Power plants – Reaction motor – With thrust direction modifying means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-10
2001-08-21
Freay, Charles G. (Department: 3746)
Power plants
Reaction motor
With thrust direction modifying means
C239S265190, C239S265350, C239S265410, C239S265390
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276126
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an axisymmetric, directable and adjustable turbojet-engine exhaust nozzle comprising, downstream of an exhaust duct having an axis X, an outer ring of cold flaps and an inner ring of hot flaps.
2. Description of the Related Art
Directable nozzles offer additional agility to combat aircraft. Furthermore, directable nozzles offer improved manoeuverability when pitching and yawing.
In general, the directable exhaust nozzle is mounted at the end of the exhaust duct using a swivel means having an external component which is pivotable on a sphere affixed to the exhaust duct by a first control means. Converging flaps are supported on the external component to be jointly driven by a second control means, anchored on the external component, to regulate the gas exhaust-cross-section.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,741 issued to Nightingale shows such a nozzle which has converging flaps that are of arcuate longitudinal cross-section and slide on guides of the external component. When diverging flaps are arranged to hinge on the converging flaps, as indicated in
FIG. 11
of Nightingale, a control ring is used which is driven by linear actuators anchored in the external component and connected by rods to the diverging flaps. The cold flaps are driven from the diverging flaps by linkrods.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Based on this state of the art, the objective of the present invention is to provide an axisymmetric exhaust nozzle which is directable as a unit wherein a single control mechanism implements nozzle orientation and regulation of nozzle cross-section as a function of flight conditions, thereby allowing design simplification and reduction in weight.
The nozzle according to the present invention has the following novel characteristics:
the downstream end of the exhaust duct comprises a spherical wall with an axis X, the spherical wall being arranged to support the upstream ends of the converging flaps;
a control ring encloses the spherical wall and is displaceable along the X axis and pivotable relative to the X axis by a control mechanism;
the cold flaps hinge on one hand on the control ring and on the other hand on the downstream ends of the corresponding diverging flaps;
the downstream end of each controlled converging flap is linked to a downstream end of a control lever hinging on the control ring, the upstream end of the control lever resting on an external surface of the spherical wall; and
the upstream ends of the control levers are linked to the control ring by a synchronizing system which ensures self-centering of the control ring, the outer ring of cold flaps and the inner ring of hot flaps relative to the spherical wall.
Advantageously, the synchronizing system comprises a part hinging on the control ring for each pair of adjacent control levers so as to be pivotable about an axis which is perpendicular to the axis of the control ring. Further, the synchronizing system comprises a pair of linkrods which hinge on one of the parts and on the upstream end of the control lever of each pair of adjacent control levers.
In a first embodiment of the invention, the upstream ends of the converging flaps slide by two rollers arranged inside the spherical wall. The downstream end of each control lever hinges on the downstream end of a corresponding one of the converging flaps. The upstream end of each control lever rolls on an external surface of the spherical wall by one roller or caster-skid.
In a second embodiment of the invention, the upstream end of each control lever hinges on the upstream end of the corresponding one of the converging flaps. Again, the downstream end of each control lever hinges on the downstream end of the corresponding converging flaps. The upstream end of each converging flap rolls on the external surface of the spherical wall by two rollers or caster-skids.
In a variation of the second embodiment, each control lever is replaced by two linkrods which hinge on the control ring.
In a third embodiment of the invention, the upstream end of each control lever hinges on the upstream end of the corresponding converging flap. Again, the upstream end each converging flap rolls on the external surface of the spherical wall by two rollers or caster-skids. The downstream end of each control lever is connected to the corresponding converging flap by a first linkrod hinging on a lever. Each lever hinges on the corresponding converging flap and furthermore is connected by a second linkrod to a second ring. The second ring is situated downstream of the control ring and is affixed to the control ring by tierods such that the second ring absorbs at least a portion of pressure stresses exerted by the exhaust gases on the inner ring of flaps.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2831319 (1958-04-01), Geary
patent: 3098352 (1963-07-01), Taub et al.
patent: 4984741 (1991-01-01), Nightingale
patent: 4994660 (1991-02-01), Hauer
patent: 5232158 (1993-08-01), Barcza
patent: 5335489 (1994-08-01), Thayer
patent: 5351888 (1994-10-01), Taylor et al.
patent: 5398499 (1995-03-01), Urruela
patent: 5437411 (1995-08-01), Renggli
patent: 5511376 (1996-04-01), Barcza
patent: 5897120 (1999-04-01), Scavo et al.
patent: 6102307 (2000-08-01), Elorriaga et al.
patent: 6195981 (2000-03-01), Hanley et al.
patent: 0060763 A1 (1982-09-01), None
patent: 0557229 A1 (1993-08-01), None
patent: 1025827 (1953-04-01), None
patent: 1306588 (1973-02-01), None
Bouiller Philippe Pierre Vincent
Charier Gilles Alain Marie
Jourdain Gerard Ernest Andre
Kettler Daniel Germain Alexis
Mandet Gérard Marcel François
Bacon & Thomas PLLC
Freay Charles G.
Hayes Ed
Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d&a
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