Variable geometry thruster

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12000336-B2
Application number	US-202217853665-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2022
Priority date	Aug 26, 2016
Publication date	Jun 4, 2024
Grant date	Jun 4, 2024

Abstract

A propulsion system coupled to a vehicle. The system includes a diffusing structure and a conduit portion configured to introduce to the diffusing structure through a passage a primary fluid produced by the vehicle. The passage is defined by a wall, and the diffusing structure comprises a terminal end configured to provide egress from the system for the introduced primary fluid. A constricting element is disposed adjacent the wall. An actuating apparatus is coupled to the constricting element and is configured to urge the constricting element toward the wall, thereby reducing the cross-sectional area of the passage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A propulsion system coupled to a vehicle, the propulsion system comprising:
a diffusing structure;
a conduit portion configured to introduce to the diffusing structure through a first passage a primary fluid produced by the vehicle, wherein the diffusing structure comprises a terminal end configured to provide egress from the propulsion system for the introduced primary fluid;
a first constricting element disposed adjacent a first wall, the first passage being defined by the first wall and the first constricting element; and
an actuating apparatus coupled to the first constricting element and configured to urge the first constricting element toward the first wall, thereby reducing a cross-sectional area of the first passage,
wherein the actuating apparatus comprises:
a first translating component configured to engage the first constricting element and configured to move translationally; and
a first rotational component coupled to the first translating component and the first constricting element,
wherein movement of the first translating component rotates the first rotational component, thereby urging the first constricting element toward the first wall.

2. The propulsion system of claim 1 , wherein the conduit portion is further configured to introduce the primary fluid to the diffusing structure through a second passage, the second passage being defined by a second wall,
the propulsion system further comprises a second constricting element disposed adjacent the second wall, whereby the actuating apparatus is coupled to the second constricting element and configured to urge the second constricting element toward the second wall, thereby reducing a cross-sectional area of the second passage, and
the actuating apparatus further comprises: a second translating component configured to engage the second constricting element and configured to move translationally;
a second rotational component coupled to the second translating component and configured to move rotationally; and
a lever element coupled to the first rotational component and the second rotational component and configured to rotate the first rotational component and the second rotational component in unison.

3. The propulsion system of claim 1 , further comprising a convex surface coupled to the diffusing structure, wherein the conduit portion is configured to introduce the primary fluid to the convex surface through the first passage.

4. A propulsion system coupled to a vehicle, the propulsion system comprising:
a diffusing structure;
an intake structure coupled to the diffusing structure and configured to introduce to the diffusing structure a secondary fluid accessible to the vehicle, the intake structure including a conduit portion configured to introduce to the diffusing structure through a first passage a primary fluid produced by the vehicle, wherein the diffusing structure comprises a terminal end configured to provide egress from the propulsion system for the introduced primary fluid and the introduced secondary fluid;
a first constricting element disposed adjacent the wall, the first passage being defined by the first wall and the first constricting element; and
an actuating apparatus coupled to the first constricting element and configured to urge the first constricting element toward the wall, thereby reducing a cross-sectional area of the first passage,
wherein the actuating apparatus comprises:
a first translating component configured to engage the first constricting element and configured to move translationally; and
a first rotational component coupled to the first translating component and the first constricting element,
wherein movement of the first translating component rotates the first rotational component, thereby urging the first constricting element toward the first wall.

5. The propulsion system of claim 4 , wherein the conduit portion is further configured to introduce the primary fluid to the diffusing structure through a second passage, the second passage being defined by a second wall,
the propulsion system further comprises a second constricting element disposed adjacent the second wall, whereby the actuating apparatus is coupled to the second constricting element and configured to urge the second constricting element toward the second wall, thereby reducing a cross-sectional area of the second passage, and
the actuating apparatus further comprises:
a second translating component configured to engage the second constricting element and configured to move translationally;
a second rotational component coupled to the second translating component and configured to move rotationally; and
a lever element coupled to the first rotational component and the second rotational component and configured to rotate the first rotational component and the second rotational component in unison.

6. The propulsion system of claim 4 , further comprising a convex surface coupled to the diffusing structure, wherein the conduit portion is configured to introduce the primary fluid to the convex surface through the first passage.

7. A vehicle comprising
a primary-fluid source;
a diffusing structure;
a conduit portion configured to introduce to the diffusing structure through a first passage a primary fluid produced by the source, wherein the diffusing structure comprises a terminal end configured to provide egress from the vehicle for the introduced primary fluid;
a first constricting element disposed adjacent a first wall, the first passage being defined by the first wall and the first constricting element; and
an actuating apparatus coupled to the first constricting element and configured to urge the first constricting element toward the first wall, thereby reducing a cross-sectional area of the first passage,
wherein the actuating apparatus comprises:
a first translating component configured to engage the first constricting element and configured to move translationally; and
a first rotational component coupled to the first translating component and the first constricting element,
wherein movement of the first translating component rotates the first rotational component, thereby urging the first constricting element toward the first wall.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the conduit portion is further configured to introduce the primary fluid to the diffusing structure through a second passage, the second passage being defined by a second wall,
the vehicle further comprises a second constricting element disposed adjacent the second wall, whereby the actuating apparatus is coupled to the second constricting element and configured to urge the second constricting element toward the second wall, thereby reducing a cross-sectional area of the second passage, and
the actuating apparatus further comprises:
a second translating component configured to engage the second constricting element and configured to move translationally;
a second rotational component coupled to the second translating component and configured to move rotationally; and
a lever element coupled to the first rotational component and the second rotational component and configured to rotate the first rotational component and the second rotational component in unison.

9. The vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising a convex surface coupled to the diffusing structure, wherein the conduit portion is configured to introduce the primary fluid to the convex surface through the first passage.

Assignees

• Jetoptera Inc

Inventors

• Evulet Andrei

Classifications

• F02C6/08 Primary

  the gas being bled from the gas-turbine compressor · CPC title

• B64C29/04

  characterised by jet-reaction propulsion · CPC title

• F02K1/28 Primary

  using fluid jets to influence the jet flow · CPC title

• F02K1/386

  mixing devices in the jet pipe, e.g. for mixing primary and secondary flow · CPC title

• F15D1/007

  comprising surfaces being moved by external supplied energy · CPC title