The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 29, 1998
Filed:
Dec. 23, 1996
Marty K Bradley, Downey, CA (US);
Kevin G Bowcutt, Irvine, CA (US);
Harry Shortland, Torrance, CA (US);
Philip S Dunlap, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US);
Boeing North American, Inc., Seal Beach, CA (US);
Abstract
The flight vehicle includes an elongated central body having a central axis defined therein and a circumference. A plurality of elongated portions are positioned about the central body. A plurality of airbreathing engines are axisymetrically positioned about the central axis of the central body and between the respective elongated portions. Each flowpath includes a forebody, an inlet, an isolator duct, a combustor, a nozzle, and a mechanism for injecting fuel into the combustor. The forebody externally compresses the air flow. The inlet is downstream of the forebody to capture air flow. The isolator duct is downstream of the inlet to further reduce velocity of the air flow. The combustor is downstream of the isolator duct and finally, the nozzle is downstream of the combustor. The fuel/air mixture is burned in the combustor and expanded in the nozzle for providing thrust. A control mechanism is positioned about the central body for providing control of the flight vehicle. The axisymetric relationship of the engines relative to the central body provides balanced forces in flight and simplifies the integration of the present invention into guns and launch tubes.