With Means Controlling Amount, Shape Or Direction Of Discharge Stream Patents (Class 239/265.19)
  • Publication number: 20110048025
    Abstract: Dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators are used to manipulate exhaust flow within and behind a jet engine nozzle. The dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators may be used to direct cooling airflow near the surface of the nozzle to reduce heating of the nozzle, create thrust vectoring, and reduce noise associated with the exhaust flow exiting the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry B. Ginn, Stewart A. Jenkins, David M. Wells, Brent N. McCallum
  • Patent number: 7886518
    Abstract: An inner core cowl baffle assembly for a turbofan engine assembly is provided. The engine assembly includes a core gas turbine engine, a core cowl which circumscribes the core gas turbine engine, a nacelle positioned radially outward from the core cowl, and a fan nozzle duct defined between the core cowl and the nacelle. The inner core cowl baffle assembly includes an inner core cowl baffle, and an actuator assembly configured to vary the throat area of the fan nozzle duct by selectively repositioning the inner core cowl baffle with respect to the core cowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Jorge Francisco Seda, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Patent number: 7886520
    Abstract: Within a turbine engine a heat exchanger may be provided to cool compressor air flows to be utilized for cabin ventilation or other functions. A fluid flow acting as a coolant for the heat exchanger is generally drawn from the by-pass duct of the engine and a dedicated outlet duct is provided such that the exhausted fluid flow from the heat exchanger is delivered along the conduit duct to a low pressure region. In such circumstances, an appropriate pressure differential across the heat exchanger is maintained for operational efficiency when required, whilst the exhausted fluid flow is isolated and does not compromise the usual engine ventilation vent exit area sizing. Over-sized ventilation vents would create an aerodynamic step and therefore drag upon the thrust of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Richard G Stretton, Pawel R Zakrzewski
  • Patent number: 7874160
    Abstract: A mechanism included in a convergent-divergent nozzle connected to an aft portion of a gas turbine engine, which mechanism includes a convergent flap configured to be kinematically connected to the aft portion of the gas turbine engine, a divergent flap pivotally connected to the convergent flap and configured to be kinematically connected to the aft portion of the gas turbine engine, at least one actuator configured to be connected to the aft portion of the gas turbine engine and to mechanically prescribe the position of the convergent flap and the divergent flap by moving through one or more positions, and at least one biasing apparatus. The biasing apparatus is configured to position at least one of the convergent flap and the divergent flap independent of the positions of the actuator by substantially balancing a force on the at least one of the convergent flap and the divergent flap produced by a gas pressure on the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy A. Swanson, Sean P. Zamora, Robert H. Bush, Alex J. Simpson
  • Patent number: 7854123
    Abstract: The pattern relates to a cover for a turbomachine nozzle, the cover having a plurality of patterns each with an outline of triangular shape having a base and two vertices that are spaced downstream and interconnected by a side. For each pattern, the vertices present respective curved outlines and they are interconnected by a curved portion presenting a radius of curvature greater than the radii of curvature of the outlines of said vertices, each side being connected to the trailing edge of the cover via a curved outline presenting a radius of curvature greater than the radii of curvature of the outlines of the vertices and greater than the radius of curvature of the outline of the curved portion, and the vertices and the curved portion are inclined radially towards the inside of the cover, with the curved portion being radially offset outwards relative to the vertices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventors: Dax Au, Pascal Moise Michel Bigot, Pierre Briend, Pierre Philippe Marie Loheac
  • Patent number: 7854124
    Abstract: A balance pressure control is provided for flaps which pivot in a rear of a gas turbine engine nozzle to change the cross-sectional area of the nozzle. An actuator drives a sync ring to move the flaps through a linkage. A supply of pressurized air is also provided to the sync ring to assist the actuator in resisting forces from high pressure gases within the nozzle. When those forces are lower than normal the flow of air to the rear of the sync ring is reduced or blocked. A ring rotates with another ring to control both this air flow, and a supply of cooling air to an interior of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas Sadil, Timothy A. Swandon, Roger O. Coffey, Debora F. Kehret
  • Publication number: 20100313545
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a gas turbine engine exhaust nozzle comprises a housing having a length which extends along a central longitudinal axis and comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a row of chevrons extending from an aft end of the housing, the chevrons having a root region and a tip, wherein at least a portion of at least one of the interior surface or the exterior surface is scalloped proximate the root region of a chevron. Other embodiments may be described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: David F. Cerra, Lie-Mine Gea, Robert H. Willie, Leonard J. Hebert, Donald E. Robinson
  • Patent number: 7836843
    Abstract: An improved thermal spray apparatus and method of promotes mixing of axially fed particles in a carrier stream with a heated effluent stream without introducing significant turbulence into either the effluent or carrier streams. An axial injection port includes a plurality of chevrons at the distal end of the port. The chevrons are located radially around the circumference of the distal end of the axial injection port to increase the shared area between the two flow streams at the outlet of the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Sulzer Metco (US), Inc.
