Rockwell International Corporation

Premysl Jencek

Vance W Jaqua

An apparatus and method for continuous deployment and stowage of an extendible nozzle 12 of a rocket engine. One end of the heat-resistant sheet metal extendible nozzle 12 is fixedly attached to the lower end of the fixed nozzle 16 of the engine. In the stowed position the extendible nozzle 12 is turned upward and outward so that it circumferentially surrounds the fixed nozzle 16. Axial support means 18 are included which provide support for the extendible nozzle 12 in the stowed position. Deployment means 24 is disposed within a space 34 formed between the extendible nozzle 12 and the fixed nozzle 16 for engaging the extendible nozzle 12 where it is folded upward. The deployment means 24 is positioned so as to unfold the extendible nozzle 12 as the deployment means 24 is advanced downwardly. When the extendible nozzle 12 is unfolded from a stowed position, the deployment means 24 initially engages the end of the extendible nozzle 12 which is attached to the fixed nozzle 16 and then partially unfolds the extendible nozzle 12 as the deployment means 24 moves downwardly engaging intermediate portions of the extendible nozzle 12. This partial unfolding provides high efficiency operation of the rocket engine at certain altitudes. The extendible nozzle 12 is fully deployed by advancing the deployment means 24 to the other end of the extendible nozzle 12 and thus provides high efficiency operation where the highest expansion ratio is desired.

Extendible nozzle

Nozzle-extending apparatus for a rocket engine of a space vehicle formed by placing a telescoping, extendible sleeve section of nozzle around a short fixed section of nozzle in a rocket engine. The extendible nozzle section (ENS) is extended by inflating a main inflatable pressure vessel (MIV), which is located within the fixed section of nozzle. The expansion of the pressure vessel drives the extendible section rearward to the end of the fixed nozzle section (FNS) where it is locked into place. A secondary inflatable pressure vessel (SIV) is then inflated to activate devices which decouple the MIV from the nozzles and allow the MIV to pressurize the engine cavity, thus jettisoning the MIV from the extended nozzle volume. This is accomplished by opening valves in the front surface of the MIV inflatable bag at several locations allowing pressurized gas to be released in the front space of the FNS (engine cavity), the pressurized gas then exerting rearward ejecting force against the bag and other components positioned inside the extended nozzle.

Extendible rocket-engine nozzle

An apparatus and method for deploying and forming a rocket engine nozzle extension 10. A pneumatic bag 18 within the fixed nozzle 14 of a rocket engine is inflated to push and unfold the nozzle extension 10. The nozzle extension 10 is of the type which attaches to the end of the fixed nozzle 14 and is turned inwardly toward the central axis of said fixed nozzle 14 and folded along creases so that prior to it being extended the nozzle extension 10 is in a stowed configuration inside the fixed nozzle 14. After the nozzle extension 10 is completely formed, pneumatic bag 18 may be jettisoned by firing the rocket engine or by a mechanical releasing mechanism.

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Chatsworth, CA, United States of America

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