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US3792815A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Balanced flap converging/diverging nozzle

Assignee: RTX Corp
•
Filing: 1972-11-24
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Granted: 1974-02-19
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Expires: 1992-11-24
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Abstract

Abstract A nozzle having four sets of flaps is formed on the exhaust end of a turbojet engine. One set of main flaps is pivotally located downstream of an exhaust opening with a second set of balance flaps pivotally connected between said main flaps and the rear end of the engine. A third set of diverging flaps are pivotally mounted to the main flaps and extend downstream thereof with the downstream end of said diverging flaps being pivotally connected at their rearward end to a fourth set of external flaps which are pivotally mounted at their forward end to the outer housing of the engine by a lost-motion connection. The nozzle actuating system is connected to a plurality of levers on the main flaps by a unison ring which pivots the main flaps about their pivot means to obtain the desired nozzle opening. All of the flaps move in unison with the main flaps.

Inventors

  • 👤 C Swavely
  • 👤 R Teagle

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 11:34
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02K; F02K1/00; F02K1/06; F02K1/12

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 145 words
In combination with jet engine fixed structure, an exhaust nozzle mounted on said fixed structure, said nozzle comprising a circumferential row of first main flaps pivotally mounted on said fixed structure for controlling the flow area therethrough, second balance flaps located between the forward edge of said first main flaps and a point on said fixed structure forwardly of the forward edge of said first main flaps, third divergent flaps, fourth external flaps, said third divergent flaps having their forward ends pivotally mounted to the rearward ends of said first main flaps, said fourth external flaps having their forward ends pivotally mounted to said fixed structure radially outwardly from the pivotal mounting of the first main flaps, the rear ends of said third divergent flaps and said fourth external flaps being pivotally connected together, and an actuating means for variably positioning said first main flaps.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 145 words
In combination with jet engine fixed structure, an exhaust nozzle mounted on said fixed structure, said nozzle comprising a circumferential row of first main flaps pivotally mounted on said fixed structure for controlling the flow area therethrough, second balance flaps located between the forward edge of said first main flaps and a point on said fixed structure forwardly of the forward edge of said first main flaps, third divergent flaps, fourth external flaps, said third divergent flaps having their forward ends pivotally mounted to the rearward ends of said first main flaps, said fourth external flaps having their forward ends pivotally mounted to said fixed structure radially outwardly from the pivotal mounting of the first main flaps, the rear ends of said third divergent flaps and said fourth external flaps being pivotally connected together, and an actuating means for variably positioning said first main flaps.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 182 words
In combination with jet engine fixed structure, an exhaust nozzle mounted on said fixed structure, said nozzle comprising a circumferential row of first main flaps, means pivotally mounting said first main flaps on said fixed structure for controlling the flow area therethrough, second balance flaps being positioned between the forward edge of said first main flaps and a point on said fixed structure forwardly Of the forward edge of said first main flaps, third divergent flaps, said third divergent flaps having their forward ends pivotally mounted to the rearward ends of said first main flaps, first flap connecting means for connecting each third divergent flap rearwardly of its forward end to fixed structure radially outwardly from the pivotal mounting of the first main flaps, said first flap connecting means having its forward end pivotally mounted to said fixed structure radially outwardly from the pivotal mounting of the first main flaps, said first flap connecting means having its rear end pivotally mounted to a third divergent flap rearwardly of its forward end, and an actuating means for variably positioning said first main flaps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 182 words
In combination with jet engine fixed structure, an exhaust nozzle mounted on said fixed structure, said nozzle comprising a circumferential row of first main flaps, means pivotally mounting said first main flaps on said fixed structure for controlling the flow area therethrough, second balance flaps being positioned between the forward edge of said first main flaps and a point on said fixed structure forwardly Of the forward edge of said first main flaps, third divergent flaps, said third divergent flaps having their forward ends pivotally mounted to the rearward ends of said first main flaps, first flap connecting means for connecting each third divergent flap rearwardly of its forward end to fixed structure radially outwardly from the pivotal mounting of the first main flaps, said first flap connecting means having its forward end pivotally mounted to said fixed structure radially outwardly from the pivotal mounting of the first main flaps, said first flap connecting means having its rear end pivotally mounted to a third divergent flap rearwardly of its forward end, and an actuating means for variably positioning said first main flaps.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first flap connecting means comprises external flaps.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 43 words
A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said engine fixed structure includes an exhaust duct located forwardly of said exhaust nozzle, each main flap is pivotally mounted at a point downstream of said exhaust duct and substantially in axial alignment therewith.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
A combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein the forward end of said second balance flaps are mounted around the rear end of the exhaust duct.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein each main flap is pivotally mounted at a point one-third of its distance from its forward end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 40 words
A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein the nozzle throat can vary between the location where the first main flaps and second balance flaps meet and the location where the first main flaps and third divergent flaps meet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 39 words
A combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said engine fixed structure includes an outer duct forming an external nacelle, said first flap connecting means having their forward ends pivotally mounted to the rear end of said nacelle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 26 words
A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first main flaps are mounted on brackets fixed to the inner side of said external nacelle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 53 words
A combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first flap connecting means has its forward end mounted forwardly of the pivotal mounting of said first main flaps, said first flap connecting means engaging said outer casing along a portion of their length when the nozzle throat is at its minimum diameter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 59 words
A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein a mounting means is provided for the forward end of the second balance flaps around the rear end of the exhaust duct, said mounting means permitting the balance flaps to move with the first main flaps while providing a balancing action due to the forces acting on the balance flaps.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3049875A Cited
US3454227A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-02-18 1977-08-20 1978-02-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-02-18 1981-08-20 1982-02-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-02-18 1985-08-20 1986-02-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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