    Inventors: Felix Muggli, Marc Heggemann, Ronald J. Molz
  • Patent number: 7827780
    Abstract: A protocol for assembling a fuel shut off pin valve assembly for a turbo fan engine. The protocol outlines a specific sequence of events in order to ensure failsafe incorporation of a fuel shut off valve assembly within the low pressure turbine area and specifically within the engine casing of the turbo fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Guy Lefebvre, Claude Giardetti
  • Publication number: 20100269511
    Abstract: The invention relates to a nacelle for an aircraft engine that comprises a front cowling (13) and a rear cowling (1a), the rear cowling (1a) being mounted so as to slide between an upstream position defining a reduced nozzle (9) section and a downstream position defining an enlarged nozzle (9) section. The nacelle includes an intermediate member (25) arranged edge-to-edge with said front cowling (13), said member defining a housing (27) for receiving the upstream edge (11) of said rear cowling (1a) when the latter is in the upstream position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: AIRCELLE
    Inventor: Guy Bernard Vauchel
  • Patent number: 7802752
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a technique to suppress noise in a jet engine. A substantially annular fan nozzle is attached to a pylon and discharges a fan stream into atmosphere from an aft end thereof. A core nozzle discharges core stream into the atmosphere. The core nozzle has an exterior surface. A stream director is mounted on the pylon to direct the fan stream away from the pylon. At least a portion of the stream director is situated outside the aft end to maintain substantially constant flow area of the fan nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Dimitri Papamoschou
  • Patent number: 7798423
    Abstract: Integrated engine exhaust systems and techniques for operating integrated engine exhaust systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a propulsion system includes an engine installation configured to be mounted on a wing assembly of an aircraft. The engine installation includes an engine, and an exhaust system operatively coupled to the engine. The exhaust system includes at least one nozzle to exhaust an exhaust flow from the engine. The nozzle includes a variable portion configured to vary an exit aperture of the nozzle from a first shape to a second shape to change a flowfield shape of at least a portion of the nozzle flowfield proximate the wing assembly, thereby reducing at least one of drag and thermal loading on the wing assembly. In a further embodiment, the exhaust system includes an inner nozzle that exhausts a core exhaust flow, and an outer nozzle that exhausts a secondary exhaust flow, the outer nozzle having the variable portion configured to vary the exit aperture of the outer nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Arvin Shmilovich, Yoram Yadlin, David M. Smith, Roger W. Clark
  • Patent number: 7784270
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mixer for a bypass turbomachine, the mixer comprising a member having a sinusoidal portion at its end defining inner lobes and outer lobes, each outer lobe comprising a pair of plane radial walls spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction and interconnected by an outer dome, each inner lobe comprising a pair of plane radial walls spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction and connected together by an inner dome, the walls of the outer lobes being disposed to extend the walls of the inner lobes radially, the radial walls of a given outer lobe extending radially in mutually parallel directions, with these walls, when extended geometrically, defining a zone from which the axis of symmetry of the cylindrical member is excluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Laurent Christophe Dussillols, Alexandre Alfred Gaston Vuillemin
  • Patent number: 7762078
    Abstract: Nozzles that offer shape variability to maintain or purposely change the pressure drop across the throat are obtained by constructing the nozzles with components that change their shape, angle, or curvature in response to temperature changes that occur during the flow of combustion products through the nozzle. The temperature change may be the gradual heating of the nozzle wall from hot combustion gases, and the shape change may result in a decrease in the throat diameter or an expansion of the throat diameter. A decrease in throat diameter will be useful when the depletion of propellant as burning proceeds causes a drop in the pressure or flow rate of the combustion gas and there is a need to compensate for this drop to maintain the pressure drop across the throat. An increase in throat diameter will be useful when an initial high thrust is no longer needed and depletion of the fuel by itself is insufficient to lower the thrust to its desired reduced level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Aerojet-General Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Lynch, Dustin C. Barr
  • Patent number: 7757477
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Debora F. Kehret, Jorge I. Farah
  • Publication number: 20100175383
