Variable area convergent-divergent nozzle and actuation system therefor

Claim 1

AN ACTUATION SYSTEM FOR A JET ENGINE VARIABLE AREA CONVERGENT-DIVERGENT NOZZLE, SAID NOZZLE INCLUDING A FIRST PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY-ARRANGED, LONGITUDINALLY-EXTENDING MOVABLE MEMBERS, A SECOND PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY-ARRANGED, LONGITUDINALLY-EXTENDING MOVABLE MEMBERS HAVING THE UPSTREAM ENDS THEREOF SPACED FROM THE DOWNSTREAM ENDS OF SAID FIRST PLURALITY TO PROVIDE AN ANNULAR AIR GAP THEREBETWEEN, AND A THIRD PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY-ARRANGED, LONGITUDINALLY-EXTENDING MOVAABLE MEMBERS THE DOWNSTREAM ENDS OF WHICH ARE CONNECTED ADJACENT THE DOWNSTREAM ENDS OF SAID SECOND PLURALITY, SAID ACTUATION SYSTEM INCLUDING: A PAIR OF UNISON RINGS; A PLURALITY OF CRANK MEMBERS; A FIRST PLURALITY OF CONNECTING MEMBERS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID CRANK MEMBERS, RESPECTIVELY, TO ONE OF SAID UNISON RINGS, TO SAID FIRST PLURALITY OF MOVABLE MEMBERS, AND TO SAID UPSTREAM ENDS OF SAID SECOND PLURALITY; A SECOND PLURALITY OF CONNECTING MEMBERS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE OTHER OF SAID UNISON RINGS TO SAID THIRD PLURALITY OF MOVABLE MEMBERS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND PLURALITIES OF CONNECTING MEMBERS INCLUDING, MEANS FOR CENTERING SAID UNISON RINGS ABOUT THE ENGINE AXIS; SAFETY MEANS TO ASSURE THAT THE MINIMUM FLOW AREA OF THE CONVERGENT PORTION DOES NOT BECOME LARGER THAN THE EXIT AREA OF SAID NOZZLE; AND A PAIR OF MOTOR MEANS FOR SAID UNISON RINGS, SAID CRANK MEMBERS AND SAID CONNECTING MEMBERS BEING OPERABLE TO MOVE SAID PLURALITIES OF MOVABLE MEMBERS FOR INDEPENDENT AND SIMULTANEOUS VARIATION OF THE CONVERGENT AND DIVERGENT PORTIONS OF THE NOZZLE.