Claims
- 1. A turbofan engine exhaust nozzle comprising:
an outer mixer having a plurality of circumferentially alternating outer lobes and outer chutes extending axially between forward and aft ends thereof, with said outer lobes projecting radially outwardly, and said outer chutes extending radially inwardly; an inner mixer disposed coaxially inside said outer mixer, and having a plurality of circumferentially alternating inner lobes and inner chutes extending axially between forward and aft ends thereof, with said inner lobes projecting radially inwardly, and said inner chutes extending radially outwardly; and said forward ends of said outer and inner mixers being spaced radially apart, and said aft ends of said outer and inner mixers being joined together to define an outlet of said nozzle for discharging exhaust flow.
- 2. A nozzle according to claim 1 wherein said outer lobes are aligned radially with said inner chutes, and said outer chutes are aligned radially with said inner lobes.
- 3. A nozzle according to claim 2 wherein said outer and inner mixers converge together axially aft between said forward and aft ends thereof.
- 4. A nozzle according to claim 3 wherein said aft ends of said outer and inner mixers extend radially in a common axial plane.
- 5. A nozzle according to claim 3 wherein said inner mixer converges axially aft between said forward and aft ends thereof.
- 6. A nozzle according to claim 3 wherein said outer mixer converges axially aft between said forward and aft ends thereof.
- 7. A nozzle according to claim 3 wherein said outer and inner mixers converge aft, with said outer mixer converging less than said inner mixer.
- 8. A nozzle according to claim 3 wherein said outer and inner mixers define a circumferential plenum radially therebetween isolated from said outer and inner chutes.
- 9. A nozzle according to claim 8 further comprising a plurality of outer apertures disposed in said outer chutes.
- 10. A nozzle according to claim 9 wherein said outer apertures are elliptical in profile in said outer chutes.
- 11. A nozzle according to claim 9 wherein said outer apertures are spaced forward from said aft end of said outer mixer.
- 12. A nozzle according to claim 9 further comprising a plurality of inner apertures disposed in said inner lobes in flow communication with said outer apertures.
- 13. A nozzle according to claim 12 wherein said inner apertures are disposed forward of said outer apertures.
- 14. A nozzle according to claim 12 further comprising corresponding tubes extending between said outer and inner apertures.
- 15. A nozzle according to claim 9 wherein said inner lobes are imperforate adjacent said apertures in said outer chutes.
- 16. A nozzle according to claim 15 further comprising:
a manifold disposed circumferentially in said plenum; and a plurality of conduits extending in flow communication from said manifold to respective ones of said outer apertures.
- 17. A nozzle according to claim 16 further comprising means for selectively supplying pressurized flow to said manifold for discharge through said outer apertures.
- 18. A nozzle according to claim 17 wherein said means comprise an inlet tube extending through said forward end of said inner mixer in flow communication with said manifold.
- 19. A nozzle according to claim 9 further comprising:
an annular fan nacelle surrounding a core cowling to define a fan duct therebetween for channeling fan exhaust flow; and both said outer and inner mixers extend aft from an aft end of said fan nacelle to position said nozzle outlet around said core cowling.
- 20. A nozzle according to claim 19 wherein:
said fan nacelle has an outer skin and an inner skin; and said outer mixer extends aft from said outer skin, and said inner mixer extends aft from said inner skin.
- 21. A nozzle according to claim 20 wherein said outer mixer converges aft from said outer skin.
- 22. A nozzle according to claim 20 wherein said inner mixer converges aft from said inner skin for converging flow area in said fan duct around said core cowling to said nozzle outlet.
- 23. A nozzle according to claim 20 wherein said core cowling includes a core exhaust nozzle at an aft end thereof having a conical outer surface.
- 24. A nozzle according to claim 9 further comprising:
a core cowling surrounding a core engine for producing core exhaust flow; and both said outer and inner mixers extend aft from an aft end of said cowling to define a core exhaust nozzle for discharging said exhaust flow along said inner chutes and out said nozzle outlet.
- 25. A nozzle according to claim 24 further comprising a center plug spaced radially inwardly from said inner mixer and extending aft therefrom to define said core nozzle radially therebetween.
- 26. A nozzle according to claim 25 further comprising an annular fan nacelle surrounding said core cowling to define a fan duct therebetween having a fan exhaust nozzle for discharging fan exhaust flow aft over said core nozzle.
- 27. A nozzle according to claim 26 wherein said fan nozzle has a conical outer surface.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Applications No. 60/358,865; filed Feb. 22, 2002, and No. 60/362,939; filed Mar. 8, 2002.
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60358865 |
Feb 2002 |
US |
|
60362939 |
Mar 2002 |
US |