US3844482A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable ramp exhaust nozzle and clamshell reverser
Assignee: Boeing Co
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Filing: 1973-06-01
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Granted: 1974-10-29
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Expires: 1993-06-01
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for varying the exhaust nozzle area and for reversing the thrust of an aircraft jet engine which is mounted on an aircraft wing so as to discharge the engine thrust flow through a D shaped exhaust nozzle exit over the upper surface of the wing. For varying the exhaust nozzle area, a three segment ramp (forming the lower surface of the D shaped exhaust duct and extending aft beyond the exit plane of the exhaust nozzle) is lowered for increasing the exhaust exit area during takeoff and landing of the aircraft, and for the sound suppression mode. For forming the required nozzle shape at cruise flight speeds the ramp is raised to decrease the exhaust nozzle opening. For thrust modulation and thrust reversing, the aft segment of the three segment ramp is rotated upwardly and forwardly from the ramp surface to a thrust flow deflecting position. Operating in combination therewith for thrust reversing is a curved or inverted U shaped panel which forms the aft section of the duct wall structure when it is in its stowed and retracted position. For the thrust reversing mode, this curved or clamshell panel is pivoted rearwardly about a lower hinge line near the upper wing surface; thereby, exposing an opening in the upper duct wall through which the exhaust flow can be directed; provided, that the aft ramp segment is also rotated upwardly in abutment relation with the clamshell panel with the combination forming a clamshell blocker door arrangement. The safety feature being that the aft ramp segment or blocker panel in its raised position becomes highly loaded due to deflection of the exhaust flow; and through its interconnecting linkage arrangement with the aft swinging clamshell panel, any actuator or linkage failure would cause the blocker panel to swing down from the blocked flow position thereby permitting forward thrust flow.
Inventors
- 👤 G Stearns
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:20
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64D; B64D33/00; B64D33/04; F; F02; F02K; F02K1/00; F02K1/06; F02K1/12; F02K1/54; F02K1/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
Apparatus for varying the exhaust nozzle exit area of a jet engine mounted in an aircraft overwing nacelle installation so as to form a D-shaped exhaust nozzle, and for reversing its forward thrust; comprising: a clamshell panel forming the upper aft portion of the exhaust nozzle and being mounted for rotation about an axis transverse to the engine thrust line; a ramp comprising panel segments extending fore and aft of the nozzle exit and forming the lower flat surface of the D shaped exhaust nozzle; first means for raising and lowering the panel segments of the ramp to vary the exhaust nozzle area; a blocker panel comprising the trailing edge segment of the ramp and being actuated jointly with forward panel segments by said first means for varying the exhaust nozzle area; second means for rotating said blocker panel to a raised position independently of the actuation by said first means; and said second means jointly rotating the clamshell panel rearwardly and downwardly about the transverse axis toward the ramp and rotating the blocker panel upwardly and forwardly from the lower flat ramp surface to an abutment relation with the aft edge of the clamshell panel so as to cooperate in forming a double deflecting clamshell blocker door arrangement for tilting the thrust vector forward for thrust reversal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
Apparatus for varying the exhaust nozzle exit area of a jet engine mounted in an aircraft overwing nacelle installation so as to form a D-shaped exhaust nozzle, and for reversing its forward thrust; comprising: a clamshell panel forming the upper aft portion of the exhaust nozzle and being mounted for rotation about an axis transverse to the engine thrust line; a ramp comprising panel segments extending fore and aft of the nozzle exit and forming the lower flat surface of the D shaped exhaust nozzle; first means for raising and lowering the panel segments of the ramp to vary the exhaust nozzle area; a blocker panel comprising the trailing edge segment of the ramp and being actuated jointly with forward panel segments by said first means for varying the exhaust nozzle area; second means for rotating said blocker panel to a raised position independently of the actuation by said first means; and said second means jointly rotating the clamshell panel rearwardly and downwardly about the transverse axis toward the ramp and rotating the blocker panel upwardly and forwardly from the lower flat ramp surface to an abutment relation with the aft edge of the clamshell panel so as to cooperate in forming a double deflecting clamshell blocker door arrangement for tilting the thrust vector forward for thrust reversal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
232 words
