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:
Jul. 15, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 08, 2001
Gordon A. Dressler, Manhattan Beach, CA (US);
Thomas J. Mueller, Long Beach, CA (US);
Scott J. Rotenberger, Redondo Beach, CA (US);
TRW Inc., Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a rocket engine ( ) that is self-compensating on nozzle thrust coefficient for varying ambient backpressures. The rocket engine ( ) includes a combustion chamber ( ) having an injector end ( ) and a nozzle end ( ). A propellant injector ( ) is in fluid communication between a propellant line and an inside periphery of the combustion chamber injector end ( ). A nozzle throat ( ) is formed at the nozzle end ( ) of the combustion chamber ( ). A nozzle exit cone ( ) extends outwardly from the nozzle throat ( ). A plug support ( ) is coupled between a nozzle plug ( ) and the propellant injector ( ). The nozzle plug ( ) aerodynamically self-compensates for changes in ambient backpressure at the nozzle exit cone ( ) such that the nozzle thrust coefficient is maximized for any ambient backpressure.