Rolls-Royce Corporation

Robert F Tape

Gary F Szuminski

Douglas J Nightingale

A nozzle 16 for a turbojet is provided with a thrust deflector mechanism, downstream of the nozzle in the form of one or more target-type thrust reverser plates 18. The plate or plates 18 are movable from a stowed position into the efflux of gases issuing from the nozzle to deflect the exhaust gases and hence redirect the thrust produced by the nozzle obliquely relative to the central axis of the nozzle 16. The plate or plates 18 are mounted in a bearing for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the jet pipe. When rotated the redirected thrust is effectively rotated relative to the central axis of the nozzle. In one embodiment a pair of plates 18 is used and they can also be employed as a conventional thrust reverser.

Thrust deflectors for propulsion nozzles of turbomachines

An exhaust nozzle for a gas turbine engine comprising a duct 17(c) and a mechanism for varying the geometry and area of the nozzle. The mechanism includes a plurality of movable flaps 38 which in at least one position define a convergent part of the nozzle. Upstream of the flaps 38 there is provided one or more outwardly directed openings 59 in the wall of the duct 17(c) and a pair of mutually confronting doors 61 which rotate about an axis transverse to the length of the duct. The doors 61 are located relative to the duct 17(c), the openings 59 and the flaps 38, so that in a first position, the doors 61 obturate the one or more openings 59 and provide a substantially unrestricted flow path through the nozzle. The doors are movable to a thrust reverse position where they uncover the said openings 59 and cooperate with the flaps 38, when the flaps 38 are in a convergent position, so that the flaps 38, together with the doors 61 provide deflecting surfaces that redirect the flow of gases out through the said openings.

Turbo machine nozzle with thrust reverser

An exhaust nozzle for a gas turbine aero-engine comprising a duct 17(c), a plurality of movable flaps 38,43 for varying the geometry of the nozzle, one or more forwardly and outwardly directed openings 59 located upstream of the flaps 38,43 and a pair of mutually confronting doors 61 each of which is mounted for rotation about an axis extending transverse to the length of the duct 17(c). The doors 61 are located relative to the duct 17(c) and the openings 59 so that, in a first position, they obturate the openings 59 and mutually confronting surfaces 67 of the doors define therebetween part of the gas flow path through the nozzle, and the doors 61 are movable to a second position, upstream of the first position, where they uncover the openings 59, define, at their upstream ends 68, a reduced area throat for the gas flow path through the nozzle. In the second position the doors 61 also define a divergent part of the gas flow path immediately downstream of the said throat. The reduced pressure downstream of the throat induces ambient air through the openings 59 into the gas flow path through the nozzle. Means 28,35,36 are provided for moving the flaps 38,43 to accommodate the increased gas flow through the nozzle when the said openings 59 are uncovered. In this way the infra red emission of the gas plume exiting from the nozzle is suppressed by the cool air. The doors 61 are movable to a third position where they uncover the openings 59 and co-operate with the flaps 38 to form a thrust reverser.

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Marietta, GA, United States of America

Robert F Tape