Noise attenuating supersonic nozzle

Claim 2

A sound attenuating supersonic nozzle connectable to a flow of compressible fluid, said nozzle comprising: (a) a nozzle body having an exterior surface; (b) a supersonic passageway having an interior wall, said supersonic passageway formed in said nozzle body and having an inlet, a throat, and an exit, said supersonic passageway having a converging section between said inlet and said throat, said supersonic passageway having a diverging section between said throat and said exit, said supersonic passageway adapted for producing sonic flow at said throat and supersonic flow in said diverging section; and (c) means for reducing the coalescence of sound waves, said means comprising a plurality of longitudinal grooves formed in said internal wall adjacent said exit.

Claim 3

A nozzle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the exit to throat area ratio of said supersonic passageway is in the range between 2.5 and 6.0.

Claim 4

A nozzle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said longitudinal grooves extend from said exit inwardly toward said throat to the point in said diverging section at which the static pressure of the supersonic flow during operation of said nozzle is equal to the static ambient pressure.

Claim 5

A nozzle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the depth of said grooves is in the range of 0.005 inches to 0.015 inches.

Claim 6

A nozzle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the distance between said grooves is in the range of 0.030 inches to 0.050 inches.

Claim 7

A nozzle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said supersonic passageway has an elongated rectangular cross sectional shape formed by two sets of opposing surfaces, said longitudinal grooves being formed in one set of said opposing surfaces.

Claim 8

A nozzle as claimed in claim 6 further comprising: (a) a nozzle inlet connected to said nozzle body; and (b) an inlet passageway formed in said nozzle inlet, said inlet passageway adapted to receive the flow of compressible fluid and to deliver the flow of compressible fluid to said inlet of said supersonic passageway, said inlet passageway having an inlet of circular cross section and an outlet of rectangular cross section.

Claim 9

A nozzle as claimed in claim 7 wherein said nozzle inlet is adapted to be used with a quick disconnect mechanism.

Claim 10

A sound attenuating supersonic nozzle connectable to a flow of compressible fluid, said nozzle comprising: (a) a nozzle body having an exterior surface; (b) a supersonic passageway having an interior wall, said supersonic passageway formed in said nozzle body and having an inlet, a throat, and an exit, said supersonic passageway having a converging section between said inlet and said throat, said supersonic passageway having a diverging section between said throat and said exit, said supersonic passageway adapted for producing sonic flow at said throat and supersonic flow in said diverging section; and (c) means for attenuating sound, said means comprising a plurality of cavities formed in said exterior surface of said nozzle body.

Claim 11

A sound attenuating supersonic nozzle connectable to a flow of compressible fluid, said nozzle comprising: (a) a nozzle body having an exterior surface; (b) a supersonic passageway having an interior wall, said supersonic passageway formed in said nozzle body and having an inlet, a throat, and an exit, said supersonic passageway having a converging section between said inlet and said throat, said supersonic passageway having a diverging section between said throat and said exit, said supersonic passageway adapted for producing sonic flow at said throat and supersonic flow in said diverging section; and (c) means for attenuating sound, said means comprising a plurality of cavities formed in said exterior surface of said nozzle body.

Claim 12

A nozzle as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a plurality of inserts, said inserts having complimentary shapes to said cavities, said inserts being disposed in said cavities.

Claim 13

A nozzle as claimed in claim 10 wherein said inserts do not extend beyond said exterior surface.

Claim 14

A nozzle as claimed in claim 10 wherein said inserts are formed of a material which is different than the material from which said exterior surface of said nozzle body is formed.

Claim 15

A nozzle as claimed in claim 9 wherein said cavities are formed longitudinally in said exterior surface.

Claim 16

A nozzle as claimed in claim 13 further comprising a plurality of inserts, said inserts having complimentary shapes to said cavities, said inserts being disposed in said cavities.

Claim 17

A nozzle as claimed in claim 14 wherein said inserts do not extend beyond said exterior surface.

