Thrust controlling apparatus

Claim 2

Thrust controlling apparatus for use in combination with a jet engine having a rearwardly discharging nozzle adapted to produce reaction thrust, comprising: an elongate shroud of generally annular cross section connected to and surrounding at least a portion of the engine; the aft portion of the shroud extending rearwardly beyond the exit end of the nozzle to surround and control the exhaust gas stream issuing therefrom; a plurality of peripherally spaced passages extending through the wall of said aft portion from the interior to the exterior thereof and aft of the plane of the exit end of the nozzle for outflow of the exhaust gas stream to constitute said aft portion a thrust reverser; a plurality of blocker doors mounted in said aft portion for movement between stowed position lying adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion and deployed position converging forward to form a cone having a base extending across said aft portion aft of the passages and having an apex substantially on the longitudinal axis of the engine and substantially forward of the passages; said blocker doors in deployed position serving to prevent axial rearward exit of the exhaust gas stream and divert it angularly outwardly and rearwardly to the passages for outflow therethrough in directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the engine; means in the passages to further divert the laterally exiting stream forwardly at a substantial angle; said means comprising deflector doors pivotally mounted at their aft ends to said aft portion to swing outward to deflecting position and inward to stowed position blocking the flow paths through the passages; and said doors being adjustable to various angular positions to vary the forward component of the exiting stream for various operating conditions.

Claim 3

Thrust controlling apparatus for use in combination with a jet engine having a rearwardly discharging nozzle adapted to produce reaction thrust, comprising: an elongate shroud of generally annular cross section connected to and surrounding at least a portion of the engine; the aft portion of the shroud extending rearwardly beyond the exit end of the nozzle to surround and control the exhaust gas stream issuing therefrom; a plurality of peripherally spaced passages extending through the wall of said aft portion from the interior to the exterior thereof and aft of the plane of the exit end of the nozzle for outflow of the exhaust gas stream to constitute said aft portion a thrust reverser; a plurality of blocker doors mounted in said aft portion for movement between stowed position lying adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion and deployed position converging forward to form a cone having a base extending across said aft portion aft of the passages and having an apex substantially on the longitudinal axis of the engine and substantially forward of the passages, said blocker doors in deployed position serving to prevent axial rearward exit of the exhaust gas stream and divert it angularly outwardly and rearwardly to the passages for outflow therethrough in directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the engine; each of said blocker doors being generally triangular in planform with an aPex at the forward end and a base at the aft end and being generally arcuate in cross section in planes perpendicular to its fore and aft axis to facilitate nesting adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion in stowed position; the blocker doors being movable from an aft stowed position to a forward deployed position for thrust reversal; first guide means to maintain the base of each door adjacent to the wall of the aft portion during its forward movement; and second guide means to swing the apex of each door inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the engine during its forward movement to cause the doors to engage each other along their side edges and define said cone; and actuator means to cause deploying and stowing movement of the doors.

Claim 4

Thrust controlling apparatus for use in combination with a jet engine having a rearwardly discharging nozzle adapted to produce reaction thrust, comprising: an elongate shroud of generally annular cross section connected to and surrounding at least a portion of the engine; the aft portion of the shroud extending rearwardly beyond the exit end of the nozzle to surround and control the exhaust gas stream issuing therefrom; a plurality of peripherally spaced passages extending through the wall of said aft portion from the interior to the exterior thereof and aft of the plane of the exit end of the nozzle for outflow of the exhaust gas stream to constitute said aft portion a thrust reverser; a plurality of blocker doors mounted in said aft portion for movement between stowed position lying adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion and deployed position converging forward to form a cone having a base extending across said aft portion aft of the passages and having an apex substantially on the longitudinal axis of the engine and substantially forward of the passages, said blocker doors in deployed position serving to prevent axial rearward exit of the exhaust gas stream and divert it angularly outwardly and rearwardly to the passages for outflow therethrough in directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the engine; each of said blocker doors being generally triangular in planform with an aPex at the forward end and a base at the aft end and being generally arcuate in cross section in planes perpendicular to its fore and aft axis to facilitate nesting adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion in stowed position; the blocker doors being movable from an aft stowed position to a forward deployed position for thrust reversal; first guide means to maintain the base of each door adjacent to the wall of the aft portion during its forward movement; and second guide means to swing the apex of each door inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the engine during its forward movement to cause the doors to engage each other along their side edges and define said cone; and actuator means to cause deploying and stowing movement of the doors.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, said first guide means comprising axially extending guide rails and said bases being provided with track followers slidably engaging the guide rails; and said second guide means comprising lever arms pivotally connected at a first end to said aft portion and pivotally connected at the second end to the forward ends of the doors; said lever arms extending substantially axially rearward in stowed position and swingable forward and inward toward the longitudinal axis of the engine to deployed position.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, said lever arms being provided at their first ends with angularly directed control horns; and said actuator means comprising an actuator for each lever arm having a force applying link connected to its respective control horn.

