Power plants – Reaction motor – With thrust direction modifying means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-08
2001-01-09
Thorpe, Timothy S. (Department: 3746)
Power plants
Reaction motor
With thrust direction modifying means
C239S265350
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170256
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates in general terms to thrusters having steerable nozzles. More particularly, the invention relates to anchoring an actuator member on the wall of the diverging portion of the nozzle to enable the nozzle to be steered in a desired direction.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a steerable-nozzle thruster, nozzle steering is controlled by actuator members, for example piston-and cylinder type actuators, which are connected at one end to the nozzle via a pivoting link connected to the wall of the diverging portion of the nozzle.
In general, the actuator member is anchored to the nozzle by means of an actuator ring which surrounds the diverging portion so as to confer the desirable stiffness and provide thermal insulation between the wall of the diverging portion and the metal anchor fitting fixed to the actuator ring.
That solution is expensive, particularly when, for reasons of limiting mass and reinforcing thermal insulation, the actuator ring is made of thermostructural composite material, e.g. a carbon/carbon (C/C) composite. In addition, it is necessary to prevent the actuator ring from moving in axial translation or in rotation. It can be prevented from moving in translation by means of a nut screwed onto the diverging portion, thereby adding another large-sized part.
OBJECTS AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide an anchor device which does not require the use of expensive parts of large size and of non-negligible mass.
Another object of the invention is to provide an anchor device which, throughout the mission of a thruster, guarantees that the anchor point of the actuator member is maintained in the proper geometrical position so as to conserve accurate steering of the nozzle, and comply with the steering function of the thruster in spite of differential expansion due to temperature changes.
Another object of the invention is to provide an anchor device that provides good thermal insulation between the nozzle and the anchor point of the actuator member.
These objects can be achieved by an anchor device for an actuator member for steering the diverging portion of a nozzle, the anchor device comprising at least one fitting to provide a link with an actuator member and mounting means for mounting the fitting on the diverging portion, in which device the mounting means comprise at least one insert designed to be placed and held in the wall of a diverging portion, and fixing means comprising at least one elastically-deformable element designed to compensate for any dimensional variations of thermal origin so as to maintain a force pressing the fitting against a diverging portion.
Advantageously, the or each insert is made of a thermally-insulating material, e.g. a thermostructural composite material.
According to a feature of the anchor device, the fixing means comprise a thrust element which is connected to the insert or to each insert in such a manner as to compress the or each elastically-deformable element between the thrust element and the fitting.
According to another feature, a spacer is interposed between the fitting and the outside surface of the diverging portion. The spacer is advantageously made of thermally-insulating material.
Other features and advantages of the anchor device of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3188961 (1965-06-01), Scruggs et al.
patent: 3285520 (1966-11-01), Johnson
patent: 3361362 (1968-01-01), Edwards
patent: 3390899 (1968-07-01), Herbert et al.
patent: 3436021 (1969-04-01), Walton et al.
patent: 3604628 (1971-09-01), Haynie, Jr.
patent: 3659788 (1972-05-01), Oldfield et al.
patent: 3860134 (1975-01-01), Kobalter
patent: 4452038 (1984-06-01), Solignyt
patent: 4477025 (1984-10-01), Calabro et al.
patent: 2350103 (1975-04-01), None
patent: 1554059 (1969-01-01), None
Berdoyes Michel
Camy Pierre
Gartenberg Ehud
Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d&a
Thorpe Timothy S.
Weingarten, Schurgin Gagnebin & Hayes LLP
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