    Abstract: A turbofan engine includes an engine core and a ducted fan assembly, with the ducted fan assembly including an annular cowling and a dilating fan duct nozzle. The nozzle includes continuous nozzle sections with intermeshing tiles. The tiles include drive tiles that are pivotal between nominal and dilated positions and driven tiles that intermesh with the drive tiles and shift with the drive tiles between the positions. The intermeshing tiles cooperatively adjust an orifice size of the nozzle by shifting between the positions and thereby affect the thrust and noise developed by the ducted fan assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Robert Arthur Core
  • Patent number: 7748664
    Abstract: A system and method for actively manipulating fluid flow over a surface using synthetic pulsators. Synthetic pulsators produce pulsed jet operable to manipulate the primary fluid flow proximate to the synthetic pulsator. The synthetic pulsator includes a dual diaphragm synthetic jet coupled to high performance dual actuator solenoids, wherein the synthetic jet is operable to produce an oscillatory flow. The oscillatory flow of the synthetic jet(s) produces the pulsed jet operable to manipulate the primary fluid flow. These synthetic pulsators may then be actively manipulated to control the flow behavior of the ducted fluid flow, influence the inception point and trajectory of flow field vortices within the fluid flow, and reduce flow separation within the primary fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Patrick Boespflug, Seyed Gholamali Saddoughi
  • Patent number: 7735311
    Abstract: Pulsed detonation engines (PDEs), or various components thereof, such as the detonation chamber and/or nozzle, can be economically constructed from materials having low thermal stability, such as plastics, composites, and light metals. During operation, the intermittent injection and detonation of reactants produces a motive force (e.g., thrust) over relatively short intervals useful in orbit control and the like. The relatively short intervals of operation prevent temperatures of the PDE components from reaching temperatures that would result in their dimensional failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignees: Science Applications International Corporation, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command
    Inventors: Shmuel Eidelman, Dimitrios Lianos
  • Patent number: 7735778
    Abstract: The thrust reverser is used with a gas turbine engine and includes first and second doors pivotable between a stowed position and a deployed position. When deployed, pivoting fairings on the first door are moved so as to give room to the second door as its trailing edge moves within the first door. When stowed, the second door preferably provides the locking mechanism to the pivoting fairings of the first door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Lair, Paul Weaver
  • Patent number: 7721549
    Abstract: A fan variable area nozzle (FVAN) includes a flap assembly which varies a fan nozzle exit area through a cam drive ring. The flap assembly generally includes a multiple of flaps, flap linkages and an actuator system. The actuator system rotationally translates the cam drive ring relative an engine centerline axis which results in a follower of the flap linkage following a cam surface to pivot each flap such that the flap assembly dilates about the circumferential hinge line. Rotation of the cam drive ring adjusts dilation of the entire fan nozzle exit area in a symmetrical manner. Another cam drive ring includes a multiple of movable cams which engages the follower of the flap linkage of each flap such that pivotable movement of a particular number of the multiple of movable cams about a respective cam pivot results in vectoring of the FVAN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Baran
  • Patent number: 7721550
    Abstract: An aircraft engine nozzle assembly includes an adjustable flap portion that is movable about a pivot for changing the size of an exhaust exit area. A bracket having a curved slot establishes a range of possible movement of the flap portion. A link includes a guide member portion that is received in the curved slot for guiding the movement of the flap portion. The link is connected to a static engine structure and the bracket is movable with the flap portion. The curved slot establishes a range of possible movement of the flap portion along a direction of the curved slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Donald W. Peters
  • Publication number: 20100107646
    Abstract: The proposed adaptive exhaust nozzle features an innovative use of the shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators for actively control of the opening area of the exhaust nozzle for jet engines. The SMA actuators remotely control the opening area of the exhaust nozzle through a set of mechanism. An important advantage of using SMA actuators is the reduction of weight of the actuator system for variable area exhaust nozzle. Another advantage is that the SMA actuator can be activated using the heat from the exhaust and eliminate the need of other energy source. A prototype has been designed and fabricated. The functionality of the proposed SMA actuated adaptive exhaust nozzle is verified in the open-loop tests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: The University of Houston
    Inventors: Gangbing Song, Ning Ma
  • Patent number: 7681399
