Variable geometry exhaust nozzle

Claim 2

An exhaust nozzle for a gas turbine engine comprising: (a) a fixed structure; (b) a plurality of primary flaps each having a portion pivotally connected with said fixed structure and having an inner surface curved convexly in a downstream direction; (c) a plurality of secondary flaps disposed downstream of said primary flaps, each of said secondary flaps having a portion pivotally connected with a downstream end of one of said primary flaps in a cantilever arrangement therewith; and (d) means for pivotally positioning said primary and said secondary flaps; each of said primary flaps and each of said secondary flaps being pivotably positionable independently of any other primary or secondary flap.

Claim 3

An exhaust nozzle of a gas turbine engine comprising: (a) two transversely spaced apart sidewalls; (b) two primary flaps spaced vertically apart and extending between said sidewalls, each primary flap having an upstream portion pivotally connected with said sidewalls, having an inner surface curved convexly in the downstream direction, and having an inner flap connected with the downstream portion of said inner surface; (c) two secondary flaps disposed downstream of said primary flaps and extending substantially the width thereof, each of said secondary flaps having an upstream portion pivotally connected with a downstream end of one of said primary flaps in a cantilever arrangement therewith, the forward portion of the inner surface of each of said secondary flaps being slidingly engaged by said inner flap of an adjacent primary flap for providing a continuous surface between said primary and said secondary flaps; and (d) means for pivotally positioning said primary and said secondary flaps; each of said primary flaps and each of said secondary flaps being pivotably positionable independently of any other primary or secondary flap.

Claim 4

An exhaust nozzle of a gas turbine engine comprising: (a) two transversely spaced apart sidewalls; (b) two primary flaps spaced vertically apart and extending between said sidewalls, each primary flap having an upstream portion pivotally connected with said sidewalls, having an inner surface curved convexly in the downstream direction, and having an inner flap connected with the downstream portion of said inner surface; (c) two secondary flaps disposed downstream of said primary flaps and extending substantially the width thereof, each of said secondary flaps having an upstream portion pivotally connected with a downstream end of one of said primary flaps in a cantilever arrangement therewith, the forward portion of the inner surface of each of said secondary flaps being slidingly engaged by said inner flap of an adjacent primary flap for providing a continuous surface between said primary and said secondary flaps; and (d) means for pivotally positioning said primary and said secondary flaps; each of said primary flaps and each of said secondary flaps being pivotably positionable independently of any other primary or secondary flap.

Claim 5

The exhaust nozzle of claim 2 further comprising two fairing flaps, one fairing flap being disposed outwardly of each of said primary flaps and pivotally connected with said sidewalls upstream of said primary flaps, each said fairing flap being biased to engage an outer surface of one of said primary flaps, or one of said secondary flaps, or a primary and a secondary flap, depending upon the pivotal positions thereof.

Claim 6

The exhaust nozzle of claim 2 wherein said means for pivotally positioning said primary flaps and said secondary flaps comprise electromechanical actuators.

Claim 7

The exhaust nozzle of claim 4 wherein one of said electromechanical actuators is disposed within and secured with said upstream portions of each of said primary flaps and each of said secondary flaps.

Claim 8

The exhaust nozzle of claim 2 further comprising vertically spaced apart upper and lower walls disposed upstream of and spaced apart from said primary flaps, and outer and inner reverser doors for, together with the downstream ends of said upper and lower walls, defining reverser passages for providing communication of exhaust gases from the interior to the exterior of said exhaust nozzle.

Claim 9

An exhaust nozzle for a gas turbine engine comprising: (a) two transversely spaced apart sidewalls extending downstream of said engine; (b) vertically spaced apart upper and lower walls; (c) outer and inner reverser doors which, together with the downstream ends of said upper and lower walls, define reverser passages for providing communication of exhaust gases from the interior to the exterior of said exhaust nozzle; (d) two primary flaps spaced vertically apart, extending between said sidewalls, and disposed downstream and apart from said upper and lower walls, each said primary flap including an electromechanical actuator disposed in the upstream portion thereof, said electromechanical actuator being secured with said primary flap and having at least one torque shaft secured with one of said sidewalls and being thereby effective for pivotally positioning said primary flaps; and (e) two secondary flaps spaced vertically apart, extending substantially between said sidewalls, and disposed downstream and adjacent said primary flaps, each of said secondary flaps including an electromechanical actuator disposed in the upstream portion thereof, each said electromechanical actuator being secured with said secondary flap and having at least one torque shaft secured with a downstream portion of one of said primary flaps and being thereby effective for pivotally positioning said secondary flap.

