Exhaust nozzle control including tapered control effector for a gas turbine engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10837403-B2
Application number	US-201815966041-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2018
Priority date	Jun 29, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2020
Grant date	Nov 17, 2020

Abstract

An exhaust nozzle for a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a duct having a first surface and a second surface extending about a duct axis to define an exhaust flow path, and at least one effector positioned along the first surface. The at least one effector is pivotable about an effector axis to vary a throat area of the exhaust flow path. The at least one effector tapers along the effector axis. A method of exhaust control for a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An exhaust nozzle for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
a duct having a first surface and a second opposing surface extending along a duct axis to define an exhaust flow path; and
wherein the duct defines a recess extending from the first surface;
at least one effector positioned in the recess across the first surface, the at least one effector includes a body extending axially along an effector axis between a first effector-sidewall and an opposing second effector-sidewall and extending transversely between an effector leading edge and an effector trailing edge with respect to the effector axis, the effector leading and trailing edge extending axially from the first effector-sidewall to the second effector-sidewall, the effector leading edge forward of the effector trailing edge with respect to the duct axis, the at least one effector pivotable about the effector axis to vary a throat area of the exhaust flow path, wherein at least one of the effector leading edge and the effector trailing edge tapers inwardly from the first effector-sidewall to the second effector-sidewall with respect to a distance from the effector axis; and
wherein at least one of the effector leading edge and the effector trailing edge is pivotable away from the recess and into the exhaust flow path.

2. The exhaust nozzle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first surface is stationary relative to the duct axis, and the second surface is movable relative to the duct axis.

3. The exhaust nozzle as recited in claim 2 , wherein the at least one effector includes a first effector and a second effector pivotable about a common axis that extends along the respective effector axis of the first effector and the second effector.

4. The exhaust nozzle as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
each of the effector leading edge and effector trailing edge tapers inwardly from the first effector-sidewall to the second effector-sidewall with respect to the effector axis such that a first distance between the leading and trailing edges at the first effector-sidewall differs from a second distance between the leading and trailing edges at the second effector-sidewall;
the effector leading edge is received in the recess and the effector-trailing edge extends towards the second surface when the at least one effector is positioned in a first position; and
the effector trailing edge is received in the recess and the effector leading edge extends towards the second surface when the at least one effector is positioned in a second position.

5. The exhaust nozzle as recited in claim 4 , wherein the effector leading edge and the effector trailing edge are substantially flush with the first surface when the at least one effector is located in a third position.

6. The exhaust nozzle as recited in claim 4 , wherein the throat area is defined at a first axial location relative to the duct axis when the at least one effector is located in the first position, and the throat area is defined at a second, different axial location relative to the duct axis when the at least one effector is located in the second position.

7. The exhaust nozzle as recited in claim 6 , wherein the throat area is defined by the effector trailing edge at the first axial location, the throat area is defined by the effector leading edge at the second axial location, the body includes a first face and a second face joined at a ridge to bound the exhaust flow path, the ridge extending radially outward with respect to the effector axis and into the exhaust flow path, with the first face sloping from the ridge toward the effector leading edge and the second face sloping from the ridge toward the effector trailing edge, and each of the effector leading and effector trailing edge and said ridge sloping from the first effector-sidewall toward the second effector-sidewall with respect to the effector axis.

8. The exhaust nozzle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the body defines a ridge extending radially from the effector axis and sloping towards the duct axis such that a distance between the ridge and the second surface differs in response to pivoting the at least one effector about the effector axis, and the effector axis is spaced apart from the first surface.

9. An exhaust nozzle for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
a duct having a first surface and a second opposing surface extending along a duct axis to define an exhaust flow path;
wherein the duct defines a recess extending from the first surface;
at least one effector positioned across the first surface, the at least one effector includes a body extending along an effector axis between a first effector-sidewall and an opposing second effector-sidewall and extending between an effector leading edge and an effector trailing edge with respect to the duct axis, the at least one effector pivotable about the effector axis to vary a throat area of the exhaust flow path, wherein the at least one effector having a tapering cross-section at positions along at least one of the effector leading edge and the effector railing edge with respect to the effector axis;
wherein at least one of the effector leading edge and the effector trailing edge is pivotable away from the recess and into the exhaust flow path;
wherein each of the effector leading edge and effector trailing edge slopes inwardly from the first effector-sidewall to the second effector-sidewall with respect to the effector axis;
wherein the effector leading edge is received in the recess and the effector-trailing edge extends towards the second surface when the at least one effector is positioned in a first position; and
wherein the effector trailing edge is received in the recess and the effector leading edge extends towards the second surface when the at least one effector is positioned in a second position;
wherein the throat area is defined at a first axial location relative to the duct axis when the at least one effector is located in the first position, and the throat area is defined at a second, differential axial location relative to the duct axis when the at least one effector is located in the second position; and
wherein the throat area is defined by the effector trailing edge at the first axial location, the throat area is defined by the effector leading edge at the second axial location, the body includes a first face and a second face joined at a ridge to bound the exhaust flow path, the ridge extending radially outward with respect to the effector axis and into the exhaust flow path, with the first face sloping from the ridge toward the effector leading edge and the second face sloping from the ridge toward the effector trailing edge, and each of the effector leading and effector trailing edge and said ridge sloping from the first effector-sidewall toward the second effector-sidewall with respect to the effector axis.

10. The exhaust nozzle as recited in claim 7 , wherein the first surface is stationary relative to the duct axis, and the second surface is movable relative to the duct axis.

11. The exhaust nozzle as recited in claim 7 , wherein the at least one effector includes a first effector and a second effector pivotable about a common axis that extends along the respective effector axis of the first effector and the second effector.

12. A gas turbine engine, comprising:
a nacelle assembly including an exhaust nozzle coupled to the nacelle assembly, the exhaust nozzle comprising:
a duct having a first surface and a second opposing surface extending along a duct axis to define an exhaust flow path;
at least one effector having a body positioned in a recess across the first surface, the body extending axially along an effector axi

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp
• Raytheon Tech Corp

Inventors

• Roberge Gary D

Classifications

• F02K1/42 Primary

  the means being movable into an inoperative position · CPC title

• F02K1/002

  with means to modify the direction of thrust vector (F02K1/54 takes precedence; thrust vectoring of rockets F02K9/80) · CPC title

• F02K1/58

  Reversers mounted on the inner cone or the nozzle housing {or the fuselage} · CPC title

• F02K1/15

  Control or regulation · CPC title

• F02K1/763

  with actuating systems or actuating devices; Arrangement of actuators for thrust reversers · CPC title