High flow plug nozzle apparatus and method of using the same
View Patent ↗The present disclosure relates to a method of operating a supersonic aircraft comprising the steps of: at takeoff, positioning a slidable plug-cowl assembly disposed within a nozzle and behind an engine in an aft position such that a front surface of a plug is aft of an exit plane of a cowl, to thereby reduce noise during takeoff and maintain engine efficiency; and after takeoff, re-positioning the slidable plug-cowl assembly to a forward position such that the front surface of the plug is not disposed aft the exit plane of the cowl.
1. A method of operating a supersonic aircraft comprising the steps of:
at takeoff, positioning a slidable plug-cowl assembly disposed within a nozzle and behind an engine in an aft position such that a maximum cross-sectional area of a plug is aft of an exit plane of a cowl, to thereby reduce noise during takeoff and maintain engine efficiency; and
after takeoff, re-positioning the slidable plug-cowl assembly to a forward position such that a front surface of the plug is not disposed aft the exit plane of the cowl.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the plug is a slidable plug and the cowl is fixed in position.
3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the re-positioning the slidable plug to the forward position after take-off results in the front surface of the slidable plug being disposed substantially aligned with the exit plane of the cowl.
4. The method according to claim 3 further including the step of further re-positioning the slidable plug to a further forward position that results in the front surface of the slidable plug being disposed forward of the exit plane of the cowl.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the re-positioning the slidable plug-cowl assembly to the forward position after take-off results in the front surface of the plug being disposed substantially aligned with the exit plane of the cowl.
6. The method according to claim 5 further including the step of further re-positioning the slidable plug-cowl assembly to a further forward position that results in the front surface of the plug being disposed forward of the exit plane of the cowl.
7. An apparatus for a supersonic aircraft engine assembly that emits airflow into the atmosphere for propulsion, the apparatus comprising:
an engine that emits airflow for propulsion;
an engine duct disposed aft of the engine that confines the airflow;
a propulsion nozzle cowl disposed aft of the engine duct that receives a confined airflow and emits the confined airflow into the atmosphere; and
a plug disposed within the propulsion nozzle cowl; and
wherein the plug and the propulsion nozzle cowl are slidable with respect to each other, such that in a first position a maximum cross-sectional area of a plug is aft of an exit plane of a cowl and in a second position a front surface of the plug is not disposed aft the exit plane of the cowl.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the plug is a slidable plug and the cowl is fixed in position.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the slidable plug is configured for re-positioning the slidable plug to a forward position after take-off resulting in the front surface of the slidable plug being disposed substantially aligned with the exit plane of the cowl.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the slidable plug is configured for re positioning to a further forward position that results in the front surface of the slidable plug being disposed forward of the exit plane of the cowl.
11. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein, the plug is configured for re-positioning to the forward position after take-off resulting in the front surface of the plug being disposed substantially aligned with the exit plane of the cowl.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the plug is further configured for re-positioning to a further forward position that results in the front surface of the plug being disposed forward of the exit plane of the cowl.