Abstract: Aircraft systems including cascade thrust reversers are disclosed herein. An aircraft system in accordance with one embodiment includes a cascade thrust reverser having a fixed reverser ramp and a nozzle outer wall section at least partially aft of the fixed reverser ramp. The nozzle outer wall section is movable between a deployed position and a stowed position. The nozzle outer wall section includes a forward portion with a leading edge section. The fixed reverser ramp has a portion forward of and adjacent to the nozzle outer wall section when the nozzle outer wall section is in the stowed position. The portion of the fixed reverser ramp has a first slope. The forward portion of the nozzle outer wall section that is aft of the leading edge section has a second slope different than the first slope.

Abstract: In a turbofan jet engine installation including a low pressure area (48) located between a primary exhaust nozzle (20) and strut fairings (30), an improvement including a fencing assembly (66) for reducing interaction of fan air (52) with air in the low pressure area. The fencing assembly (66) includes two pairs (70), (72) of opposed flow control fences (68) connected to the primary exhaust nozzle (20) at locations laterally outboard of the strut fairings (30). A first pair (70) includes fences formed of a single piece connected directly to the primary nozzle (20). A second pair (72) includes fences formed of a number of longitudinally spaced-apart segments (82). The segments (82) are connected to one face of an elongated attachment strap (84) with the opposite strap face being connected to the nozzle. Each fence includes a foot portion (78) and an upright portion (80) extending outwardly from the foot portion.

Abstract: A jet engine for use in a hypersonic aircraft. A fuel rich injectant is injected into the mixing zone of a duct at a substantial downstream angle to form an ejector. The temperature of the injectant is sufficiently low that spontaneous combustion of the injectant is delayed until the injectant reaches the combustion zone of the duct. In order to prevent combustion from propagating upstream from the combustion zone, the equivalence ratio of the mixture of injectant and ambient air flowing along the wall of the duct is maintained at a relatively high value, and the velocity profile of the flow along the wall of the duct is maintained at a relatively high value.

Abstract: A plug (24) has a fixed portion (26, 28) and a sliding portion (34). A tapered outer surface of portion (34) is adjacent to the throat (22) of a jet engine nozzle (20). Portion (34) includes two expansible chambers (36, 38) which are both defined by wall portions of both the fixed and the sliding portions of plug (24). Chambers (36, 38) are separated by a bulkhead (48) carried by said fixed portion. Chambers (36, 38) are supplied with fluid pressure which acts against a pressure surface (40, 42) to move sliding portion (34) axially forwardly and aftwardly, respectively, to in turn vary the throat area. Bleed air from the engine compressor supplies the fluid pressure. Fluid pressure is continuously supplied to chamber (38). Controlled leakage out of chamber (36) provides gradual slowing of movement of portion (34) in either direction. Control apparatus is located remotely from the nozzle (20).

Abstract: Each duct of a plurality of generally cylindrical exhaust ducts disposed in approximately uniform annular arrangement about an axis is a tube, or a lobe of a radially-branched passage, having a discharge end canted so that the radially outer portion of such duct end projects rearward farther than any other portion of the duct end. The canted duct ends direct the major portion of the exhaust of a jet engine inward toward the axis of the annular exhaust duct arrangement in a plurality of exhaust jets, effecting a rearwardly convergent relationship of the jets.