Aircraft engine thrust reverser

Citation

(1998), "Aircraft engine thrust reverser", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 70 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.1998.12770fad.003

Aircraft engine thrust reverser

Aircraft engine thrust reverser

Keywords Aeroengine, Aircraft, Flow, Patents, Thrust

In GB patent 2314818 Short Brothers plc describe an aircraft engine thrust reverser. It comprises a flow redirecting structure having a downstream wall against which gaseous fluid flow in a first flow direction impinges to turn the flow into a second flow direction to produce reverse thrust, and an upstream wall round which the fluid flow turns. The wall has a surface so formed as to support adherence of a boundary layer of the redirected fluid flow at the boundary surface and is provided with projecting elements to generate vortices which prevent or delay separation of the boundary layer. Alternatively, the upstream wall is formed with a number of flow apertures which are connected by a duct to a pressure differential region or source (vacuum pump) to cause gaseous fluid to flow through the boundary surface of the upstream wall to prevent or delay separation of the boundary layer.