Patent ID: 6962044

Claim:
A system for vectoring a ducted primary flow through a three-dimensional (3D) small area expansion nozzle by varying a shape, cross-sectional area, or orientation of an effective throat or sonic plane within the ducted primary flow, comprising: an opening for accepting the primary flow; at least one primary injector located wherein said at least one injector is inclined to oppose the primary flow up-stream of said effective throat or sonic plane and within a convergent portion of the three-dimensional (3D) small area expansion nozzle; at least one supplemental injector wherein said at least one supplemental injector is located downstream of the at least one primary injector and within a divergent portion of the 3D small area expansion nozzle, wherein said at least one supplemental injector is inclined to oppose the primary flow, and wherein the at least one primary and supplemental injectors are arranged three-dimensionally and operable to continuously inject fluidic pulses to provide a flow field opposed to a subsonic portion of the primary flow in order to vector the primary flow, wherein the injection of fluidic pulses within the subsonic portion of the primary flow is operable to prevent shock formation; and at least one controller operable to direct said at least one primary and supplemental injector to provide a flow operable to dynamically vary the shape, cross-sectional area, or orientation of the effective throat or sonic plane.