Claim 7

Thrust controlling apparatus for use in combination with a jet engine having a rearwardly discharging nozzle adapted to produce reaction thrust, comprising: an elongate shroud of generally annular cross section connected to and surrounding at least a portion of the engine; the aft portion of the shroud extending rearwardly beyond the exit end of the nozzle to surround and control the exhaust gas stream issuing therefrom; a plurality of peripherally spaced passages extending through the wall of said aft portion from the interior to the exterior thereof and aft of the plane of the exit end of the nozzle for outflow of the exhaust gas stream to constitute said aft portion a thrust reverser; a plurality of blocker doors mounted in said aft portion for movement between stowed position lying adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion and deployed position converging forward to form a cone having a base extending across said aft portion aft of the passages and having an apex substantially on the longitudinal axis of the engine and substantially forward of the passages; said blocker doors in deployed position serving to prevent axial rearward exit of the exhaust gas stream and divert it angularly outwardly and rearwardly to the passages for outflow therethrough in directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the engine; each of said blocker doors being generally triangular in planform with an apex at the forward end and a base at the aft end and being generally arcuate in cross section in planes perpendicular to its fore and aft axis to facilitate nesting adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion in stowed position; the blocker doors being bodily movable from an aft stowed position to a forward deployed position for thrust reversal; the side edges of the blocker doors engaging each other to form said cone; deflector doors in each of said passages pivotally mounted at their aft ends to said aft portion to swing outward to deployed position for deflecting the exiting stream forwardly and to swing inward to stowed position blocking the flow paths through the passages; and the blocker doors in stowed position lying adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion and out of registry with the passages to permit the deflector doors to be deployed to introduce free stream air and constitute said aft portion an ejector ring.

Claim 8

Thrust controlling apparatus for use in combination with a jet engine having a rearwardly discharging nozzle adapted to produce reaction thrust, comprising: an elongate shroud of generally annular cross section connected to and surrounding at least a portion of the engine; the aft portion of the shroud extending rearwardly beyond the exit end of the nozzle to surround and control the exhaust gas stream issuing therefrom; a plurality of peripherally spaced passages extending through the wall of said aft portion from the interior to the exterior thereof and aft of the plane of the exit end of the nozzle for outflow of the exhaust gas stream to constitute said aft portion a thrust reverser; a plurality of blocker doors mounted in said aft portion for movement between stowed position lying adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion and deployed position converging forward to form a cone having a base extending across said aft portion aft of the passages and having an apex substantially on the longitudinal axis of the engine and substantially forward of the passages; said blocker doors in deployed position serving to prevent axial rearward exit of the exhaust gas stream and divert it angularly outwardly and rearwardly to the passages for outflow therethrough in directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the engine; each of said blocker doors being generally triangular in planform with an apex at the forward end and a base at the aft end and being generally arcuate in cross section in planes perpendicular to its fore and aft axis to facilitate nesting adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion in stowed position; the blocker doors being bodily movable from an aft stowed position to a forward deployed position for thrust reversal; the side edges of the blocker doors engaging each other to form said cone; deflector doors in each of said passages pivotally mounted at their aft ends to said aft portion to swing outward to deployed position for deflecting the exiting stream forwardly and to swing inward to stowed position blocking the flow paths through the passages; and the blocker doors in stowed position lying adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion and out of registry with the passages to permit the deflector doors to be deployed to introduce free stream air and constitute said aft portion an ejector ring.

Claim 9

Thrust controlling apparatus for use in combination with a jet engine having a rearwardly discharginG nozzle adapted to produce reaction thrust, comprising: an elongate shroud of generally annular cross section connected to and surrounding at least a portion of the engine; the aft portion of the shroud extending rearwardly beyond the exit end of the nozzle to surround and control the exhaust gas stream issuing therefrom; a plurality of peripherally spaced passages extending through the wall of said aft portion from the interior to the exterior thereof and aft of the plane of the exit end of the nozzle for outflow of the exhaust gas stream to constitute said aft portion a thrust reverser; a plurality of blocker doors mounted in said aft portion for movement between stowed position lying adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion and deployed position converging forward to form a cone having a base extending across said aft portion aft of the passages and having an apex substantially on the longitudinal axis of the engine and substantially forward of the passages; said blocker doors in deployed position serving to prevent axial rearward exit of the exhaust gas stream and divert it angularly outwardly and rearwardly to the passages for outflow therethrough in directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the engine; each of said blocker doors being generally triangular in planform with an apex at the forward end and a base at the aft end and being generally arcuate in cross section in planes perpendicular to its fore and aft axis to facilitate nesting adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion in stowed position; the blocker doors being bodily movable from an aft stowed position to a forward deployed position for thrust reversal; the side edges of the blocker doors engaging each other to form said cone; deflector doors in each of said passages pivotally mounted at their aft ends to said aft portion to swing outward to deployed position for deflecting the exiting stream forwardly and to swing inward to stowed position blocking the flow paths through the passages; and the forward apex ends of the blocker doors in stowed position lying between the passages to permit the deflector doors to be deployed to introduce free stream air and constitutes said aft portion an ejector ring.

