AIR INLET ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

摘要

An inlet arrangement is disclosed herein for use with a supersonic jet engine configured to consume air at a predetermined mass flow rate when the supersonic jet engine is operating at a predetermined power setting and moving at a predetermined Mach speed. The air inlet arrangement includes, but is not limited to, a cowl having a cowl lip and a center body coaxially aligned with the cowl. A protruding portion of the center body extends upstream of the cowl lip for a length greater than a conventional spike length. The protruding portion is configured to divert air flowing over the protruding portion out of a pathway of an inlet to the supersonic jet engine such that a remaining airflow approaching and entering the inlet matches the predetermined mass flow rate.

主权项

1. An air inlet arrangement for use with a supersonic jet engine configured to consume air at a predetermined mass flow rate when the supersonic jet engine is operating at a predetermined power setting and moving at a predetermined Mach speed, the air inlet arrangement comprising:
a cowl having a cowl lip; and a center body coaxially aligned with the cowl, the center body having an apex, a first compression surface downstream of the apex, and a second compression surface downstream of the first compression surface, the second compression surface being spaced apart from the cowl lip such that the second compression surface and the cowl lip define an inlet, wherein a protruding portion of the center body extends upstream of the cowl lip for a length greater than a conventional spike length and wherein the protruding portion of the center body is configured to divert a portion of a flow of air located in a path of the inlet out of the path of the inlet such that a remaining flow of air approaching and entering the inlet is not greater than the predetermined mass flow rate when the supersonic jet engine is operating at the predetermined power setting and moving at the predetermined Mach speed.