Claim 10

An exhaust nozzle for a gas turbine engine comprising: (a) two transversely spaced apart sidewalls extending downstream of said engine; (b) vertically spaced apart upper and lower walls; (c) outer and inner reverser doors which, together with the downstream ends of said upper and lower walls, define reverser passages for providing communication of exhaust gases from the interior to the exterior of said exhaust nozzle; (d) two primary flaps spaced vertically apart, extending between said sidewalls, and disposed downstream and apart from said upper and lower walls, each said primary flap including an electromechanical actuator disposed in the upstream portion thereof, said electromechanical actuator being secured with said primary flap and having at least one torque shaft secured with one of said sidewalls and being thereby effective for pivotally positioning said primary flaps; and (e) two secondary flaps spaced vertically apart, extending substantially between said sidewalls, and disposed downstream and adjacent said primary flaps, each of said secondary flaps including an electromechanical actuator disposed in the upstream portion thereof, each said electromechanical actuator being secured with said secondary flap and having at least one torque shaft secured with a downstream portion of one of said primary flaps and being thereby effective for pivotally positioning said secondary flap.

Claim 11

The exhaust nozzle of claim 7 wherein said upper and lower walls include cavities therein, said outer reverser doors are disposed within said cavities and are translatable into and out of said cavities, and said inner reverser doors are pivotably disposed between said primary flaps and the downstream ends of said upper and lower walls.

Claim 12

The exhaust nozzle of claim 7 further comprising two fairing flaps, one fairing flap being disposed outwardly of each of said primary flaps, being pivotally connected with said sidewalls, and extending downstream such that the downstream end thereof is adjacent one of said secondary flaps.

Claim 13

The exhaust nozzle of claim 7 wherein each of said primary flaps has an inner surface curved convexly in the downstream direction.

Claim 14

In a gas turbine engine having a fixed structure and including a nacelle having a downstream end for discharging exhaust gases generally along an longitudinal axis thereof to produce thrust, a variable exhaust nozzle attached to said fixed structure and communicating with said downstream end of said nacelle, said nozzle having a plurality of flap assemblies spaced from said longitudinal axis and defining an exhaust opening therebetween, each flap assembly comprising: (a) a primary flap having an upstream end and a downstream end, said upstream end being pivotably connected with said fixed structure; (b) a secondary flap disposed downstream of said primary flap and having an upstream end and a downstream end, said upstream end being pivotably connected with said downstream end of said primary flap in a cantilever arrangement therewith; said primary flap and said secondary flap being independently pivotable for enabling said exhaust opening to be selectively varied in size and said engine thrust to be vectored in a predetermined direction.

Claim 15

In a gas turbine engine having a fixed structure and including a nacelle having a downstream end for discharging exhaust gases generally along an longitudinal axis thereof to produce thrust, a variable exhaust nozzle attached to said fixed structure and communicating with said downstream end of said nacelle, said nozzle having a plurality of flap assemblies spaced from said longitudinal axis and defining an exhaust opening therebetween, each flap assembly comprising: (a) a primary flap having an upstream end and a downstream end, said upstream end being pivotably connected with said fixed structure; (b) a secondary flap disposed downstream of said primary flap and having an upstream end and a downstream end, said upstream end being pivotably connected with said downstream end of said primary flap in a cantilever arrangement therewith; said primary flap and said secondary flap being independently pivotable for enabling said exhaust opening to be selectively varied in size and said engine thrust to be vectored in a predetermined direction.

Claim 16

The exhaust nozzle according to claim 11 wherein said flap assembly further comprises means for pivotably positioning said primary flap and said second secondary flap.

Claim 17

The exhaust nozzle according to claim 11 further comprising: (a) first means for controlling pivotal position of said primary flap with respect to said fixed structure; and (b) second means for controlling pivotal position of said secondary flap with respect to said downstream end of said primary flap.

Claim 18

The exhaust nozzle according to claim 13 wherein each of said first and second means is an electromechanical actuator.

Claim 19

The exhaust nozzle according to claim 11 wherein said primary and secondary flaps are pivotable to a position for vectoring engine thrust obliquely to said longitudinal axis.

Claim 20

The exhaust nozzle according to claim 11 further comprising thrust reverser passages for providing communication of said exhaust gases from an interior to an exterior of said exhaust nozzle and wherein said primary and secondary flaps are pivotable to a position for defining a substantially closed exhaust opening to block exhaust flow therethrough and to divert the exhaust gases through said reverser passages.