Fragmenting nozzle system
AssigneeAerojet Rocketdyne, Inc.
InventorsPhillip Stracener, Mark S. Derstine, John Mendillo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rocket motor includes a case and first and second nozzles in the case. The first nozzle is disposed in the second nozzle. The first nozzle includes a forward leg, a rear leg, and an intermediate leg. The intermediate leg has a convex conical geometry, and the forward leg has a forward lip that is spaced from the case. The rear leg has a rear lip that is spaced from the case. The forward leg and the rear leg at least partially define a flow passage through the first nozzle. The first nozzle is exclusively secured by the intermediate leg to at least one of the case or the second nozzle. At least a portion of a fragmentation system is disposed between the first and second nozzles.
Claims15
A nozzle system comprising:
- an outer nozzle;
- an inner nozzle radially within the outer nozzle and circumscribing an axis, the nozzle being formed of a brittle material and having a convergent leg, a divergent leg, a throat section that the convergent leg narrows to and the divergent leg expands from and an intermediate leg between the convergent leg and the divergent leg, the convergent leg and the divergent leg at least partially defining a flow passage through the nozzle;
- and
- an ignition system including an energetic material disposed along the intermediate leg and the convergent leg, wherein the energetic material produces a pressure wave upon activation, the pressure wave breaking apart the inner nozzle.
A rocket motor comprising:
- a case;
- a nozzle system including first and second nozzles disposed in the case, the first nozzle at least partially disposed in the second nozzle, the first nozzle including:
- a forward leg, a rear leg, and an intermediate leg between the forward leg and the rear leg, wherein the intermediate leg has a convex conical geometry,
- wherein the forward leg is spaced radially away from the case such that there is a forward gap between a forward lip of the forward leg and the case,
- wherein the rear leg has a rear lip that is spaced from the case such that there is a rear gap between the rear lip and the case,
- the forward leg and the rear leg at least partially defining a flow passage through the first nozzle for gases to enter at the forward leg and exit at the rear leg;
- and
- wherein the first nozzle is exclusively secured by the intermediate leg to at least one of the case or the second nozzle,
- a fragmentation system, at least a portion of which is disposed between the first and second nozzles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.