Articulating slider track

Abstract

A variable fan nozzle assembly includes a cowl member mounted on a slider track. The slider track may be articulated relative to a support member to slightly modify the position of the cowl member to vary the fan nozzle exit area. At least one 4-bar linkage may be utilized to allow articulation of the slider track responsive to an actuator. A method for varying a fan nozzle exit area includes mounting a first slider track in articulatable relationship with a support member; mounting a first cowl member in slidable relationship with a first slider track such that a fan nozzle is at least partially defined by a surface of the first cowl member; varying the operational position of the first cowl member by articulating the first slider track without sliding the first cowl member with respect to the first slider track to vary the fan nozzle exit area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly comprising:
 a first slider track able to support a first cowl member;   a support member; and   a mechanism in supported connection with the first slider track and the support member;   wherein the mechanism is operable to mount the first slider track in articulatable relationship relative to the support member.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly according to  claim 1  further including a first actuator in operable association with the mechanism, wherein the mechanism is responsive to the first actuator to articulate the first slider track relative to the support member. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the mechanism includes at least one 4-bar linkage. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly according to  claim 1  further including the first cowl member mounted in slidable relationship with the first slider track, wherein the first cowl member is operable to translate between a nominal stowed position and at least one deployed position. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly according to  claim 5  wherein when the first cowl member is in the nominal stowed position, the first cowl member is movable with articulation of the first slider track between the nominal stowed position and a modified stowed position. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly according to  claim 5  further comprising a fan nozzle at least partly defined by the first cowl member, wherein the fan nozzle is associated with a first fan nozzle exit area when the first cowl member is in the nominal stowed position and a different second fan nozzle exit area when the first cowl member is in the modified stowed position. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly comprising:
 a first cowl member; and   a fan nozzle at least partially defined by a surface of the first cowl member, wherein the fan nozzle is associated with a fan nozzle exit area; and   a mechanism in operable connection with the first cowl member being operable to slightly modify a position of the first cowl member between a nominal stowed position and a modified stowed position such that the fan nozzle exit area is variable with the position of the first cowl member.   
     
     
         9 . The assembly according to  claim 8  wherein the mechanism comprises at least one 4-bar linkage responsive to operation of an actuator. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly according to  claim 8  further including:
 a support member; and 
 a slider track mounted in articulatable relationship relative to the support member; 
 wherein the first cowl member is mounted in slidable relationship with the first slider track, wherein the first cowl member is operable to translate between a nominal stowed position and at least one deployed position. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method for varying a fan nozzle exit area comprising:
 mounting a first slider track in articualtable relationship with a support member;   mounting a first cowl member in supported slidable relationship with a first slider track such that a fan nozzle is at least partially defined by a surface of the first cowl member;   varying an operational position of the first cowl member by articulating the first slider track without sliding the first cowl member with respect to the first slider track such that the first cowl member moves between a stowed position and a modified stowed position, wherein a first nozzle exit area is associated with the stowed position of the first cowl member and a second, different nozzle exit area is associated with the modified stowed position of the first cowl member.