Claim 18

A nozzle as claimed in claim 14 wherein said inserts are formed of a material which is different than the material from which said exterior surface of said nozzle body is formed.

Claim 19

A nozzle as claimed in claim 16 wherein said inserts are formed of a material which is denser than the material from which said exterior surface of said nozzle body is formed.

Claim 20

A nozzle as claimed in claim 9 wherein the exit to throat area ratio of said supersonic passageway is in the range between 2.5 and 6.0.

Claim 21

A sound attenuating supersonic nozzle connectable to a flow of compressible fluid, said nozzle comprising: (a) a nozzle body having an exterior surface; (b) a supersonic passageway having an interior wall, said supersonic passageway formed in said nozzle body and having an inlet, a throat, and an ext, said supersonic passageway having a converging section between said inlet and said throat, said supersonic passageway having a diverging section between said throat and said exit, said supersonic passageway adapted for producing sonic flow at said throat and supersonic flow in said diverging section; (c) a plurality of longitudinal grooves formed in said interior wall adjacent said exit; (d) a plurality of longitudinal cavities formed in said exterior surface; and (e) a plurality of inserts, said inserts having complimentary shapes to said longitudinal cavities, said inserts being disposed in said cavities.

Claim 22

A sound attenuating supersonic nozzle connectable to a flow of compressible fluid, said nozzle comprising: (a) a nozzle body having an exterior surface; (b) a supersonic passageway having an interior wall, said supersonic passageway formed in said nozzle body and having an inlet, a throat, and an ext, said supersonic passageway having a converging section between said inlet and said throat, said supersonic passageway having a diverging section between said throat and said exit, said supersonic passageway adapted for producing sonic flow at said throat and supersonic flow in said diverging section; (c) a plurality of longitudinal grooves formed in said interior wall adjacent said exit; (d) a plurality of longitudinal cavities formed in said exterior surface; and (e) a plurality of inserts, said inserts having complimentary shapes to said longitudinal cavities, said inserts being disposed in said cavities.

Claim 23

A nozzle as claimed in claim 19 wherein said inserts are formed of a material which is different than the material from which said exterior surface of said nozzle body is formed.

Claim 24

A nozzle as claimed in claim 20 wherein said inserts are formed of a material which is denser than the material from which said exterior surface of said nozzle body is formed.

Claim 25

A nozzle as claimed in claim 19 wherein said longitudinal grooves extend from said exit inwardly toward said throat to the point in said diverging section at which the static pressure of said supersonic flow during operation of said nozzle is equal to the static ambient pressure.

Claim 26

A nozzle as claimed in claim 19 wherein the depth of said grooves is in the range of 0.005 inches to 0.015 inches.

Claim 27

A nozzle as claimed in claim 19 wherein the distance between the grooves is in the range of 0.030 inches to 0.050 inches.

Claim 28

A nozzle as claimed in claim 19 wherein said supersonic passageway has an elongated rectangular cross sectional shape formed by two sets of opposing surfaces, said longitudinal grooves being formed in one set of said opposing surfaces.

Claim 29

A nozzle as claimed in claim 25 further comprising: (a) a nozzle inlet connected to said nozzle body; and (b) an inlet passageway formed in said nozzle inlet, said inlet passageway adapted to receive the flow of compressible fluid and to deliver the flow of compressible fluid to said inlet of said supersonic passageway, said inlet passageway having an inlet of circular cross section and an outlet of a rectangular cross section.

Claim 30

A nozzle as claimed in claim 26 wherein said nozzle inlet is adapted to be used with a quick disconnect mechanism.

Claim 31

A nozzle as claimed in claim 19 wherein said inserts do not extend beyond said exterior surface.

