Thrust vectoring louver cascade

Claim 1

In combination with the discharge for a propulsive gas stream, a thrust vectoring louver cascade comprising; a plurality of V-shaped louvers; means for pivotally mounting the louvers about parallel axes passing through their respective apexes, said axes lying in a plane generally normal to and adjacent the gas stream discharge; a lift fan for generating the propulsive gas stream to be discharged and including a tip turbine having a hot gas stream discharge peripherally of the lift fan discharge; an airfoil, aircraft structure having the gas stream discharge in its lower surface; said louvers having a stowed position in shingled relation substantially flush with the lower surface of the aircraft structure; a central strut spanning the lift fan discharge; said strut being supported at its opposite ends by the aircraft structure and generally aligned in the direction of forward flight of the aircraft; the louvers being formed by halves respectively disposed on opposite sides of said strut, which are joined by axles journaled on said strut; means for pivoting said louvers from said stowed position to a position with the outer ends of the louvers a greater distance from the lift fan than the apexes of the louvers, for vectoring the propulsion gas stream with a minimum blockage of its flow area; said pivot means including a link, supporting the outer end of each louver half, which is pivoted from said aircraft structure about an axis aligned with the axle axis for the respective Vshaped louver.