    Abstract: A turbofan engine assembly is provided. The turbofan engine assembly includes a core gas turbine engine, a core cowl which circumscribes the core gas turbine engine, a nacelle positioned radially outward from the core cowl, a fan nozzle duct defined between the core cowl and the nacelle, and an inner core cowl baffle assembly positioned within the fan nozzle duct. The inner core cowl baffle assembly includes a first core cowl baffle coupled to a portion of the core cowl within the fan nozzle duct, a second core cowl baffle coupled to a portion of the core cowl and positioned a distance radially inward from the first core cowl baffle, and an actuator assembly configured to vary the throat area of the fan nozzle duct by selectively repositioning the second core cowl baffle with respect to the first core cowl baffle. A method for operating the turbofan engine assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Orlando, Thomas Ory Moniz, Jorge Francisco Seda
  • Patent number: 7673458
    Abstract: A method for operating a turbofan engine assembly including a core gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes varying an operating speed of the turbofan engine assembly from a first operating speed to a second operating speed. The method also includes selectively positioning a first arcuate portion and a second arcuate portion of a split cowl assembly to vary a throat area of a fan nozzle duct defined downstream from the core gas turbine engine to facilitate improving engine efficiency at the second operating speed. The split cowl assembly is downstream from the core gas turbine engine and inside the fan nozzle duct. A turbofan engine assembly and nozzle assembly are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul D. Kemper, Thomas Ory Moniz, Jorge Francisco Seda
  • Patent number: 7669404
    Abstract: A device for controlling fluid flow. The device includes an arc generator coupled to electrodes. The electrodes are placed adjacent a fluid flowpath such that upon being energized by the arc generator, an arc filament plasma adjacent the electrodes is formed. In turn, this plasma forms a localized high temperature, high pressure perturbation in the adjacent fluid flowpath. The perturbations can be arranged to produce vortices, such as streamwise vortices, in the flowing fluid to control mixing and noise in such flows. The electrodes can further be arranged within a conduit configured to contain the flowing fluid such that when energized in a particular frequency and sequence, can excite flow instabilities in the flowing fluid. The placement of the electrodes is such that they are unobtrusive relative to the fluid flowpath being controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: The Ohio State University
    Inventors: Mohammad Samimy, Igor Adamovich
  • Patent number: 7669785
    Abstract: Integrated engine exhaust systems and methods for reducing drag and thermal loads are disclosed. In one embodiment, a propulsion system includes an engine installation configured to be mounted on a wing assembly of an aircraft. The engine installation includes an engine, and an exhaust system operatively coupled to the engine. The exhaust system includes at least one nozzle configured to exhaust an exhaust flow from the engine. The nozzle includes a variable portion configured to vary an exit aperture of the nozzle from a first shape to a second shape to change a flowfield shape of at least a portion of the nozzle flowfield proximate the wing assembly, thereby reducing at least one of drag and thermal loading on the wing assembly. In a further embodiment, the exhaust system includes an inner nozzle that exhausts a core exhaust flow, and an outer nozzle that exhausts a secondary exhaust flow, the outer nozzle having the variable portion configured to vary the exit aperture of the outer nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Arvin Shmilovich, Yoram Yadlin, David M. Smith, Roger W. Clark
  • Publication number: 20100018212
    Abstract: A turbofan engine includes an engine core and a ducted fan assembly, with the ducted fan assembly including an annular cowling and a dilating fan duct nozzle. The nozzle includes continuous nozzle sections with intermeshing tiles. The tiles include drive tiles that are pivotal between nominal and dilated positions and driven tiles that intermesh with the drive tiles and shift with the drive tiles between the positions. The intermeshing tiles cooperatively adjust an orifice size of the nozzle by shifting between the positions and thereby affect the thrust and noise developed by the ducted fan assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Arthur Core
  • Publication number: 20100012750
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle centerbody is provided that includes a cylindrical cross-sectional area, and a baffle co-axially aligned within the centerbody. The baffle includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced apertures configured to channel an airflow radially outward such that the channeled airflow impinges a centerbody inner surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Beverly Stephenson Duncan, Michael Anthony Benjamin, George Chia-Chun Hsiao, Hukam Chand Mongia
  • Patent number: 7628356
