Patent GB-1159314-A (GB)
Title: Variable Area Convergent/Divergent Jet Propulsion Nozzle System
IPC: F02K1/08
Filed: 1966-10-10
Abstract: 1,159,314 Jet propulsion nozzles. ROHR CORP. Oct. 10, 1966 [May 23, 1966], No.45251/66. Heading F1J. A propulsion nozzle for an engine of fan jet, turbo jet, ram jet or rocket type comprises an outer wall 15, Fig. 1 of convergent-divergent form having a throat 14, the divergent portion 17 having a re-entrant exit 18. The inner wall 12 of the nozzle comprises two cones 19, 20 which meet in the plane of the throat 14. The flow area can be varied at the throat 14 by varying the common diameter of the cones 19, 20, and can be independently varied at the exit 18 by varying the diameter of the exit end 21 of the cone 20, thereby providing, for example, a configuration 19<SP>1</SP>-20<SP>1</SP> for cruising and a configuration 19-20<SP>11</SP> for take-off and low-speed flight. The cone 19 comprises a single sheet-metal blanket 24, Figs. 10 and 13, which is wrapped into conical form, the configuration of the cone being varied by varying the extent of the wrap. A resilient seal (85, Figs. 19 and 20, not shown), of thin metal, is preferably provided between the overlapping parts. A turned-under lip 28, Figs.9 and 13, at the downstream end 29 of the blanket 24 holds the overlapping edges together, The blanket 24 is connected near the upstream end of its centre line 38, Fig. 13, to the engine tailcone 11, Fig. 1, by a pivotal link (39), Fig. 5 (not shown), and is connected near the downstream end of the centre line 38 to a central tube 43, Figs.9 and 10, by links 49, 52 and a pin 45. The blanket 24 is thereby restrained against rotation with respect to the nozzle axis, and its centre line 38 moves in a longitudinal radial plane as the blanket unwraps. The cone 20 comprises a number of longitudinally extending leaves 86, Figs.10 and 24, which overlap one another, each leaf carrying a bracket 91 formed with a ring gear sector 65 held by a roller 63 into meshing engagement with a pinion 62, the roller and pinion being carried by an arm 59. This arrangement constitutes a centreless hinge 61 joining each leaf 86 to its arm 59. The arms 59 are bolted to an annular lazy tongs 68 which is connected to the blanket 24 by the engagement of three discs 37 with three tracks 32, 33, 34, Figs.9 and 10, each disc 37 being ball-jointed at 56 to the lazy tongs. The cones 19, 20 can be expanded or contracted at their common diameter by actuators 78 which act through a collar 76 and three links 72, the collar 72 being slidable on the central tube 43. The linkage 49, 52 could also be power-driven for this purpose. Expansion or contraction of the exit end 21 of the cone 20 is effected by an actuator 44 acting through collar 100, Figs. 10 and 24, links 96, annular lazy tongs 90 and ball-joints 94, 94<SP>1</SP>. One or more intermediate annular lazy tongs 103 may be provided and may be driven in the manner of the lazy tongs 90. Cooling air, supplied from the engine air intakes or from the fan section in the case of a turbo-fan engine or bled from the engine compressor, passes from the tail cone 11 into the cone 19, where it is deflected by a funnel-shaped deflector 43<SP>11</SP> to pass along the inner surface of the blanket 24. Scoops 92, (93) split the cooling air stream so that it flows over both the inner and outer surfaces of the leaves 86. The ring gear sector 65 may be shaped so that the gap between the cones 19, 20 through which the cooling air flows is widened as the hinged movement between the cones increases. The rear cone can be constructed as a blanket and the front cone or both cones can be constructed from overlapping leaves. The leaves may be of semirigid sandwich construction and increased in number to compensate for the lack of flexure of the individual leaves. The outer wall of the duct may be of adjustable profile. The cone actuators may be controlled in accordance with fuel and intake air pressure.