular axes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.