Thrust vectoring apparatus for a jet engine, corresponding jet engine, thrust vectoring method and upgrading method for a jet engine

摘要

The thrust vectoring apparatus comprises: a housing defining a primary outlet for emitting the primary jet; Coanda surfaces extending from opposing regions of said housing, and radially spaced from the primary outlet such that a step is defined between each Coanda surface and the primary outlet; ducts leading from a fluid source to secondary outlets; and flow control means operable to control the mass flow through the secondary outlets. When the jet engine operates to exhaust a primary jet through the primary outlet, low pressure regions are formed in the vicinity of the steps. Each secondary outlet is located adjacent one of the Coanda surfaces so as to emit a secondary flow into a low pressure region. On activation of the secondary flow by the flow control means, the primary jet is entrained by the Coanda surface opposing the Coanda surface adjacent said the secondary outlet from which the secondary flow has been emitted. Method of vectoring the thrust or of upgrading existing jet engines with the thrust vectoring apparatus and jet engines comprising the thrust vectoring apparatus are disclosed.

主权项

1. Thrust vectoring apparatus for a jet engine, the jet engine being operable to exhaust a primary jet to generate thrust; and the apparatus comprising:
(i) a housing defining a primary outlet for emitting the primary jet; (ii) first and second Coanda surfaces extending from opposing regions of an exhaust end of said housing, each Coanda surface being outwardly spaced from the primary outlet such that a first and a second step are each defined between the respective first and second Coanda surfaces and the primary outlet; whereby, when a primary jet is exhausted through the primary outlet, low pressure regions are formed in the vicinity of said steps; (iii) ducts leading from a fluid source to first and second secondary outlets, the first secondary outlet being located adjacent the first Coanda surface and the second secondary outlet being located adjacent the second Coanda surface, the first and second secondary outlets each being arranged to emit a respective first and second secondary flow into the low pressure region in the vicinity of the respective first and second steps defined between the respective first and second Coanda surfaces and the primary outlet; and (iv) flow control means operable to control the mass flow through the first and second secondary outlets respectively to be within the range 0% to 5% of the mass flow in the primary jet such that when the first secondary flow is emitted from the first secondary outlet the primary jet is entrained by the second Coanda surface and when the second secondary flow is emitted from the second secondary outlet the primary jet is entrained by the first Coanda surface.