Mission adaptive inlet

Details Mission adaptive inlet Mission adaptive inlet

2000-03-28

2001-07-17

Michalsky, Gerald A. (Department: 3753)

Fluid handling

Processes

C137S015100, C137S015200

Reexamination Certificate

active

06260567

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of aircraft and more particularly to a mission adaptive inlet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Inlets or nacelles of jet engines on modern aircraft shape the incoming airflow to the jet engine. The lip radii, ramp angles and capture area all effect the incoming airflow. Fixed geometry inlets are not optimized for any one flight condition. The design is a comprise of performance around a variety of mission segments. At a variety of angles of attack and aircraft speeds the capture area of the inlet is not optimized and with prior art inlets (fixed designs), no improvement can be realized. The lack of optimum inlet geometry limits the range and thrust of modern aircraft. Variable geometry inlets have been tried. Unfortunately, all previous designs have had problems with support of seals and aerodynamic leaks. These problems have severely limited their effectiveness. Thus there exists a need for inlet (nacelle) that can be adjusted for different angles of attack and airspeeds, to provide an optimum performance over a variety of flight conditions without aerodynamic leaks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A mission adaptive inlet for an aircraft that overcomes these and other problems has a rigid lip panel pivotally attached to an inlet of the aircraft. An actuation mechanism is coupled to the rigid lip panel and causes the rigid lip panel to pivot from a first position to a second position. A reinforced elastomer system is connected the rigid lip panel and the inlet.


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