    Abstract: The invention relates to a yaw control device for an aircraft fitted with a supersonic nozzle having a rectangular or flat section comprising a supersonic throat extended by a diverging portion in which supersonic flow occurs. In order to enable the aircraft to be controlled in yaw in the absence of a vertical fin, the device of the invention makes use of jet control surfaces in the form of airfoils disposed in the diverging portion of the nozzle. The control surfaces are movable about respective pivot axes in order to generate a lateral force when in a deflected position, so as to enable the aircraft to turn about its yaw axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Snecma Propulsion Solide
    Inventors: François Buffenoir, André Lafond
  • Patent number: 7624567
    Abstract: A nozzle system includes a multitude of circumferentially distributed convergent flaps, divergent flaps and inter-flap seals which circumscribe an engine centerline and define the radial outer boundary of an exhaust gas path. Each divergent flap includes longitudinal sides having a set of extension which are located at different longitudinal stations such that the extensions on adjacent divergent flaps interfit when the nozzle is in a minimum dilated position yet provide support for the intermediate flap seal when the nozzle is in a maximum dilated position to thereby provide a relative increase in the nozzle area ratio range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Donald William Peters
  • Patent number: 7603842
    Abstract: A method for reducing the nonsteady side loads acting on a nozzle of a rocket engine during a startup phase of said engine. The nozzle comprises a combustion chamber (1) where exhaust gases are generated, a divergent portion (3) in which a supersonic flow of said exhaust gases occurs, and a throat (2) connecting the combustion chamber to the divergent portion, which method comprises the positioning of a body of rounded shape (5) inside the divergent portion (3) along its axis corresponding to an axial position such that, during at least part of the startup phase, a shock wave (8), induced by the distrubance of the flow of the exhaust gases by the body of rounded shape (5) is incident to the wall of the divergent portion (3) at an axial incidence position where it produces a jet separation or a separation in the form of a toroidal separation bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Agence Spatiale Europeenne
    Inventor: Christian Dujarric
  • Publication number: 20090255269
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems involving variable nozzles with sliding doors are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: United Techonologies Corp.
    Inventors: Dale William Petty, Shawn M. McMahon, Michael Joseph Murphy, Sean P. Zamora, Timothy A. Swanson
  • Publication number: 20090230212
    Abstract: A propulsion system with a divergent-convergent nozzle is provided with variable thrust by a pintle whose position relative to the nozzle throat is controlled by an actuator that includes a rotor that external to, and encircling, the nozzle, and that is coupled to either the pintle or to the nozzle shell by a linkage that translates the rotary movement of the rotor into linear movement of either the pintle or the shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: Aerojet-General Corporation, a corporation of the state of Ohio
    Inventors: Dustin C. Barr, Michael D. Lynch
  • Patent number: 7587899
    Abstract: The proposed adaptive exhaust nozzle features an innovative use of the shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators for actively control of the opening area of the exhaust nozzle for jet engines. The SMA actuators remotely control the opening area of the exhaust nozzle through a set of mechanism. An important advantage of using SMA actuators is the reduction of weight of the actuator system for variable area exhaust nozzle. Another advantage is that the SMA actuator can be activated using the heat from the exhaust and eliminate the need of other energy source. A prototype has been designed and fabricated. The functionality of the proposed SMA actuated adaptive exhaust nozzle is verified in the open-loop tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: University of Houston
    Inventors: Gangbing Song, Ning Ma
  • Patent number: 7581384
    Abstract: The invention relates to an annular cover for a turbomachine nozzle, the cover having a plurality of patterns extending a trailing edge of said cover and spaced apart circumferentially from one another, each pattern having an outline that is substantially triangular in shape, with a base formed by a portion of the trailing edge of the cover and a vertex spaced downstream from the base and connected thereto by two sides. For each pattern, the vertex presents an outline that is substantially curved; each side is connected to the trailing edge of the cover following an outline that is substantially curved having a radius of curvature that is greater than the radius of curvature of the outline of the vertex; and the outline of each of the sides includes at least one point of inflexion having a tangent that is substantially parallel to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Dax Au, Pascal Moise Michel Bigot, Pierre Briend, Pierre Philippe Marie Loheac
  • Publication number: 20090211258
    Abstract: Improved rocket nozzle designs for vehicles with nozzles embedded in or protruding from surfaces remote from the desired thrust axis. The nozzle configurations are for rocket vehicles where the nozzles are not located at the optimal thrust axis of the vehicle. Two examples include nozzles located on the forward end of the vehicle (also called tractor nozzles) and attitude control nozzles located on the periphery of the vehicle. More particularly, the disclosed nozzle shapes enhance the axial thrusts and/or maneuver torques on the vehicle. These unconventional nozzle shapes improve vehicle performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventor: Melvin J. Bulman