Claim 10

Thrust controlling apparatus for use in combination with a jet engine having a rearwardly discharginG nozzle adapted to produce reaction thrust, comprising: an elongate shroud of generally annular cross section connected to and surrounding at least a portion of the engine; the aft portion of the shroud extending rearwardly beyond the exit end of the nozzle to surround and control the exhaust gas stream issuing therefrom; a plurality of peripherally spaced passages extending through the wall of said aft portion from the interior to the exterior thereof and aft of the plane of the exit end of the nozzle for outflow of the exhaust gas stream to constitute said aft portion a thrust reverser; a plurality of blocker doors mounted in said aft portion for movement between stowed position lying adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion and deployed position converging forward to form a cone having a base extending across said aft portion aft of the passages and having an apex substantially on the longitudinal axis of the engine and substantially forward of the passages; said blocker doors in deployed position serving to prevent axial rearward exit of the exhaust gas stream and divert it angularly outwardly and rearwardly to the passages for outflow therethrough in directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the engine; each of said blocker doors being generally triangular in planform with an apex at the forward end and a base at the aft end and being generally arcuate in cross section in planes perpendicular to its fore and aft axis to facilitate nesting adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion in stowed position; the blocker doors being bodily movable from an aft stowed position to a forward deployed position for thrust reversal; the side edges of the blocker doors engaging each other to form said cone; deflector doors in each of said passages pivotally mounted at their aft ends to said aft portion to swing outward to deployed position for deflecting the exiting stream forwardly and to swing inward to stowed position blocking the flow paths through the passages; and the forward apex ends of the blocker doors in stowed position lying between the passages to permit the deflector doors to be deployed to introduce free stream air and constitutes said aft portion an ejector ring.

Claim 11

Thrust controlling apparatus for use in combination with a jet engine having a rearwardly discharging nozzle adapted to produce reaction thrust, comprising: an elongate shroud of generally annular cross section connected to and surrounding at least a portion of the engine; the aft portion of the shroud extending rearwardly beyond the exit end of the nozzle to surround and control the exhaust gas stream issuing therefrom; a plurality of peripherally spaced passages extending through the wall of said aft portion from the interior to the exterior thereof and aft of the plane of the exit end of the nozzle for outflow of the exhaust gas stream to constitute said portion a thrust reverser; a plurality of blocker doors mounted in said aft portion for movement between stowed position lying adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion and deployed position converging forward to form a cone having a base extending across said aft portion aft of the passages and having an apex substantially on the longitudinal axis of the engine and substantially forward of the passages; said blocker doors in deployed position serving to prevent axial rearward exit of the exhaust gas stream and divert it angularly outwardly and rearwardly to the passages for outflow therethrough in directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the engine; each of said blocker doors being generally triangular in planform with an apex at the forward end and a base at the aft end and being generally arcuate in cross section in planes perpendicular to its fore and aft axis to facilitate nesting adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion in stowed position; the blocker doors being bodily movable from an aft stowed position to a forward deployed position for thrust reversal; the side edges of the blocker doors engaging each other to fOrm said cone; deflector doors in each of said passages pivotally mounted at their aft ends to said aft portion to swing outward to deployed position for deflecting the exiting stream forwardly and to swing inward to stowed position blocking the flow paths through the passages; said deflector doors being movable independently of the movement of the blocker doors; and said deflector doors further being movable independently of each other to selected differential angular positions for minimizing adverse airplane control and stability by utilizing the exhaust plume effects on empennage surfaces to trim out undesirable moments associated with the thrust control system deployment.

