US3797527A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lateral thrust units
Assignee: National Research Development Corp UK
•
Filing: 1972-02-07
•
Granted: 1974-03-19
•
Expires: 1992-02-07
Abstract
Abstract A digital rapid response lateral thrust unit in which the deliberately unstable nature of the design is overcome by bleeding off relatively large proportions of the incoming liquid flow for reintroduction as control jets. These jets are effective to divert the liquid flow to one or other of two tapering outlet ducts, the split flow zero thrust condition being achieved by cutting off the supply of control fluid and connecting together the discharge slots for the control jets. Use of the unit as a simple flow diverter in a liquid transfer assembly is also described.
Inventors
- 👤 D Bain
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 02:01
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H25/00; B63H25/46; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/206; Y10T137/218; Y10T137/2202; Y10T137/2218; Y10T137/2224
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A lateral thrust unit substantially symmetrical about a centre plane of the unit, a main duct for a main flow of fluid, a nozzle portion in which the main duct terminates, an interaction chamber communicating with the nozzle outlet, two curved tapering, fluid outlet ducts diverging from the interaction chamber one on one side and one on the opposite side of the centre plane of the unit, a nose piece separating the two outlet ducts, surfaces defining control ports in the interaction chamber one on either side of said plane and each with an area of at least 5 percent of the nozzle outlet area, control flow passages leading from the main duct to the control ports, and independently operable control flow valve means for separately opening or closing the control flow passages to fluid flow through the passages.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A lateral thrust unit substantially symmetrical about a centre plane of the unit, a main duct for a main flow of fluid, a nozzle portion in which the main duct terminates, an interaction chamber communicating with the nozzle outlet, two curved tapering, fluid outlet ducts diverging from the interaction chamber one on one side and one on the opposite side of the centre plane of the unit, a nose piece separating the two outlet ducts, surfaces defining control ports in the interaction chamber one on either side of said plane and each with an area of at least 5 percent of the nozzle outlet area, control flow passages leading from the main duct to the control ports, and independently operable control flow valve means for separately opening or closing the control flow passages to fluid flow through the passages.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A unit as claimed in claim 1, in which the area of each control port is between 8 percent to 12 percent of the nozzle outlet area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
A flow diverting assembly including a unit as claImed in claim 1, means for pumping liquid from a supply of the liquid to the inlet end of the main duct, means whereby one of the outlet ducts is adapted to be connected with a container or transfer means for the liquid, and means whereby the other of the outlet ducts is adapted to be connected with the or a similar container or transfer means or with said supply.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A unit as claimed in claim 1 in which the ratio of the smallest area of each of said outlet ducts to the sum of the areas of the nozzle outlet and of each of the two control ports is less than 1.6.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A unit as claimed in claim 4, in which the ratio of the smallest area of each of the outlet ducts to the sum of the areas of the nozzle outlet and either one of the two control ports is less than 1.10.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A unit as claimed in claim 1, in which the distance between the nozzle outlet and the nearest part of the nose piece is three to five times the width of the nozzle outlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A unit as claimed in claim 6, in which the distance between the nozzle outlet and the nearest part of the nose piece is roughly 3.8 times the width of the nozzle outlet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A unit as claimed in claim 1, including a by-pass conduit connecting together the control flow passages, and by-pass valve means for opening or closing the conduit to fluid flow through the conduit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
A unit as claimed in claim 8, in which the by-pass valve means and the control flow valve means are arranged to operate in conjunction with one another so that with the by-pass conduit closed one of the control flow passages is open to the main duct whilst the other is closed, and with the by-pass conduit open both control flow passages are closed to flow from the main duct and the control ports are interconnected through the by-pass conduit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A unit as claimed in claim 9, including 3-way plug valves which provide both the main flow valve means and the control flow valve means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A unit as claimed in claim 1, in which the control flow passages are connected with the main duct through openings in the longitudinal walls of the main duct.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
A unit as claimed in claim 11, including filters at said openings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3016063A
Cited
US3102389A
Cited
US3135291A
Cited
US3206928A
Cited
US3219048A
Cited
US3282279A
Cited
US3289687A
Cited
US3259096A
Cited
US3405725A
Cited
US3420255A
Cited
US3416549A
Cited
US3486517A
Cited
US3692242A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-18 | 1977-09-17 | 1978-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-18 | 1981-09-17 | 1982-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-18 | 1985-09-17 | 1986-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |