THRUST VECTOR CONTROL

• US 20130146675A1
• Filed: 12/12/2012
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
• Original Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: SEIFERT, Jost
• Granted Patent: US 9,816,464 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 23/08 using Magnus effect
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 1/008 in any rearward direction
• CPC Class Codes: F02K 9/80 characterised by thrust or thrust vector control burning control of solid propellants F02K9/26; feeding control of liquid or gaseous propellants F02K9/56; re-ignitable, restartable or intermittently operated rocket-engine plants F02K9/94

Abstract

Thrust vector control for a vehicle having a fluid drive, vehicle having thrust vector control and method of controlling thrust vector. Thrust vector control includes a thrust current region for a thrust current of a propulsion stream having a flow direction; a steering mechanism for the thrust current including at least one steering device arranged at least in a peripheral region of the thrust current region, and the at least one steering device includes a rotational body with a lateral surface and a rotational axis arranged transverse to the flow direction, and the rotational body being rotatable so that a first part of the lateral surface exposed to the thrust current rotates in a first rotational direction, whereby a Magnus effect is produced to deflect the thrust current. The first rotational direction is in a direction of the thrust current.

Claims

1. A thrust vector control for a vehicle having a fluid drive, comprising:

a thrust current region for a thrust current of a propulsion stream having a flow direction; and

a steering mechanism for the thrust current comprising at least one steering device arranged at least in a peripheral region of the thrust current region, and the at least one steering device comprises a rotational body with a lateral surface and a rotational axis arranged transverse to the flow direction; and

the rotational body being rotatable so that a first part of the lateral surface exposed to the thrust current rotates in a first rotational direction, whereby a Magnus effect is produced to deflect the thrust current,

wherein the first rotational direction is in a direction of the thrust current.

2. The thrust vector control according to claim 1, wherein the at least one steering device has a drive coupled to rotatably drive the rotational body.

3. The thrust vector control according to claim 1, wherein a surface line of the rotational body exposed to the thrust current runs in the direction of the peripheral region, and the first part of the lateral surface is located at least in the peripheral region of the thrust current region and is exposed to the thrust current.

4. The thrust vector control according to claim 3, further comprising a shield structured and positionable to shield a second part of the lateral surface, which is generally opposite the first part, from the thrust current,

wherein the second part rotates in a direction counter to the direction of the thrust current during operation of the first rotational body in the first rotational direction.

5. The thrust vector control according to claim 1, further comprising an outlet periphery that at least partially limits the thrust control region and that has an outlet opening for the thrust current;

wherein the steering mechanism is structured and arranged to steer the thrust current exiting from the outlet opening, the at least one steering device is arranged in a peripheral region of the outlet periphery; and

a surface line of the rotational body exposed to the thrust current runs in a direction of the peripheral region of the outlet region.

6. The thrust vector control according to claim 5, wherein the steering mechanism further comprises a second steering device arranged in a second peripheral region of the outlet periphery, such that the peripheral region and the second peripheral region are arranged opposite each other, and

wherein the steering device and second steering device drivable independently of each other.

7. The thrust vector control according to claim 1, further comprising a thrust current generator structured and arranged to generate the thrust current.

8. The thrust vector control according to claim 1, wherein the steering mechanism further comprises at least one guide plate adjustable about a pivot axis that is arranged transverse to the flow direction.

9. The thrust vector control according to claim 8, wherein the guide plate is arranged in the thrust current region and at a distance from the rotational body.

10. The thrust vector control according to claim 1, wherein the rotational body is positionable inside the thrust current region and at a distance from the peripheral region of the thrust current region.

11. The thrust vector control according to claim 1 structured and arranged in combination with a fluid drive of an aircraft engine,

wherein the aircraft engine generates the thrust current.

12. The thrust vector control according to claim 1 structured and arranged in combination with a fluid drive of a jet propulsion system for a watercraft,

wherein the water jet generates the thrust current.

13. A vehicle comprising:

a fluid drive; and

at least one thrust vector control according to claim 1.

14. A method for controlling a fluid-driven vehicle, comprising:

generating a thrust current of a propulsion stream;

guiding the thrust current in a thrust current region; and

driving at least one rotational body that is arranged in a peripheral region of the thrust current region and that includes a lateral surface and a rotational axis arranged transverse to a flow direction of the propulsion stream,

wherein the rotational body is driven in such a manner that a Magnus effect is produced to deflect the thrust current.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein a surface line of the rotational body runs in a direction of the peripheral region and a part of the lateral surface is exposed to the thrust current.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the rotational body is rotatably driven so that the part of the lateral surface exposed to the thrust current is rotated in the direction of the thrust current.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

deflecting at least a part of the thrust current toward the steering device with a pivotable guide plate.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the at least one at least one rotational body comprises first and second rotational bodies arranged in first and second peripheral regions opposite one another, whereby the thrust current is mainly guided between the first and second rotational bodies while contacting respective first and second the lateral surfaces of the first and second rotational bodies.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising driving the first and second rotational bodies to rotate in opposite directions.

20. A thrust vector control for a vehicle having a fluid drive emitting a thrust current, comprising:

at least one rotatable body arranged in at least an edge region of the thrust current so that a lateral surface of the at least one rotatable body is to be exposed to the thrust current;

at least one drive structured and arranged to rotatably drive the at least one rotatable body so that the lateral surface exposed to the thrust current is driven in a same direction as the thrust current.