Patents by Inventor Robert F. Tape

Robert F. Tape 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: 4805840
    Abstract: A nozzle 16 for a turbojet is provided with a thrust deflector mechanism, downstream of the nozzle in the form of one or more target-type thrust reverser plates 18. The plate or plates 18 are movable from a stowed position into the efflux of gases issuing from the nozzle to deflect the exhaust gases and hence redirect the thrust produced by the nozzle obliquely relative to the central axis of the nozzle 16. The plate or plates 18 are mounted in a bearing for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the jet pipe. When rotated the redirected thrust is effectively rotated relative to the central axis of the nozzle. In one embodiment a pair of plates 18 is used and they can also be employed as a conventional thrust reverser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert F. Tape
  • Patent number: 4529130
    Abstract: An exhaust nozzle for a gas turbine engine comprising a duct 17(c) and a mechanism for varying the geometry and area of the nozzle. The mechanism includes a plurality of movable flaps 38 which in at least one position define a convergent part of the nozzle. Upstream of the flaps 38 there is provided one or more outwardly directed openings 59 in the wall of the duct 17(c) and a pair of mutually confronting doors 61 which rotate about an axis transverse to the length of the duct. The doors 61 are located relative to the duct 17(c), the openings 59 and the flaps 38, so that in a first position, the doors 61 obturate the one or more openings 59 and provide a substantially unrestricted flow path through the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Inc.
    Inventors: Gary F. Szuminski, Robert F. Tape
  • Patent number: 4502638
    Abstract: An exhaust nozzle for a gas turbine aero-engine comprising a duct 17(c), a plurality of movable flaps 38,43 for varying the geometry of the nozzle, one or more forwardly and outwardly directed openings 59 located upstream of the flaps 38,43 and a pair of mutually confronting doors 61 each of which is mounted for rotation about an axis extending transverse to the length of the duct 17(c). The doors 61 are located relative to the duct 17(c) and the openings 59 so that, in a first position, they obturate the openings 59 and mutually confronting surfaces 67 of the doors define therebetween part of the gas flow path through the nozzle, and the doors 61 are movable to a second position, upstream of the first position, where they uncover the openings 59, define, at their upstream ends 68, a reduced area throat for the gas flow path through the nozzle. In the second position the doors 61 also define a divergent part of the gas flow path immediately downstream of the said throat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1985
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Inc.
    Inventors: Gary F. Szuminski, Douglas J. Nightingale, Robert F. Tape