  • Patent number: 7578133
    Abstract: An exhaust nozzle assembly includes a plurality of interfitting flap assemblies that are moveable between a maximum area ratio and a minimum area ratio. Each of the pluralities of flap assemblies includes a slot and a wing. The wing fits within an adjacent slot of an adjacent flap assembly. Each of the flap assemblies includes a divergent element that provides a specific geometric shape forming the trailing edge surfaces. The flap element is attached to the divergent element and extends to a static structure. The flap element and the divergent element combine to form a continuous faceted outer surface of the exhaust nozzle assembly substantially void of gaps throughout the range of motion between the maximum and minimum area ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jaime A. Arbona, Meggan Harris, James Allore, Steven Laporte
  • Patent number: 7549603
    Abstract: Deflection system for a gas stream 11 in an exhaust nozzle 10 of a flying craft, comprising fixed structural housings 18,20 which extend perpendicularly to the gas stream 11 and which are fed with deflection gas through one of their ends external to the nozzle 10, these housings 18,20 containing in their side walls 22,28 gas injection slits 23,30 oriented in oblique directions 24,26 relative to the gas stream 11, and controlled means for the adjustable closure of these slits 23,30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Bruno Albert Beutin, Jeremy Edmond Fert
  • Patent number: 7546727
    Abstract: A system for controlling a position of jet engine exhaust mixing tabs includes a plurality of exhaust mixing tabs spaced apart from one another and extending from a lip of an exhaust nozzle of a jet engine nacelle adjacent a flow path of an exhaust flow emitted from the exhaust nozzle. Each of the exhaust mixing tabs are constructed to be controllably deformable from a first position adjacent the flow path to a second position extending into the flow path of the exhaust flow in response to a control signal applied to each of the exhaust mixing tabs. In the first position, the exhaust mixing tabs either have no affect on the thrust produced, or increase the momentum (thrust) of the exhaust flow exiting from the exhaust nozzle. In the second position, that is, the “deployed” position, the exhaust mixing tabs are deformed to extend into the flow path. In this position the exhaust mixing tabs promote mixing of the exhaust flow with an adjacent air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Edward V White
  • Patent number: 7543451
    Abstract: A shroud for an aircraft engine exhaust plume, the shroud being formed of a flexible material secured at one end to the exhaust nozzle and selectively extendable downstream with the exhaust plume so as to surround and shroud it, thereby to reduce infrared/radar/noise emissions from the aircraft engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: BAE Systems PLC
    Inventor: Nicholas G. R. Colosimo
  • Publication number: 20090114740
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for a turbine engine has a convergent portion for converging fluid flow from a turbine engine core. A divergent portion for diverging fluid flow from the turbine engine core is in fluid communication with the convergent portion. A conduit is in communication with a bypass fluid flow. The conduit has a thrust vectoring port located near the divergent portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Sean P. Zamora, Michael J. Murphy, Gary J. Dillard, Glenn R. Estes
  • Publication number: 20090108100
    Abstract: There is provided a hydrogen chrolide gas ejecting nozzle I used in a reaction apparatus for producing trichlorosilane in which metal silicon powder is reacted with hydrogen chloride gas to generate trichlorosilane. The member is provided with a shaft portion extending in the longitudinal direction and a head portion that is provided on an end of the shaft portion and extends in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion. A supply hole extending in the longitudinal direction is formed in the shaft portion, a plurality of ejection holes are formed in the head portion, and each of the ejection holes is communicatively connected to the supply hole and opened on the outer surface of the head portion toward a direction intersecting the direction to which the supply hole extends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chikara Inaba
  • Patent number: 7509796
    Abstract: A propulsion system with a pintle for variable thrust is constructed such that the pintle contains a shaft at its fore end which passes through an opening in the thrust chamber wall and extends into a boss on the outside surface of the thrust chamber. A dynamic seal that maintains the pressurization of the thrust chamber while allowing movement of the pintle is positioned inside the boss, between the pintle shaft and the boss, and actuation of the pintle is achieved by a rack affixed to the fore end of the pintle and a gear that engages the rack. The dynamic seal, rack and gear are thus external to the thrust chamber, providing the thrust chamber with a compact external envelope, a greater thermal standoff, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Aerojet-General Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20090064660
