Patents by Inventor Douglas J. Nightingale

Douglas J. Nightingale has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4141501
    Abstract: A convergent divergent exhaust nozzle for a jet engine, in which a circumferential array of interdigitated master and slave petals are axially movable along an arcuate track. Each petal is divided by a hinge into upstream and downstream portions and the downstream portions are pivotable about the hinges to vary the divergent flare angle of the nozzle. The master petals are supported on the arcuate tracks by means of a pair of axially spaced apart rollers bearing on opposite surfaces of the tracks. Gas pressure on the petals is used to reduce the force necessary to operate the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1979
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited
    Inventor: Douglas J. Nightingale