Contoured supersonic nozzle

Claim 2

A convergent-divergent nozzle including: a pair of opposed spaced apart side walls; a top wall extending between said side walls; and a bottom wall spaced from said top wall and extending between said side walls; said top and bottom walls and said side walls cooperating to define a flow passageway; and said top and bottom walls being contoured to cooperate with each other to define at least the throat of the nozzle and a divergent section downstream of the throat, said contouring of said top and bottom walls defining a symmetric flow passage therebetween in the direction of flow downstream of said throat.

Claim 3

A convergent-divergent nozzle as in claim 1 wherein: said contouring of said top and botton walls is the major factor in defining said throat.

Claim 4

A convergent-divergent nozzle as in claim 1 wherein: said opposed side walls are regular throughout the major part of their length.

Claim 5

A convergent-divergent nozzle as in claim 1 wherein: the angle of said throat with respect to the direction of flow in the nozzle downstream of the throat is a function of the contouring of said top and bottom walls.

Claim 6

A convergent-divergent nozzle as in claim 1 wherein: said side walls are of uniform size and shape.

Claim 7

A convergent-divergent nozzle as in claim 1 wherein: said contoured wall is detachably connected to support means whereby said contoured walls are replaceable with walls of different contour to change the definition of the throat of the nozzle and the divergent section of the nozzle.

Claim 8

A convergent-divergent nozzle as in claim 1 wherein: said top and bottom walls are contoured to also define the convergent section of the nozzle.

Claim 9

An array of convergent-divergent nozzles about an axis for delivery of motive fluid to a turbine, each of said nozzles including: a pair of opposed spaced apart side walls; a top wall extending between said side walls; and a bottom wall spaced from said top wall and extending between said side walls; said top and bottom walls and said side walls cooperating to define a flow passageway; and said top and bottom walls being contoured to define at least the throat of the nozzle and the divergent section of the nozzle, said contouring of said top and bottom walls of each nozzle being asymmetric with respect to said axis and defining a symmetric flow passage between said top and bottom walls in the direction of flow downstream of said throat.

Claim 10

An array of convergent-divergent nozzles about an axis for delivery of motive fluid to a turbine, each of said nozzles including: a pair of opposed spaced apart side walls; a top wall extending between said side walls; and a bottom wall spaced from said top wall and extending between said side walls; said top and bottom walls and said side walls cooperating to define a flow passageway; and said top and bottom walls being contoured to define at least the throat of the nozzle and the divergent section of the nozzle, said contouring of said top and bottom walls of each nozzle being asymmetric with respect to said axis and defining a symmetric flow passage between said top and bottom walls in the direction of flow downstream of said throat.

Claim 11

An array of convergent-divergent nozzle as in claim 8 wherein: said contouring of said top and bottom walls in each nozzle is the major factor in defining said throat.

Claim 12

An array of convergent-divergent nozzles as in claim 8 wherein: said opposed side walls of each nozzle are regular throughout the major part of their length.

Claim 13

An array of convergent-divergent nozzles as in claim 8 wherein: the angle of said throat with respect to the direction of flow in the nozzle downstream of the throat is a function of the contouring of said top and bottom walls.

Claim 14

An array of convergent-divergent nozzles as in claim 8 wherein: said side walls of each nozzle are of uniform size and shape.

Claim 15

An array of convergent-divergent nozzles as in claim 8 wherein: said contoured walls of each nozzle are detachably connected to support means whereby said contoured walls are replaceable with walls of different contour to change the definition of the throat of the nozzle and the divergent section of the nozzle.

Claim 16

An array of convergent-divergent nozzles as in claim 8 wherein: both said top and bottom walls of each nozzle are contoured to also define the convergent section of the nozzle.

Claim 17

An array of convergent-divergent nozzles as in claim 8 wherein: the array of nozzle forms the input to an axial turbine rotating about said axis.

Claim 18

An array of convergent-divergent nozzles as in claim 15 wherein: the array of nozzles form the input to a radial turbine.

Claim 19

An array of convergent-divergnt nozzles as in claim 16 wherein: said side walls are adjustable.

Claim 20

An array of convergent-divergent nozzles about an axis of a turbine for passage of motive fluid at supersonic speed, each of said nozzles including: a pair of opposed spaced apart side walls; a top wall extending between said side walls; and a bottom wall spaced from said top wall and extending between said side walls; said top and bottom walls and said said walls cooperating to define a flow passageway; and said top and bottom walls being contoured to define at least the throat of the nozzle and the divergent section of the nozzle, said contouring of said top and bottom walls of each nozzle being asymmetric with respect to said axis and defining a symmetric flow passage between said top and bottom walls in the direction of flow downstream of said throat.

Claim 21

An array of convergent-divergent nozzles about an axis of a turbine for passage of motive fluid at supersonic speed, each of said nozzles including: a pair of opposed spaced apart side walls; a top wall extending between said side walls; and a bottom wall spaced from said top wall and extending between said side walls; said top and bottom walls and said said walls cooperating to define a flow passageway; and said top and bottom walls being contoured to define at least the throat of the nozzle and the divergent section of the nozzle, said contouring of said top and bottom walls of each nozzle being asymmetric with respect to said axis and defining a symmetric flow passage between said top and bottom walls in the direction of flow downstream of said throat.

Claim 22

A convergent-divergent nozzle as in claim 18 wherein: said contouring of said top and bottom walls is the major factor in defining said throat.

Claim 23

A convergent-divergent nozzle as in claim 18 wherein: said opposed side walls are regular througout the major part of their length.

Claim 24

A convergent-divergent nozzle as in claim 18 wherein: the angle of said throat with respect to the direction of flow in the nozzle downstream of the throat is a function of the contouring of said top and bottom walls.

Claim 25

A convergent-divergent nozzle as in claim 18 wherein: said side walls are of uniform size and shape.

Claim 26

A convergent-divergent nozzle as in claim 18 wherein: said top and bottom walls are contoured to also define the convergent section of the nozzle.