    Abstract: An exhaust vane disposed in a divergent section of an aircraft gas turbine engine exhaust nozzle is sideways pivotable about a vane pivot axis. The nozzle vane pivot axis may be centrally located at an unvectored nozzle throat. Transversely spaced apart upper and lower tips of the exhaust vane may be incorporated to sealingly engage a nozzle outer wall along upper and lower surfaces of the outer wall of the nozzle. The exhaust vane has flat or contoured vane sidewalls and contoured vane sidewalls may be concave. The exhaust vane may have transversely biased apart upper and lower vane sections extending transversely inwardly from the upper and lower tips of the exhaust vane respectively. The exhaust vane may be articulated having upstream and downstream sections separately sideways pivotable about the vane pivot axis and a second pivot axis downstream of and parallel to the vane pivot axis respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Jay Toffan, James Lee Salmon, Ronald Clement Hollett, Arthur McCardle
  • Publication number: 20090065608
    Abstract: A fuel-injection system for direct injection of fuel into a combustion chamber through a combustion-chamber top arranged opposite a piston has a fuel injector which includes an actuable valve-closure member. The valve-closure member cooperates with a valve-seat surface to form a sealing seat. A multitude of spray-discharge orifices generates a spray cloud, each spray-discharge orifice generating a fuel jet, and the multitude of fuel jets generating the spray cloud in the combustion chamber. A first opening angle of the spray cloud in a first plane is greater than a second opening angle in a second plane extending perpendicular to the first plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Manfred Vogel, Werner Herden, Rainer Ecker
  • Patent number: 7481038
    Abstract: An exhaust nozzle assembly provides fluidic thrust vectoring of the primary stream to enhance aircraft maneuverability. The exhaust nozzle assembly includes a cooling air passage that supplies cooling air to a plurality of cooling holes that generate an insulating layer of air. A vector slot injects cooling airflow into the exhaust passage normal to the primary stream. A cover plate partially blocks the vector slot to direct cooling airflow into the exhaust passage that in turn directs portions of the primary stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jack T. Blozy, Charles M. Willard, Nathan L. Messersmith, Miquel A. Velazquez
  • Publication number: 20090013664
    Abstract: An actuator arrangement comprises an actuator having a rotatable drive input, a motor, and a drive transmission arrangement for transmitting rotary drive from the motor to the rotatable drive input of the actuator, wherein the transmission arrangement includes a telescopic drive coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicants: Goodrich Actuation Systems Limited, Rohr Inc.
    Inventors: Tony Jones, John Herbert Harvey, Peter William Bacon, Mark Hubberstey, Brett John Wharton, Neil Charles Davies, Stephen Michael Roberts, Steven Andrew Wylie
  • Publication number: 20090014554
    Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine, particularly of inwards or outwards opening needle injector type, includes an injector body, e.g., forming a nozzle ending in an injection office, a mechanism for closing off the injection orifice of the injector body, the closing-off mechanism including a vibrating pintle ending in a head for closing off the injection orifice, a return mechanism returning the closing-off to the position in which they close off the injection orifice, and a mechanism for setting the pintle and/or the nozzle into cyclic longitudinal vibration so as to open and close the injection orifice alternately. The fuel injector includes a selectively activatable mechanism immobilizing the pintle with respect to the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Nadim Malek, Andre Agneray
  • Patent number: 7475547
    Abstract: A convergent turbojet exhaust nozzle comprising a ring of hinged flaps made up of controlled flaps and of follower flaps disposed in alternation and co-operating at their upstream ends with a peripheral sealing gasket arranged at the outlet from an afterburner channel, each flap being made out of a ceramic-matrix composite material, and at its upstream end, each flap being made integrally with bearing means for bearing against the above-mentioned peripheral gasket, and with spherical-joint means between their upstream ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Stephane Pierre Guillaume Blanchard, Thibault Marie-Jacques Arnold
  • Patent number: 7469529
    Abstract: A primary exhaust nozzle for a turbofan engine of the double, separated air-flow type for aircraft comprises: an inner coat, within which there circulates a primary air flow (FP), comprising chevrons at an external end and an outer coat at least partially surrounding the inner coat and along which there flows a secondary air flow (FS), the outer coat being mobile along the inner coat. Also disclosed is an aircraft comprising such an exhaust nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventors: Philippe Feuillard, Philippe Hemeury, Christian Gerri