Variable area nozzle for aircraft propulsion system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12031445-B2
Application number	US-202217688419-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2022
Priority date	Mar 7, 2022
Publication date	Jul 9, 2024
Grant date	Jul 9, 2024

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for an aircraft propulsion system. This apparatus includes a variable area nozzle apparatus. The variable area nozzle apparatus includes a plurality of panels, a plurality of inter-panel members and an actuation system. The panels are arranged circumferentially about an axial centerline. The panels include a first panel and a second panel. The inter-panel members are arranged circumferentially about the axial centerline. The inter-panel members include a first inter-panel member between and connected to the first panel and the second panel. The first inter-panel member is configured from or otherwise includes an elastomeric material. The actuation system is configured to move the panels and the inter-panel members between a restricted flow arrangement and an unrestricted flow arrangement. The actuation system includes a first linkage and a second linkage. The first linkage is coupled to the first panel. The second linkage is coupled to the second panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for an aircraft propulsion system, comprising:
a variable area nozzle apparatus including a plurality of panels, a plurality of inter-panel members, a plurality of outer panels, a plurality of outer inter-panel members and an actuation system;
the plurality of panels arranged circumferentially about an axial centerline, and the plurality of panels including a first panel and a second panel;
the plurality of inter-panel members arranged circumferentially about the axial centerline, the plurality of inter-panel members including a first inter-panel member between and connected to the first panel and the second panel, the first inter-panel member filling a gap laterally between a first side of the first panel and a second side of the second panel, and the first inter-panel member comprising an elastomeric material;
the plurality of outer panels arranged circumferentially about the axial centerline and radially outboard of the plurality of panels, the plurality of outer panels including a first outer panel and a second outer panel;
the plurality of outer inter-panel members arranged circumferentially about the axial centerline, the plurality of outer inter-panel members including a first outer inter-panel member between and connected to the first outer panel and the second outer panel, the first outer inter-panel member filling a gap laterally between a first side of the first outer panel and a second side of the second outer panel, and the first outer inter panel member comprising an elastomeric material; and
the actuation system configured to move the plurality of panels and the plurality of inter-panel members between a restricted flow arrangement and an unrestricted flow arrangement;
wherein the gap has a rectangular shape in a reference plane when the plurality of panels and the plurality of inter-panel members are in the restricted flow arrangement, and the gap has a trapezoidal shape in the reference plane when the plurality of panels and the plurality of inter-panel members are in the unrestricted flow arrangement; and
wherein the first inter-panel member projects radially out from the first panel and the second panel when in the restricted flow arrangement, and the first outer inter-panel member projects radially in from the first outer panel and the second outer panel when in the restricted flow arrangement.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional area of an outlet from the variable area nozzle apparatus changes as the plurality of panels and the plurality of inter-panel members move between the restricted flow arrangement and the unrestricted flow arrangement.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an outlet from the variable area nozzle apparatus is formed by a trailing edge of the first panel and a trailing edge of the second panel.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the outlet from the variable area nozzle apparatus is further formed by a trailing edge of the first inter-panel member.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the first inter-panel member has a first sectional geometry when in the restricted flow arrangement; and
the first inter-panel member has a second sectional geometry when in the unrestricted flow arrangement, and the second sectional geometry is different than the first sectional geometry.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first inter-panel member is configured to at least partially unfold as the first inter-panel member moves from the restricted flow arrangement to the unrestricted flow arrangement.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a circumferential width of the first inter-panel member is configured to increase as the first inter-panel member moves from the restricted flow arrangement to the unrestricted flow arrangement.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the first inter-panel member extends axially along the axial centerline between a first end and a second end; and
when in the unrestricted flow arrangement, a lateral width of the first inter-panel member at the first end is different than a lateral width of the first inter-panel member at the second end.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first panel is configured for acoustic attenuation.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first panel comprises a fiber-reinforced composite.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first panel comprises an inner skin, an outer skin and a cellular core between and connected to the inner skin and the outer skin.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a support structure;
each of the plurality of panels pivotally coupled to the support structure.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first panel forms a flowpath surface radially inside of the variable area nozzle apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first panel forms a flowpath surface radially outside of the variable area nozzle apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the actuation system includes a first linkage and a second linkage;
the first linkage is coupled to the first panel; and
the second linkage coupled to the second panel.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the actuation system includes a first linkage, a first actuator, a second linkage and a second actuator;
the first linkage couples the first actuator to the first panel;
the second linkage couples the second actuator to the second panel;
the first actuator comprises a first motor; and
the second actuator comprises a second motor.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein
the actuation system includes a first linkage, a first linear actuator, a second linkage and a second linear actuator;
the first linkage couples the first actuator to the first panel; and
the second linkage couples the second actuator to the second panel.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuation system is further configured to move the plurality of outer panels and the plurality of outer inter-panel members between a restricted flow arrangement and an unrestricted flow arrangement.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first outer inter-panel member axially overlaps and circumferentially overlaps the first inter-panel member.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first inter-panel member is aligned circumferentially between a circumferentially adjacent pair of the plurality of outer inter-panel members.

Assignees

• Rohr Inc

Inventors

• Khidekel Ann

Classifications

• F02K1/805

  Sealing devices therefor, e.g. for movable parts of jet pipes or nozzle flaps · CPC title

• F02K1/1207 Primary

  of one series of flaps hinged at their upstream ends on a fixed structure (F02K1/1215 - F02K1/1292 take precedence) · CPC title

• F02K1/12

  by means of pivoted flaps · CPC title

• F02K1/11

  by means of pivoted eyelids · CPC title

• F01D17/24

  electrical · CPC title