Variable area nozzle for gas turbine engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9828943-B2
Application number	US-201514709654-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 12, 2015
Priority date	Jun 9, 2014
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

A variable area fan nozzle comprises an actuator flap and a follower flap. The actuator flap has a portion in contact with a portion of the follower flap. A bias member biases the follower flap outwardly. An actuator actuates the actuator flap inwardly and outwardly to, in turn, move the follower flap against the bias member and to vary an area of an exhaust nozzle. The flap actuator is operable to drive the actuator flap out of contact with the follower flap into a thrust reverser position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A variable area fan nozzle comprising:
an actuator flap and a follower flap, said actuator flap having a portion in contact with a portion of said follower flap, a bias member biasing said follower flap outwardly;
an actuator for actuating said actuator flap inwardly and outwardly to, in turn, move said follower flap against the bias member and to vary an area of an exhaust nozzle; and
said actuator being operable to drive said actuator flap out of contact with said follower flap into a thrust reverser position.

2. The variable area nozzle as set forth in claim 1 , wherein a heat exchanger is positioned inwardly of one of said follower flap and said actuator flap.

3. The variable area nozzle as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said actuator being configured to move said follower flap to control airflow across said heat exchanger.

4. The variable area nozzle as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said upstream end is moved into contact with said housing when said actuator flap is moved into said thrust reverser position.

5. The variable area nozzle as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said actuator has a stop position which is configured to prevent movement of said actuator flap to said thrust reverser position.

6. The variable area nozzle as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said stop position being provided by a stop actuator which is configured to be moved to provide a stop to a linkage which is part of said actuator.

7. The variable area nozzle as set forth in claim 6 , wherein said stop actuator is operable to move said stop away from said stop position, such that said actuator may move said actuator flap to said thrust reverser position.

8. The variable area nozzle as set forth in claim 7 , wherein said actuator including a sync ring which is configured to be driven to cause inward and outward movement of said actuator flap.

9. The variable area nozzle as set forth in claim 7 , wherein there are a plurality of circumferentially spaced actuator flaps.

10. The variable area nozzle as set forth in claim 7 , wherein there are a plurality of circumferentially spaced actuator flaps.

11. The variable area nozzle as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said flap actuator including a sync ring which is configured to be driven to cause inward and outward movement of said actuator flap.

12. The variable area nozzle as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said follower flap has an upstream end which is configured to be moved: (a) away from an inner housing to allow airflow across said heat exchanger; and (b) into contact with said housing to block airflow across said heat exchanger.

13. The variable area nozzle as set forth in claim 12 , wherein a portion of said follower flap, which is downstream of said upstream end, is pivotally mounted to an inner housing wall.

14. The variable area nozzle as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said actuator has a stop position which is configured to prevent movement of said actuator flap to said thrust reverser position.

15. The variable area nozzle as set forth in claim 14 , wherein said stop position being provided by a stop actuator which is configured to be moved to provide a stop to a linkage which is part of said actuator.

16. The variable area nozzle as set forth in claim 15 , wherein said stop actuator is operable to move said stop away from said stop position, such that said actuator may move said actuator flap to said thrust reverser position.

17. The variable area nozzle as set forth in claim 16 , wherein said flap actuator including a sync ring which is configured to be driven to cause inward and outward movement of said actuator flap.

18. The variable area nozzle as set forth in claim 17 , wherein there are a plurality of circumferentially spaced actuator flaps.

19. The variable area nozzle as set forth in claim 18 , wherein a portion of said follower flap, which is downstream of an upstream end, is pivotally mounted to an inner housing wall.

20. The variable area nozzle as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said flap actuator including a sync ring which is configured to be driven to cause inward and outward movement of said actuator flap.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Weiner Richard Alan

Classifications

• F02K1/62

  by blocking the rearward discharge by means of flaps · CPC title

• F02C7/14

  of fluids in the plant {, e.g. lubricant or fuel (F02C7/185 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F02K1/763 Primary

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

• F02K1/1223

  of two series of flaps, the upstream series having its flaps hinged at their upstream ends on a fixed structure and the downstream series having its flaps hinged at their upstream ends on the downstream ends of the flaps of the upstream series · CPC title

• F02K1/15

  Control or regulation · CPC title