US3581504A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Monopropellant turbo gas generator
Assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc
•
Filing: 1968-08-28
•
Granted: 1971-06-01
•
Expires: 1988-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A gas generator according to the present disclosure comprises a housing having an inlet opening for admitting monopropellant into the housing and an outlet having a back pressure control throat for expelling expanded gases therefrom. Impeller means is mounted within the housing for pressurizing the monopropellant. A turbine drive means is rotatably mounted within the housing adjacent the outlet for driving the impeller. Catalyst means is mounted within the housing intermediate the impeller and the turbine for decomposing the monopropellant. The gas generator operates in a pressure-amplifying staged expansion cycle in that the impeller means increases the pressure of the monopropellant before the monopropellant reaches the catalyst, and the monopropellant decomposes in the presence of the catalyst to produce exhaust gas of relatively high pressure. The gas is expanded in the first stage of expansion to drive the turbine means. The gas may be further expanded through the back pressure control throat to form a second stage of expansion. If desired, the outlet of the back pressure control throat may be contoured to form a divergent nozzle so the gas generator may be used as a turborocket engine.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley R Andrus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:12
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02K; F02K9/00; F02K9/42; F02K9/44; F02K9/46; F02K9/48; F02K9/56; F02K9/563; F02K9/60; F02K9/68
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further including throttle means in said housing for regulating the flow of monopropellant to said catalyst means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said impeller means includes a plurality of impeller blades adapted to direct monopropellant toward said catalyst means, and said turbine includes a plurality of turbine blades adapted to be driven by exhaust gas, drive means connecting said turbine blades to said impeller blades, bearing means journaling said drive means to said housing, and lubrication means for supplying monopropellant to said bearing means to lubricate the bearing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said lubricating means includes means providing fluid communication between the bearing means and the flow of monopropellant upstream from said catalyst means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pressure of the supply of monopropellant is less than the pressure of the exhaust gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said outlet includes a nozzle forming a throat whereby the gas generator operates as a turborocket engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 further including throttle means in said housing for regulating the flow of monopropellant to said catalyst means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said impeller means includes a plurality of impeller blades adapted to direct monopropellant toward said catalyst means, and said turbine includes a plurality of turbine blades adapted to be driven by exhaust gas, drive means connecting said turbine blades to said impeller blades, bearing means journaling said drive means to said housing, and lubrication means for supplying monopropellant to said bearing means to lubricate the bearing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said lubrication means includes means providing fluid communication between the bearing means and the flow of monopropellant upstream from said catalyst means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the pressure of the supply of monopropellant is less than the pressure of the exhaust gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said impeller means includes a plurality of impeller blades adapted to direct monopropellant toward said catalyst means, and said turbine includes a plurality of turbine blades adapted to be driven by exhaust gas, drive means connecting said turbine blades to said impeller blades, bearing means journaling said drive means to said housing, and lubrication means for supplying monopropellant to said bearing means to lubricate the bearing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said lubrication means includes means providing fluid communication between the bearing means and the flow of monopropellant upstream from said catalyst means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
285 words
A gas generator comprising: housing; an inlet to said housing adapted positions; be connected in fluid communication with a supply of monopropellant; impeller means in said housing in fluid communication with said inlet; diffuser means in said housing and having a plurality of diffuser apertures in fluid communication with said impeller means for directing the flow of fluid from said impeller means; a rotatable throttle ring having a plurality of throttle apertures, said throttle ring being in operable association with said diffuser means and being movable between a first position wherein said throttle apertures are in maximum fluid communication with said diffuser apertures and a second position wherein said throttle apertures are in minimum fluid communication with said diffuser apertures; actuator means operably associated with said throttle ring for moving said throttle ring between its first and second positions catalyst means in said housing and in fluid communication with said diffuser means for decomposing monopropellant; first nozzle means in said housing in fluid communication with said catalyst means; turbine means in said housing in fluid communication with said first nozzle means for driving said impeller means; second nozzle means in fluid communication with said turbine means; and outlet means from said housing in fluid communication with said second nozzle means for discharging fluid from the housing, whereby said impeller means increases the pressure of monopropellant and directs it toward said diffuser means and throttle ring where monopropellant flow is regulated and directed toward said catalyst means and said catalyst means decomposes said monopropellant to form an exhaust gas, and the exhaust gas expands through said first nozzle means to operate on said turbine means to drive said impeller and expands through said second nozzle means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said outlet includes a nozzle forming a throat whereby the gas generator operates as a turborocket engine.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2190670A
Cited
US2715367A
Cited
US3091921A
Cited
GB771896A
Cited
US3171251A
Cited
US3363420A
Cited
US3377140A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-31 | 1974-11-30 | 1975-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-31 | 1978-11-30 | 1979-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-31 | 1982-11-30 | 1983-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |