초록 ▼

A retractable/deployable nozzle fairing for use with a center boost engine on a jet propelled aircraft having the capability of aerodynamically fairing the center boost engine\s exhaust nozzle and reducing the diameter of the empennage outlet when deployed so as to minimize the base drag characteris

A retractable/deployable nozzle fairing for use with a center boost engine on a jet propelled aircraft having the capability of aerodynamically fairing the center boost engine\s exhaust nozzle and reducing the diameter of the empennage outlet when deployed so as to minimize the base drag characteristics of the empennage body structure when the center boost engine is shut down. More particularly, an exhaust nozzle retractable/deployable fairing for use with aircraft of the type commonly employing multiple main power plants and an auxiliary center boost engine of the type which is commonly used only: (i) during take-off; (ii) during air refueling operations, and/or (iii), under certain emergency operating conditions; and, wherein the retractable/deployable fairing member is formed of flexible sheet material that is fabricated into a truncated generally conical nozzle configuration－i.e., it is fabricated in the deployed condition constituting the “zero stressed”state－having a parting line along the fairing keel line. Suitable actuators attached to the empennage body frames are provided for shifting the fairing member between its fully deployed truncated conical position (a “zero stressed”state) and its fully retracted position in which the fairing parts along its keel line as it is moved into a retracted position surrounding the upper portion of the exhaust nozzle, at which point the retracted nozzle fairing is fully stressed. In use, when the fairing is retracted, it is expanded around the nozzle; and, when it is deployed, it is shifted rearwardly to form a truncated conical extension of the nozzle, thus reducing the diameter of the empennage outlet and, consequently, reducing the base drag characteristics of the empennage body structure.

대표청구항 ▼

A structural assembly having a variable area outlet comprising, in combination: (a) a fixed tubular member having a truncated conical end portion defining an outlet of fixed predetermined diameter at the apical end thereof; (b) a fairing member formed of sheet-like flexible material at least partial

A structural assembly having a variable area outlet comprising, in combination: (a) a fixed tubular member having a truncated conical end portion defining an outlet of fixed predetermined diameter at the apical end thereof; (b) a fairing member formed of sheet-like flexible material at least partially surrounding said truncated conical end portion of said tubular member, said fairing member being free for relative longitudinal translation with respect to said tubular member; (c) means for mounting said fairing member on said fixed tubular member with freedom for controlled longitudinal translation relative to said tubular member between: (i) a retracted position partially surrounding said truncated conical end portion of said tubular member; and (ii), a deployed position wherein said fairing member defines a truncated conical extension of said truncated conical end portion of said tubular member with said truncated conical extension having an outlet of substantially reduced diameter at the apical end thereof; (d) said mounting means including track defining means and track follower means with one of said track defining means and said track follower means being fixedly secured to said fairing member and the other of said track defining means and said track follower means being fixedly secured to said tubular member so as to permit said sheet-like fairing member to: (i) gradually expand as it translates relative to said tubular member from a fully deployed truncated conical position to a fully retracted position with the opposed longitudinal edges of said fairing member parted with respect to one another; and (ii), gradually contract as it translates relative to said tubular member from a fully retracted position to a fully deployed position with the opposed longitudinal edges of said fairing member being abutted together when in the fully deployed position so as to form said truncated conical extension; and, (e) actuating means for translating said fairing member between a fully deployed position and a fully retracted position.