Patent · US Expired

Aircraft thrust vectoring system

US5769317A · kind A · utility

94Cited by
22References
100Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 4, 1995
Grant dateJun 23, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 4, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF02K3/025
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A thrust vectoring system comprising a working fluid source mounted to an aircraft, and a vectoring nozzle connected to the working fluid source which has an extendable conduit defining a passage from an inlet to an outlet. The passage is adjustable so that the direction of the working fluid exiting the outlet is different than the working fluid entering the inlet when the conduit of the vectoring nozzle is extended. This conduit provides a way to change the direction of working fluid exiting the nozzle and correspondingly change the thrust vector of the aircraft. A directing member such as a guide vane or door is mounted to the conduit adjacent the outlet to further direct the working fluid exiting the outlet. Directing members provide a way to refine the thrust vector without changing the extension of the segmented conduit. Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an adapter to connect the vectoring nozzle to a working fluid source with an annular outlet. This adapter uses an asymmetric structure to minimize flow separation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.