Variable fan nozzle using shape memory material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10371001-B2
Application number	US-201615008508-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2016
Priority date	Oct 12, 2006
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

A gas turbine engine includes a fan, a nacelle arranged about the fan, and an engine core at least partially within the nacelle. A fan bypass passage downstream of the fan between the nacelle and the gas turbine engine conveys a bypass airflow from the fan. A nozzle associated with the fan bypass passage is operative to control the bypass airflow. The nozzle includes a shape memory material having a first solid state phase that corresponds to a first nozzle position and a second solid state phase that corresponds to a second nozzle position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gas turbine engine comprising:
a fan;
a nacelle arranged about the fan;
an engine core at least partially within the nacelle, the engine core having a compressor and a turbine;
a fan bypass passage downstream of the fan between the nacelle and the engine core, for conveying a bypass airflow from the fan;
a nozzle section for controlling the bypass airflow, wherein the nozzle section includes a shape memory material having a first solid state phase that corresponds to a first nozzle position and a second solid state phase that corresponds to a second nozzle position;
the nozzle section includes tabs that include the shape memory material;
the tabs extend from the nacelle in a generally axial direction relative to an axis of rotation of the fan;
wherein the tabs taper in a radial thickness from a forward end toward a trailing end; and
wherein the nozzle section includes a hollow section made of shape memory material, the hollow section defining a cavity therein and further comprising an actuator at least partially within the cavity.

2. The gas turbine engine recited in claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a heater having a heating element that includes wires that are operative to radiantly heat the hollow section.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Baltas Constantine
• Ali Amr

Classifications

• B64C9/38

  Jet flaps · CPC title

• F02C3/04

  having a turbine driving a compressor (power transmission arrangements F02C7/36; control of working fluid flow F02C9/16) · CPC title

• F02K1/12

  by means of pivoted flaps · CPC title

• F01D5/02

  Blade-carrying members, e.g. rotors (rotors of non-bladed type F01D1/34; stators F01D9/00 {; selecting particular materials F01D5/28}) · CPC title

• F02K3/04

  the plant including ducted fans, i.e. fans with high volume, low pressure outputs, for augmenting the jet thrust, e.g. of double-flow type · CPC title