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:
Feb. 12, 2008
Filed:
Nov. 29, 2004
Alan Drake, Tequesta, FL (US);
Daniel Guinan, Hobe Sound, FL (US);
Alan Drake, Tequesta, FL (US);
Daniel Guinan, Hobe Sound, FL (US);
United Technologies Corporation, Hartford, CT (US);
Abstract
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, an aircraft having a scramjet engine is provided. The scramjet engine includes a flowpath which varies in three dimensions. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a method for launching an aircraft having a scramjet engine with a nozzle section and a solid rocket booster positioned within the nozzle section is provided. The method includes the steps of igniting the solid rocket booster to accelerate the aircraft to a speed at which the scramjet engine can operate, clearing the nozzle section by ejecting the solid rocket booster from the nozzle section upon exhaustion of the solid rocket booster; and injecting fuel into a flow of air passing through the scramjet engine and igniting the fuel and the air to provide thrust to the aircraft.