Vectorable Nozzle With Pivotable Triangular Panels For Thrust Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft control surfaces are limited in effectiveness across varying flight conditions and increase radar vulnerability, necessitating a more efficient thrust vectoring system with low radar observability and variable nozzle areas for enhanced maneuverability and performance.
Innovation Solution
A vectorable nozzle design featuring convergent and divergent sections with pivotable panels that adjust to change the nozzle's throat and exit areas, allowing for thrust vectoring and maintaining a constant exit-to-throat area ratio, while minimizing radar reflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If aircraft control surfaces (wing flaps, ailerons, vertical fins, rudders) are used to provide maneuverability, then aircraft control and maneuverability are improved, but radar signature increases making the aircraft more vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire and missiles
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the control function from traditional external control surfaces and relocates it to the exhaust nozzle system. By using vectorable nozzles with pivotable triangular panels, the aircraft achieves maneuverability through thrust vectoring rather than through control surfaces, thereby eliminating the radar signature problem while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical control surface system (hinged surfaces requiring actuators and linkages) with a thrust vectoring nozzle system. The vectorable nozzle uses pivotable panels controlled by hydraulic or electric actuators to redirect exhaust flow, providing maneuverability through aerodynamic forces rather than mechanical surface deflection, thus reducing radar observability
2Ease of operation
If control surfaces are attached to the airframe with hinges, then control functionality is achieved, but the hinges and hinge lines reflect enemy radar amplifying the return
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the hinge mechanism entirely from the control system. Instead of hinged control surfaces that create radar reflections, the vectorable nozzle uses pivotable panels mounted on the nozzle body with pivot axes perpendicular to the nozzle centerline. This eliminates the hinge line radar reflection problem while maintaining control functionality through thrust vectoring
Solution Approach 2:
The invention inverts the traditional approach by making the nozzle movable rather than the control surfaces. The pivotable triangular panels of the vectorable nozzle are rotated about pivot axes to change the exhaust flow direction, achieving control through inversion of the conventional mechanism and thereby eliminating radar-reflecting hinges
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a vectorable nozzle with pivotable panels is used to reduce radar signature, then low radar observability is achieved, but device complexity increases due to multiple pivotable components
Solution Approach 1:
The vectorable nozzle is segmented into multiple independent pivotable triangular panels (left and right panels) that can be controlled independently. Each panel is a discrete component that can be pivoted about its own axis, allowing for simplified manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance while achieving complex thrust vectoring capabilities and reducing radar signature through the segmented structure
4Ease of operation
If thrust vectoring is implemented to improve maneuverability, then aircraft maneuverability is enhanced, but the nozzle structure becomes more complex requiring variable throat and exit areas
Solution Approach 1:
The vectorable nozzle incorporates dynamic elements including pivotable triangular panels that can rotate about pivot axes, and variable area capabilities through movable panels in the convergent and divergent sections. This allows the nozzle to adapt its geometry in real-time to optimize performance across different flight conditions while providing thrust vectoring for enhanced maneuverability, managing the complexity through dynamic adaptability rather than static over-engineering
Data Source
AI summary
A vectorable nozzle includes convergent and divergent sections and a throat therebetween. Heightwise spaced apart upper and lower walls outwardly bound a nozzle flowpath and extend aftwardly through the convergent and divergent sections from the nozzle inlet to the nozzle outlet. The upper wall includes triangular left and right side convergent upper panels pivotably mounted to a triangular convergent upper ramp in the convergent section along left and right side convergent angled hinge lines respectively. The upper wall further includes triangular left and right side divergent upper panels pivotably attached to a triangular divergent upper ramp in the divergent section along left and right side divergent angled hinge lines respectively. The left and right side convergent upper panels are in sealing engagement with the left and right side divergent upper panels along left and right side upper interfaces, respectively.