Movable wall for engine nozzle

Claim 2

A variable area passage comprising a wall member, a pivotal connection between said wall member and a supporting structure, said wall member having an actuating surface spaced from said pivotal connection, an inflatable member disposed between said actuating surface and said supporting structure and fluid pressure means to inflate said inflatable member into engagement with said supporting structure and said actuating surface to provide swinging movement of said wall member to vary the area of said passage.

Claim 3

A variable area passage according to claim 1 wherein said wall member has a first end and a second end with said pivotal connection located between said first end and said second end, said actuating surface being located between said pivotal connection and said first end whereby inflation of said inflatable member will cause swinging movement of said second end of said wall member located on the opposite side of said pivotal connection from said inflatable member.

Claim 4

A variable area passage according to claim 2 wherein said supporting structure contains stop means disposed for engagement by said first end of said wall member for limiting the swinging movement of said second end.

Claim 5

A variable area passage according to claim 3 wherein said stop means are located on opposite sides of said first end of said wall member and are adjustably mounted on said supporting structure at positions spaced from said first end of said wall member.

Claim 6

A variable area passage according to claim 1 wherein said actuating surface is disposed on one side of said wall member and a second actuating surface is located on the opposite side of said wall member a second inflatable member is disposed between said second actuating surface and said supporting structure for inflation by said fluid pressure means and valve means for controlling fluid pressure in the inflatable members to cause the wall member to swing in either direction about said pivotal connection to increase or decrease the area of said passage.

Claim 7

A variable area passage according to claim 2 wherein said second end of said wall member is covered by a body of resilient rubberlike material having a desired contour for said passage.

Claim 8

A variable area passage according to claim 6 wherein said pivotal connection is included in said body of resilient rubberlike material.

Claim 9

A variable area passage according to claim 6 wherein said body of resilient rubberlike material includes a reinforcing member of fabric material at the surface thereof.

Claim 10

A variable area passage according to claim 1 wherein said pivotal connection further comprises a pivot block mounted on said wall member for receiving a pivot pin fastened to said supporting structure.

Claim 11

A variable area passage comprising a plurality of wall members disposed in side-by-side relationship and connected by webs of resilient rubberlike material forming at least a portion of said passage, each of said wall members haviNg a pivotal connection to a supporting structure whereby said wall members may rotate about different axes and increase or decrease the area of said passage.

Claim 12

A variable area passage comprising a plurality of wall members disposed in side-by-side relationship and connected by webs of resilient rubberlike material forming at least a portion of said passage, each of said wall members haviNg a pivotal connection to a supporting structure whereby said wall members may rotate about different axes and increase or decrease the area of said passage.

Claim 13

A variable area passage according to claim 10 wherein each of said wall members has a first end and a second end and said pivotal connection is located between said first end and said second end, said webs of resilient rubberlike material being connected to each of said wall members between said second end and said pivotal connection, and each of said wall members having an actuating surface located between said first end and said pivotal connection for engagement by an actuating means to provide swinging movement of said wall members.

Claim 14

A variable area passage according to claim 11 wherein said webs of resilient rubberlike material cover said second end of each of said wall members and have a reinforcing member of stretchable fabric material at the surface thereof.

Claim 15

A variable area passage according to claim 11 wherein said pivotal connection further comprises a pivot block mounted on each of said wall members for receiving pivot pins fastened to said supporting structure.

Claim 16

An engine nozzle assembly comprising a tubular supporting structure having an outer lining member and an inner lining member, an outer ring fastened to the edge of said outer lining member and an inner ring fastened to the edge of said inner lining member, a plurality of wall members disposed in side-by-side relationship and connected by webs of resilient rubberlike material, said inner ring being radially spaced from said outer ring for receiving an enclosed end of each of said wall members, a pivotal connection between each of said wall members and said inner ring and said outer ring, inflatable members mounted on said enclosed end of each of said wall members, fluid pressure means for selectively inflating said inflatable members whereby the enclosed ends of said wall members are pushed away from said inner lining member and said outer lining member to swing the exposed ends of the wall members around the pivotal connections and vary the diameter of the nozzle.

Claim 17

An engine nozzle assembly comprising a tubular supporting structure having an outer lining member and an inner lining member, an outer ring fastened to the edge of said outer lining member and an inner ring fastened to the edge of said inner lining member, a plurality of wall members disposed in side-by-side relationship and connected by webs of resilient rubberlike material, said inner ring being radially spaced from said outer ring for receiving an enclosed end of each of said wall members, a pivotal connection between each of said wall members and said inner ring and said outer ring, inflatable members mounted on said enclosed end of each of said wall members, fluid pressure means for selectively inflating said inflatable members whereby the enclosed ends of said wall members are pushed away from said inner lining member and said outer lining member to swing the exposed ends of the wall members around the pivotal connections and vary the diameter of the nozzle.

Claim 18

An engine nozzle assembly according to claim 14 wherein said supporting structure includes stop means to limit the swing of said enclosed ends of said wall members and thereby control the swinging movement of the exposed ends of said wall members to limit the size of the nozzle opening in the expanded and contracted condition.