Month in the Patent Office

Abstract

A jet engine has a nozzle movable between operative and inoperative positions, and a number of movable thrust reversing sections which normally lie in inoperative positions outside the jet pipe, and are movable inwardly towards one another to operative positions when the nozzle is inoperative, so as jointly to provide a conical series of aerofoil shaped rings to reverse partially the direction of flow of a major part of the jet. The device is shown in plan view and section when inoperative in FIGS. 1 and 2, and in section when operative in FIG. 3. The jet pipe comprises three concentric tubes 10a, 10b and 10c within a fairing 11. The nozzle 13 is mounted on a ring 14 secured to fairing 15. A plurality of circumferentially spaced rods 17 are fast at one end to the ring 14, and are movable by reversible actuators 28 mounted on an annular member 29 secured to a ring 30 fastened to the fairing 11. The rods 17 are also secured intermediately to a ring 26 by pins 27. Thus on operation of the actuators 28, the rods 17 together with ring 26 and nozzle 13 are moved bodily fore or aft. A plurality of beams 33 are pivoted at their forward ends to the ring 26 on pivots 32, and each bears a series of shaped members 34. When the nozzle is in its forward inoperative position, FIGS. 1 and 2, the beams lie parallel to the nozzle axis between the jet pipe and fairing. The free ends of the beam are restrained in this position by spring held forks 51, 52, FIG. 2. A forward extension 35 of each beam 33 is connected by a toggle link 37, 38 to ring 26, the centre pivot of the toggle being connected by a link 44 to a rod 43 extending through a bearing in ring 29 and terminating in a grooved member 48 and stop 49. When the nozzle and ring 26 have moved rearwardly most of their, travel, the stop 49 abuts ring 29, and further rearward movement straightens the toggle 37, 38, tilting each beam 33 and bringing the members 34 into co‐operating jet reversing position, FIG. 3. The grooved member 48 also is engaged by spring pressed balls on ring 29. The tilting moment is sufficient to release the free ends of the beams from the forks 51, 52. On the reverse movement taking place, the rod 43 is first held by the spring pressed balls, whereby the toggle is broken and the beams are swung parallel to the nozzle axis, re‐engaging with forks 51, 52. Further movement retracts the beams between the jet pipe and fairing, and retracts the nozzle to its normal operative position.

Citation

(1958), "Month in the Patent Office", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 30 No. 6, pp. 187-187. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb032985