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US 8,539,753 B2Granted
Hybrid rocket motor with annular, concentric solid fuel elements
AssigneeSpaceDev, Inc.
InventorFrank Macklin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid rocket motor includes a supply of oxidizer, a first solid fuel element positioned around the supply of oxidizer, a second solid fuel element positioned concentrically around the first solid fuel element, and a combustion port positioned between the first and second solid fuel elements. The oxidizer interacts with the first and second solid fuel elements within the combustion port to produce a combustion product. A nozzle is in communication with the combustion port for combustion discharge of the combustion product.
Claims14
A hybrid rocket motor, comprising:
- an oxidizer tank containing a supply of oxidizer;
- a first, annular solid fuel element positioned around the supply of oxidizer;
- a second solid fuel element positioned concentrically around the first solid fuel element;
- a combustion port positioned between the first and second solid fuel elements, wherein the oxidizer interacts with the first and second solid fuel elements within the combustion port to produce a combustion product;
- and
- a nozzle in communication with the combustion port for combustion discharge of the combustion product;
- wherein a generally enclosed space is positioned below the oxidizer tank and below the first solid fuel element, such that the widest diameter of the generally enclosed space is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the first, annular solid fuel element, wherein the space communicates with a throat of the nozzle via at least one passageway therebetween and wherein the at least one passageway can be used to facilitate liquid injection vector thrust control of the nozzle.
4 more elements
A hybrid rocket motor, comprising:
- an oxidizer tank containing an oxidizer;
- a main casing surrounding the oxidizer tank;
- at least one injector adapted to inject oxidizer from the oxidizer tank into the main casing;
- wherein the main casing includes:
- a first, annular solid fuel element;
- a second, annular solid fuel element positioned concentrically around the first, annular solid fuel element;
- a combustion port positioned between the first and second annular solid fuel elements wherein the oxidizer interacts with the first and second solid fuel elements within the combustion port to produce a combustion product;
- and
- a nozzle in communication with the combustion port for combustion discharge of the combustion product;
- wherein a generally enclosed space is positioned below the oxidizer tank and below the first, annular solid fuel element, such that the widest diameter of the generally enclosed space is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the first, annular solid fuel element, wherein the space communicates with a throat of the nozzle via at least one passageway therebetween and wherein the at least one passageway can be used to facilitate liquid injection vector thrust control of the nozzle.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.