Abstract: Disclosed is an exhaust nozzle for a gas turbine engine, the exhaust nozzle comprising an outer frame extending along a longitudinal direction, a convergent petal pivotably attached to the frame and extending axially downstream and radially inward from the pivot, radially within the frame, and a sealing hinge arrangement between an upstream member and a downstream member of the exhaust nozzle. One of the upstream member or the downstream member defines a cylindrical socket having an opening along a cylinder axis which receives a corresponding cylindrical hinge element the other of the downstream member or upstream member, where the upstream member is defined by the frame and the downstream member is the convergent petal; or the exhaust nozzle further comprises a divergent petal downstream of the convergent petal and pivotably attached to the convergent petal, the upstream member being the convergent petal and the downstream member being the divergent petal.

Abstract: A turbofan engine has an engine core including in flow series a compressor, a combustor and a turbine. The engine further has a fan located upstream of the engine core, has a supersonic intake for slowing down incoming air to subsonic velocities at an inlet to the fan formed by the intake, has a bypass duct surrounding the engine core, wherein the fan generates a core airflow to the engine core and a bypass airflow through the bypass duct, and has a mixer for mixing an exhaust gas flow exiting the engine core and bypass airflow exiting bypass duct. The engine further has a thrust nozzle rearwards of the mixer for discharging mixed flows, the thrust nozzle having a variable area throat. The engine further has a controller controlling the thrust produced by the engine over a range of flight operations including on-the-ground subsonic take-off and subsequent off-the-ground subsonic climb.

Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes: (1) an engine configured to generate a mass flow, (2) a nozzle having a pathway having a throat and a trailing edge, the throat or the trailing edge being configured to enlarge and contract, (3) a deployable obstructer disposed in the nozzle, (4) a first pressure sensor to sense the static pressure of the mass flow at the nozzle exit, (5) a second pressure sensor to sense the ambient pressure proximate the aircraft, and a (6) controller. The controller is coupled with the first and second pressure sensors, the deployable obstructer, and the throat or the trailing edge (whichever is configured to enlarge and contract). The controller receives the static and ambient pressures and when there is a disparity, the controller controls at least one of the deployable obstructer, the throat, and the trailing edge in a manner that reduces the disparity.

Abstract: An exhaust system or nozzle for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed herein. The exhaust system is adapted to adjust various streams of pressurized air produced by the gas turbine engine to control operation of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A nozzle for an aircraft powerplant is disclosed which provides two separate flow paths. A flow path is provided in the nozzle for a core flow of the powerplant and another flow path is provided for a bypass flow of the powerplant. The nozzle can have a variety of configurations including, but not limited to, 2D and axisymmetric. Either or both the flow paths can be convergent, divergent, or convergent-divergent, and the flow paths need not be similar between the two. Actuators are provided to manipulate the configuration of the flow paths and the areas of the flow paths. For example, throat and/or exit areas can be manipulated.

Abstract: A nacelle for an aircraft bypass turbojet engine includes downstream, an internal stationary structure surrounding part of the bypass turbojet engine, and an external structure surrounding the internal stationary structure, defining an annular flow path along which an air flow circulates. The external structure includes a mobile flap disposed at the downstream end of the external structure and positioned facing the annular flow path. Each mobile flap can rotate such as to move into a position that increases or reduces the height of the cross-section of the annular flow path in relation to an idle position, in response to the pressure exerted on the mobile flap by the air flow circulating through the facing annular flow path. The mobile flap can return from the cross-section-increasing or -reducing position to another position under the effect of an elastic return means.

Abstract: A panel attachment device for removably connecting a panel to a casing comprises a first bracket, a second bracket, and a link. The link has a first end and an opposite second end, with the first end being removably connected to the first bracket and the second end being removably connected to the second bracket. Each of the first end and second ends is located by, and rotatable relative to, the first bracket and second bracket respectively to thereby constrain the panel relative to the casing.

Abstract: A nozzle system includes a multitude of circumferentially distributed convergent flaps and seals that circumscribe an engine centerline. A cooling liner body cooperates with a cooling liner panel attached to respective convergent flaps and convergent seals to define an annular cooling airflow passageway which is movable therewith. Each cooling liner panels includes an arcuate cooling liner leading edge with a multiple of openings to distribute cooling airflow over both the inner “cold-side” and outer “hot-side” surfaces thereof. Through this backside cooling, thermal gradients are controlled at the attachment interface between the arcuate cooling liner leading edge and the main cooling liner body.

Abstract: A nozzle system includes a multitude of circumferentially distributed divergent seals that circumscribe an engine centerline. Each divergent seal includes an interface between a forward seal bridge bracket and an aft seal bridge bracket with a forward bridge support and an aft bridge support which provides axial and radial support for the divergent seals between adjacent divergent flaps. A divergent-convergent seal joint structure includes a horn and a fork. By having the forward bridge bracket retain the divergent seal in the axial direction, there is no need for axial sliding of the divergent seal relative to the divergent flap. The joint structure provides circumferential support as the axial and radial support are provided by the bridge-bracket interface.

Abstract: A turbine engine nozzle assembly has an upstream flap and a downstream flap pivotally coupled thereto for relative rotation about a hinge axis. An actuator linkage is coupled to the flaps for actuating the nozzle between a number of throat area conditions. First and second mode struts respectively restrict rotation of the downstream flap in first and second directions.

Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a flap system for a gas turbine engine exhaust nozzle including at least one backbone assembly. The method comprises providing a basesheet including a pair of circumferentially-spaced sides coupled together by an upstream side and a downstream side, forming at least one relief cut in the basesheet that extends at least partially across the basesheet from at least one of the circumferentially-spaced sides, and coupling the basesheet to the backbone assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a convergent-divergent turbojet nozzle (1) comprising driven divergent flaps (4a), follower divergent flaps (4b) interposed between the driven flaps, and means (32) for supplying cooling air to the follower flaps (4b), said follower flaps (4b) having a box structure and having lateral openings for delivering cooling air towards the inner face of said driven flaps (4a), in such a way as to limit the heating up of these flaps when the turbojet is in operation.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine exhaust nozzle includes a divergent section located aft of a convergent section and a throat therebetween. An exterior fairing is spaced radially outwardly of the divergent section. An ejector cooling air flowpath leads from an ejector cooling air inlet in an aft portion of the fairing to a cooling air ejector in the nozzle. An annular nozzle plenum may be disposed between the divergent section of the nozzle and the external fairing and be part of the ejector cooling air flowpath between the ejector cooling air inlet and the ejector. A plurality of divergent flaps and divergent seals in the divergent section may employ cooling air passages, such as slots, to serve as the ejector. The fairing may include a plurality of circumferentially adjacent exterior flaps and exterior seals and employ truncated ends of or apertures in the exterior seals as the ejector cooling air inlet.

Abstract: A variable geometry exhaust nozzle 10 for a turbine engine includes convergent and divergent flaps 12, 18 that circumscribe a gaspath 26 and define convergent and divergent nozzle sections 30, 32 with a throat 34 therebetween. A projection 56, which resides on the divergent flaps, extends radially inwardly from the nozzle. The nozzle also includes a coolant flowpath comprising an interior space 44 in the nozzle, an intake 58 for admitting coolant C into the interior space, and a coolant outlet 60 aft of the intake for discharging the coolant from the interior space. The intake resides forward of the throat. During operation, a coolant film flows along the radially inner surface of the nozzle. The projection encourages a portion of the coolant film to enter and flow through the the coolant flowpath to convectively cool the nozzle.

Abstract: The radius of the hinged portion of the convergent/divergent axisymmetrical exhaust nozzle of a gas turbine engine is configured at the surface seeing the flow to be contoured at a critical radius so to enhance the flow characteristics of the nozzle and improve the low observable. The liner normally associated with the convergent flap is cut back at the juncture adjacent the hinged point connecting the divergent flap to be below the radar sight at the tail of the engine.

Abstract: An axisymmetric, converging-diverging and swiveling exhaust nozzle includes converging flaps (3) driven by an axially displaceable drive ring (7). The diverging flaps (15) are connected by linkrods (20) to a pivoting ring (21). The pivoting ring (21) is mounted in swiveling manner on a spherical segment (30) fixedly joined to the structure (13). In an embodiment variation, the spherical segment (30) is mounted by a sliding connection on the stationary structure. A rotation-blocking system (33) precludes the rotation of the spherical segment (30) about the axis X of the turbojet engine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wide-vectoring, axisymmetric turbojet-engine exhaust nozzle including vectoring structure (12) supporting a plurality of converging flaps (21). The vectoring structure is mounted on the downstream end of an exhaust housing (2) by means of an intermediate ring (9) which is pivotable about a first axis relative to the exhaust housing (2) and further about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and relative to the vectoring structure (12). The converging flaps (21) hinge on the downstream end of the vectoring structure (12). A single drive ring (27) controlled by three linear actuators (28) and linked by linkrods (24) to the converging flaps (21) controls the tipping of the vectoring structure (12) and the kinematics of the flaps (21).

Abstract: An axially symmetric turbojet-engine exhaust nozzle which is directable as a unit. The exhaust nozzle is situated downstream of an exhaust duct (1) fitted with a spherical wall (5). A single control ring (12) driven by linear actuators (30) allows regulation of the nozzle cross section and direction. Converging flaps (7) are guided on an upstream side by the spherical wall (5) and are supported at a downstream side by a control lever (13) which hinges on the control ring (12) and rests upstream on an external surface (16) of the spherical wall (5). Diverging flaps (10) hinge on the converging flaps (7) to form an inner ring of hot flaps. The diverging flaps (10) are situated downstream in an extension of the converging flaps (7) and further hinge on an outer ring of cold flaps (11), which in turn hinge on the control ring (12).

Abstract: Three vectoring ring support and actuation apparatuses are disposed in an equi-angular manner circumferentially about the engine casing. Each of the vectoring ring support and actuation apparatuses includes a vectoring ring means to transfer side loads from the vectoring ring to the engine casing, a vectoring ring translation means for allowing the ring to be translated, and a support pivoting means and ring gimballing means to allow the vectoring ring attitude adjustments by a set of linear actuators. The vectoring ring support apparatus transfers side loads acting on a vectoring ring and generated by a gas turbine engine thrust vectoring nozzle to a relatively stationary portion of the engine and allows tilting of the vectoring ring to vector the thrust of the nozzle.

Abstract: Divergent petal arrangement for convergent-divergent nozzles with thrust vectoring capability through changes in the divergent section geometry, in which the position of each slave divergent petals 4 is determined by a centering mechanism 31, made up by two centering bars 14 and 27 that slide across the sled elements 17 and 18 of the master divergent petals 2, fix a centered axial position between divergent master petals 2 and by a hanger element 13 that collides with the stop elements 25 of the master divergent petals limits the displacement to another axial position, avoiding at the same time and in conjunction with the centering mechanism 31 the displacement of the slave divergent petal 4 away from the master petals 2 when the pressure forces act from the air towards the gas side.