Claim 12

Thrust controlling apparatus for use in combination with a jet engine having a rearwardly discharging nozzle adapted to produce reaction thrust, comprising: an elongate shroud of generally annular cross section connected to and surrounding at least a portion of the engine; the aft portion of the shroud extending rearwardly beyond the exit end of the nozzle to surround and control the exhaust gas stream issuing therefrom; a plurality of peripherally spaced passages extending through the wall of said aft portion from the interior to the exterior thereof and aft of the plane of the exit end of the nozzle for outflow of the exhaust gas stream to constitute said portion a thrust reverser; a plurality of blocker doors mounted in said aft portion for movement between stowed position lying adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion and deployed position converging forward to form a cone having a base extending across said aft portion aft of the passages and having an apex substantially on the longitudinal axis of the engine and substantially forward of the passages; said blocker doors in deployed position serving to prevent axial rearward exit of the exhaust gas stream and divert it angularly outwardly and rearwardly to the passages for outflow therethrough in directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the engine; each of said blocker doors being generally triangular in planform with an apex at the forward end and a base at the aft end and being generally arcuate in cross section in planes perpendicular to its fore and aft axis to facilitate nesting adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion in stowed position; the blocker doors being bodily movable from an aft stowed position to a forward deployed position for thrust reversal; the side edges of the blocker doors engaging each other to fOrm said cone; deflector doors in each of said passages pivotally mounted at their aft ends to said aft portion to swing outward to deployed position for deflecting the exiting stream forwardly and to swing inward to stowed position blocking the flow paths through the passages; said deflector doors being movable independently of the movement of the blocker doors; and said deflector doors further being movable independently of each other to selected differential angular positions for minimizing adverse airplane control and stability by utilizing the exhaust plume effects on empennage surfaces to trim out undesirable moments associated with the thrust control system deployment.

Claim 13

Thrust controlling apparatus for use in combination with a jet engine having a rearwardly discharging nozzle adapted to produce reaction thrust, comprising: an elongate shroud of generally annular cross section connected to and surrounding at least a portion of the engine; the aft portion of the shroud extending rearwardly beyond the exit end of the nozzle to surround and control the exhaust gas stream issuing therefrom; a plurality of peripherally spaced passages extending through the wall of said aft portion from the interior to the exterior thereof and aft of the plane of the exit end of the nozzle for outflow of the exhaust gas stream to constitute said aft portion a thrust reverser; a plurality of blocker doors mounted in said aft portion for movement between stowed position lying adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion and deployed position converging forward to form a cone having a base extending across said aft portion aft of the passages and having an apex substantially on the longitudinal axis of the engine and substantially forward of the passages; said blocker doors in deployed position serving to prevent axial rearward exit of the exhaust gas stream and divert it angularly outwardly and rearwardly to the passages for outflow therethrough in directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the engine; each of said blocker doors being generally triangular in planform with an apex at the forward end and a base at the aft end and being generally arcuate in cross section in planes perpendicular to its fore and aft axis to facilitate nesting adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion in stowed position; the blocker doors being bodily movable from an aft stowed position to a forward deployed position for thrust reversal; the side edges of the blocker doors engaging each other to form said cone; deflector doors in each of said passages pivotally mounted at their aft ends to said aft portion to swing outward to deployed position for deflecting the exiting stream forwardly and to swing inward to stowed position blocking the flow paths through the passages; and said blocker doors being adjustable to preselected positions between stowed and deployed position to block portions of the axially rearward emission of the exhaust gas stream and to divert those portions of the stream outward through the passages.

Claim 14

Thrust controlling apparatus for use in combination with a jet engine having a rearwardly discharging nozzle adapted to produce reaction thrust, comprising: an elongate shroud of generally annular cross section connected to and surrounding at least a portion of the engine; the aft portion of the shroud extending rearwardly beyond the exit end of the nozzle to surround and control the exhaust gas stream issuing therefrom; a plurality of peripherally spaced passages extending through the wall of said aft portion from the interior to the exterior thereof and aft of the plane of the exit end of the nozzle for outflow of the exhaust gas stream to constitute said aft portion a thrust reverser; a plurality of blocker doors mounted in said aft portion for movement between stowed position lying adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion and deployed position converging forward to form a cone having a base extending across said aft portion aft of the passages and having an apex substantially on the longitudinal axis of the engine and substantially forward of the passages; said blocker doors in deployed position serving to prevent axial rearward exit of the exhaust gas stream and divert it angularly outwardly and rearwardly to the passages for outflow therethrough in directions transverse to the longitudinal axis of the engine; each of said blocker doors being generally triangular in planform with an apex at the forward end and a base at the aft end and being generally arcuate in cross section in planes perpendicular to its fore and aft axis to facilitate nesting adjacent to the inner wall of said aft portion in stowed position; the blocker doors being bodily movable from an aft stowed position to a forward deployed position for thrust reversal; the side edges of the blocker doors engaging each other to form said cone; deflector doors in each of said passages pivotally mounted at their aft ends to said aft portion to swing outward to deployed position for deflecting the exiting stream forwardly and to swing inward to stowed position blocking the flow paths through the passages; and said blocker doors being adjustable to preselected positions between stowed and deployed position to block portions of the axially rearward emission of the exhaust gas stream and to divert those portions of the stream outward through the passages.