Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle

Societe Nationale Des Poudres Et Explosifs

Mbda France

Eads Launch Vehicles

Eads Space Transportation Sa

Max Jean-Pierre Calabro

Gilles B Vigier

Alain M Le Corre

Jean-Francois Beau

Jean Thepenier

Patrick Comtesse

The invention concerns a rocket engine wherein the combustion chamber includes at least one first monolithic component made of a thermostructural composite material comprising a porous wall through which the fuel is introduced in the core of the combustion chamber. A small part of the fuel is directed towards the neck for it to be cooled.

Rocket engine

The pointed end of a central spike, used in an engine of a space launcher, may have a deformable structure that can adopt either a folded position or a deployed position.

Engine with a central spike for a space launcher

A solid propellant charge for a propulsion unit (1). The latter includes a casing (2) containing the solid propellant charge (3), in the form of an elongated body having a longitudinal axis (X--X), which charge (3) has, over part of its longitudinal extent, a propellant charge profile (4) of large combustion area and is subdivided, along the longitudinal axis (X--X), into at least two segments abutting one another with their respective mutually confronting faces. The propulsion unit furthermore includes a nozzle (5) and means (6) for igniting said charge. The propellant charge profile (4) of large combustion area is provided in that part of the propellant charge (3) which is intermediate along the longitudinal axis (X--X).

Solid propellant charge for a propulsion unit and propulsion unit

The device comprises, at the outlet of the combustion chamber 3, a movable assembly comprising a hollow closure member 26 constituting a needle 27, a thermal shield 22 and an annular piston 14. This closure member acts as a piston under the effect of the pressure of the gases and drives the annular piston so as to expel a hydraulic fluid from a jack chamber 33 having an adjustable outlet 34. The closure member 26 defines a chamber 28 for calming the gases.

Growing community of inventors

Nanterre, France

Max Jean-Pierre Calabro