Apparatus for varying the exhaust nozzle exit area and for reversing the forward thrust of a jet engine mounted in an aircraft nacelle installation having a round shaped exhaust nozzle and wherein the exhaust flow is bifurcated by a flat ramp wedge that divides the exhaust flow area into two D-shaped nozzles, comprising: a clamshell panel forming the aft semi-circular portion of each of the D shaped exhaust nozzles; a ramp comprising segments forming the flat surface of each of the D-shaped exhaust nozzles and extending fore and aft of the nozzle exit planes over the surface of the bifurcation planes; a first means for raising and lowering the segments of the ramps to vary the exhaust nozzle areas; an aft ramp segment rearwardly disposed from each exhaust nozzle and being actuated jointly with forward segments of the ramp by said first means for varying the exhaust nozzle area; second means for rotating said aft ramp segment to a raised position extending into the exhaust flow independently of the actuation by said first means; and said second means jointly rotating the clamshell panels aft and inward toward the surface of the bifurcation planes in combination with raising the aft ramp segments from the surface of the bifurcation planes to an abutment relation with the clamshell panels so as to form a pair of clamshell blocker door arrangements for reversing the exhaust flow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
232 words
Apparatus for varying the exhaust nozzle exit area and for reversing the forward thrust of a jet engine mounted in an aircraft nacelle installation having a round shaped exhaust nozzle and wherein the exhaust flow is bifurcated by a flat ramp wedge that divides the exhaust flow area into two D-shaped nozzles, comprising: a clamshell panel forming the aft semi-circular portion of each of the D shaped exhaust nozzles; a ramp comprising segments forming the flat surface of each of the D-shaped exhaust nozzles and extending fore and aft of the nozzle exit planes over the surface of the bifurcation planes; a first means for raising and lowering the segments of the ramps to vary the exhaust nozzle areas; an aft ramp segment rearwardly disposed from each exhaust nozzle and being actuated jointly with forward segments of the ramp by said first means for varying the exhaust nozzle area; second means for rotating said aft ramp segment to a raised position extending into the exhaust flow independently of the actuation by said first means; and said second means jointly rotating the clamshell panels aft and inward toward the surface of the bifurcation planes in combination with raising the aft ramp segments from the surface of the bifurcation planes to an abutment relation with the clamshell panels so as to form a pair of clamshell blocker door arrangements for reversing the exhaust flow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said aft ramp segment, of each of the D-shaped exhaust nozzles, is arranged to be more highly loaded than said clamshell panels when in their thrust reversing position so that the thrust reversing apparatus is biased toward the non-reversing thrust position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
235 words
Apparatus for varying the exhaust nozzle exit area of a jet engine and for reversing the forward thrust flow from the exhaust nozzle, comprising: a clamshell panel forming one side of the aft wall structure of the exhaust nozzle in the stowed position and being mounted for rotation about an axis, said axis being transverse to the engine thrust line and adjacent to the side opposite the clamshell panel in its stowed position; a ramp comprising panel segments extending fore and aft of the nozzle exit and forming a flat surface on the side opposite to the clamshell panel in its stowed position; first means for raising and lowering the panel segments of the ramp to change the contour of the ramp for varying the exhaust nozzle area; said ramp having an aft panel segment actuated jointly with forward panel segments by said first means for varying the exhaust nozzle area; second means for rotating said aft panel segment to a raised position independently of the actuation by said first means; and said second means jointly rotating said clamshell panel rearwardly and inwardly from the wall of the exhaust nozzle toward the surface of the ramp and rotating said aft panel segment to an abutment relation with the aft edge of the clamshell panel, so as to cooperate in forming a double deflecting blocker surface arrangement for tilting the thrust vector forward for thrust reversal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
235 words
Apparatus for varying the exhaust nozzle exit area of a jet engine and for reversing the forward thrust flow from the exhaust nozzle, comprising: a clamshell panel forming one side of the aft wall structure of the exhaust nozzle in the stowed position and being mounted for rotation about an axis, said axis being transverse to the engine thrust line and adjacent to the side opposite the clamshell panel in its stowed position; a ramp comprising panel segments extending fore and aft of the nozzle exit and forming a flat surface on the side opposite to the clamshell panel in its stowed position; first means for raising and lowering the panel segments of the ramp to change the contour of the ramp for varying the exhaust nozzle area; said ramp having an aft panel segment actuated jointly with forward panel segments by said first means for varying the exhaust nozzle area; second means for rotating said aft panel segment to a raised position independently of the actuation by said first means; and said second means jointly rotating said clamshell panel rearwardly and inwardly from the wall of the exhaust nozzle toward the surface of the ramp and rotating said aft panel segment to an abutment relation with the aft edge of the clamshell panel, so as to cooperate in forming a double deflecting blocker surface arrangement for tilting the thrust vector forward for thrust reversal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said aft panel segment is arranged to be more highly loaded than said clamshell panel when in their thrust reversing position so that the thrust reversing apparatus is biased towards the non-reversing thrust position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2979893A
Cited
US3289946A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-28 | 1978-04-29 | 1978-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-28 | 1982-04-29 | 1982-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-28 | 1986-04-29 | 1986-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |