General Electric Company

Robert J Ellerhorst

David Lynn Dawson

Erin Lee Lariviere

Brian Joseph Petersen

Bernard James Renggli

Robert H Kraimer

A third stream duct producing a third air stream at reduced pressure that is exhausted through a separate nozzle that is concentric with the main or primary engine nozzle. The third stream exhaust air from the separate concentric nozzle is exhausted to a location at which pressure is ambient or sub-ambient. The location at which the third stream air is exhausted contributes to the thrust of the aircraft. The airstream from the third air duct is exhausted through an exhaust nozzle of the third duct that is positioned at the interface between the aft of the airframe and the leading edge of the engine outer flaps. This location is a low pressure region that has a recirculation zone. The exhaust of third stream air to this low pressure region substantially reduces or eliminates this recirculation zone and associated boat tail drag, thereby improving the efficiency of the engine.

Secondary nozzle for jet engine

An exhaust system for a variable cycle aircraft engine. The exhaust system comprises a core exhaust for bypass air and hot gases of combustion. The core exhaust includes a convergent-divergent nozzle. The convergent-divergent nozzle is formed from a plurality of flaps and seals. The exhaust system comprises a third air duct for a third stream of air. The third stream of air is selectively exhausted from the third duct through a secondary nozzle or divergent slots in the convergent-divergent nozzle, or both depending upon the flight mode. A diverter valve is positioned in the third stream duct to selectively control the flow of third stream air through the secondary nozzle, the divergent slots and combinations thereof.

Multi-nozzle flow diverter for jet engine

An exhaust nozzle includes circumferentially adjoining primary flaps and seals hinged at forward ends to an annular casing. The primary flaps and seals are actuated between open and closed positions for varying flow area of a throat defined at the aft ends thereof. Respective pluralities of primary liners and seal liners are spaced radially inwardly from respective ones of the primary flaps and primary seals and circumferentially overlap each other. The primary liners and seal liners collectively define an annular flap duct disposed in flow communication with a cooling duct inside the casing for receiving a coolant therefrom for cooling the primary flaps and seals. The primary liners and seal liners are mounted to the primary flaps for pivoting movement therewith.

Hinged lined exhaust nozzle

An exhaust nozzle includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart exhaust flaps, and a plurality of scissor linkages joined to respective ones thereof. Each linkage includes a frame pivotally joined to a respective one of the flaps. A carriage is slidably mounted to the frame. A pair of circumferentially oppositely extending side links are pivotally joined at one end to the carriage, and pivotally joined at opposite ends to corresponding side links to form an interconnected ring thereof. A pair of circumferentially oppositely extending equalizer links are pivotally joined at one end to the frame, and pivotally joined at opposite ends to corresponding ones of the side links to maintain coordinated angular position of the side links pivotable on the carriage, and in turn maintain circumferential spacing between adjacent ones of the flaps.

Coordinated vectoring exhaust nozzle with scissors linkage

A seal assembly is provided between an exhaust flap and a nozzle sidewall of a gas turbine engine exhaust nozzle. The assembly includes a housing fixedly joined to the exhaust flap and a plurality of adjoining plungers slidably disposed in the housing and each including a top extending outside a housing opening for defining a seal line for contacting the nozzle sidewall for sealing the exhaust gases from flowing therebetween. The seal lines collectively define a seal first contour being complementary to a first contour of the nozzle sidewall. A tie rod extends through the plungers and joins the plungers to the housing. The tie rod is flexible for allowing the plungers to rotate perpendicularly to the tie rod so that the seal lines collectively form a seal second contour, different than the seal first contour, to conform to a second contour of the nozzle sidewall which is different than the nozzle sidewall first contour.

Growing community of inventors

Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Robert J Ellerhorst