Patent ID: 6036141
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: B64C,E04F

Abstract:
An improved jet thruster system attached to the end of a hollow tail boom on a helicopter, through which boom passes air for expulsion by the jet thruster system, the system comprising:a non-rotating, substantially cylindrically shaped, outer thruster assembly attached to the end of the boom and having laterally opposing outer thruster windows providing respective air passages outwardly extending therethrough;a substantially cylindrically-shaped inner thruster assembly nested within the outer thruster assembly, capable of rotation about its cylindrical axis and having an inner thruster window providing an air passage outwardly therethrough and disposed so as to be able to at least partially overlap a selected one of the outer thurster windows, the selected outer thruster window depending upon the angular orientation of the inner thruster assembly relative to the outer thruster assembly; andat least one flow diverter having a first end portion extending substantially parallel to the cylindrical axis of the inner thruster assembly and attached to the outer thruster assembly at a location adjacent a lower edge of one of the outer thruster windows, and having an opposite end portion extendable in an outwardly direction from the outer thruster window, thereby creating a substantially horizontal air jet when the inner thruster window is rotated into an at least partially overlapping position with respect to the outer thruster window.