US 12,270,334 B2
Shapeable inlet manifold for hypersonic scramjet
Jesse R Maxwell, Washington, DC (US); and Gabriel B Goodwin, Washington, DC (US)
Assigned to The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2018, as Appl. No. 15/869,932.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/445,542, filed on Jan. 12, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2019/0331024 A1, Oct. 31, 2019
Int. Cl. F02C 7/042 (2006.01); F02K 7/10 (2006.01)
CPC F02C 7/042 (2013.01) [F02K 7/10 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A shapeable waverider inlet manifold for a hypersonic scramjet comprising:
an inlet lower cowling;
a mount surface;
an inlet stream surface movably coupled to the mount surface, wherein the inlet lower cowling and an inlet profile of the inlet stream surface define an opening of the shapeable waverider inlet manifold allowing fluid flow therethrough;
wherein the inlet stream surface is configured to have a first disposition relative to the inlet lower cowling defining a first inlet shape of the opening and a second disposition relative to the inlet lower cowling different from the first disposition defining a second inlet shape of the opening, thereby providing respective first and second flow characteristics through the inlet manifold during flight, and
wherein a change from the first disposition to the second disposition includes a change in shape of the inlet profile of the inlet stream surface in response to varying flight conditions to maintain attachment of a shock wave generated by the inlet stream surface along an entire length of the inlet stream surface leading edge, thereby ensuring that the waverider inlet manifold remains a waverider.