Patent ID: 6668541
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: F23R

Abstract:
A method for changing the direction of a vehicle, comprising:providing a vehicle with a gas turbine engine including an afterburner, the afterburner having a flowpath with a centerline and a plurality of fuel spraybars disposed therein; propelling the vehicle in a first direction with thrust from the gas turbine engine, the afterburner being fueled by the plurality of fuel spraybars in a first fuel distribution field; selecting to propel the vehicle in a second direction distinct from the first direction; distributing fuel asymmetrically within the flowpath from the plurality of fuel spraybars to define a second fuel distribution field within the afterburner different from the first fuel distribution field; and burning the fuel within the second fuel distribution field to an create an off-centerline thrust to modify the direction of the vehicle.