Claim 32

A sound attenuating supersonic nozzle connectable to a flow of compressible fluid, comprising: (a) a nozzle body having an exterior surface; (b) a supersonic passageway having an interior wall, said supersonic passageway formed in said nozzle body and having an inlet, a throat, and an exit, said supersonic passageway having a converging section between said inlet and said throat and a diverging section between said throat and said exit, said supersonic passageway adapted for producing sonic flow at said throat and supersonic flow in said diverging section; (c) a shield disposed about said exterior surface of said nozzle body and extending in the direction of flow beyond said exit; (d) an exit opening formed by said shield, said exit opening being aligned with said exit of said supersonic passageway, said exit opening being of a complimentary shape to said exit and having a cross-sectional area at least as large as the cross-sectional area of said exit, said exit opening having a perimeter; (e) an exit cavity defined by said exit of said supersonic passageway, said shield and said exit opening of said shield; and (f) a gill angle formed between said exterior surface and said perimeter, said gill angle being no greater than 90°.

Claim 33

A sound attenuating supersonic nozzle connectable to a flow of compressible fluid, comprising: (a) a nozzle body having an exterior surface; (b) a supersonic passageway having an interior wall, said supersonic passageway formed in said nozzle body and having an inlet, a throat, and an exit, said supersonic passageway having a converging section between said inlet and said throat and a diverging section between said throat and said exit, said supersonic passageway adapted for producing sonic flow at said throat and supersonic flow in said diverging section; (c) a shield disposed about said exterior surface of said nozzle body and extending in the direction of flow beyond said exit; (d) an exit opening formed by said shield, said exit opening being aligned with said exit of said supersonic passageway, said exit opening being of a complimentary shape to said exit and having a cross-sectional area at least as large as the cross-sectional area of said exit, said exit opening having a perimeter; (e) an exit cavity defined by said exit of said supersonic passageway, said shield and said exit opening of said shield; and (f) a gill angle formed between said exterior surface and said perimeter, said gill angle being no greater than 90°.

Claim 34

A nozzle as claimed in claim 29 further comprising first means for allowing auxiliary air flow into said exit cavity, said first means including means for allowing said auxiliary air flow to exit through said exit opening of said shield.

Claim 35

A nozzle as claimed in claim 30 wherein said first means comprises a gill cavity formed between said exterior surface and said shield, said gill cavity communicating with the ambient environment at one end and with said exit cavity at the other end.

Claim 36

A nozzle as claimed in claim 31 wherein said gill angle is at least 60°.

Claim 37

A nozzle as claimed in claim 29 wherein said shield does not directly contact any portion of said exterior surface.

Claim 38

A nozzle as claimed in claim 33 wherein spacers are disposed between said shield and said exterior surface of said nozzle body.

Claim 39

A nozzle as claimed in claim 29 further comprising a plurality of longitudinal grooves formed in said interior wall adjacent said exit thereby preventing the coalescing of shock waves which are created by the supersonic flow during operation of said nozzle in said supersonic passageway.

Claim 40

A nozzle as claimed in claim 35 wherein said longitudinal grooves extend from said exit inwardly toward said throat to the point in said diverging section at which the static pressure of the supersonic flow during operation of said nozzle is equal to the static ambient pressure

Claim 41

A nozzle as claimed in claim 35 wherein the depth of said grooves is in the range of 0.005 inches to 0.015 inches.

Claim 42

A nozzle as claimed in claim 35 wherein the distance between said grooves is in the range of 0.030 inches to 0.050 inches.

Claim 43

A nozzle as claimed in claim 38 further comprising: (a) a nozzle inlet connected to said nozzle body; and (b) an inlet passageway formed in said nozzle inlet, said inlet passageway adapted to receive the flow of compressible fluid and to deliver the flow of compressible fluid to said inlet of said supersonic passageway, said inlet passageway having an inlet of circular cross section and an outlet of rectangular cross section.

Claim 44

A nozzle as claimed in claim 39 wherein said nozzle inlet is adapted to be used with a quick disconnect mechanism.

Claim 45

A nozzle as claimed in claim 35 wherein said supersonic passageway has an elongated rectangular cross sectional shape formed by two sets of opposing surfaces, and said longitudinal grooves being formed in one set of said opposing surfaces.

Claim 46

A nozzle as claimed in claim 29 wherein said exit opening is at least 25% larger than said exit of said supersonic passageway.