US3595022A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermodynamic reaction drive
Assignee: Licentia Patent Verwaltungs GmbH
•
Filing: 1969-04-09
•
Granted: 1971-07-27
•
Expires: 1989-04-09
Abstract
Abstract A thermodynamic reaction drive or rocket engine which employs liquefiable solid propellant. An alkali metal, which is used as the propellant, is stored in the fuel tank of the rocket engine in the solid state and then, whenever engine operation is desired, liquefied by heating to the necessary temperature. The liquid propellant is fed from the fuel tank through a De Laval nozzle into the mixing or combustion chamber where it is combined with an oxidizer. The propellant, which can be forced through the nozzle primarily by means of its own vapor pressure, is changed over at the nozzle into a two-phase flow. The oxidizer, which is simultaneously introduced into the mixing chamber at a higher pressure than the pressure in the chamber, effects the combustion of the propellant so that the internal energy of the products of combustion may be converted to kinetic energy in an appropriate thrust nozzle.
Inventors
- 👤 Reinhart Radebold
- 👤 Hermann Lang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:03
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02K; F02K9/00; F02K9/72; F02K7/00; F02K7/10; F02K7/18; F02K9/42; F02K9/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
Reaction drive apparatus comprising, in combination: a. a fuel tank: b. a mass of alkali metal propellant contained in said tank; c. a mixing chamber; d. first De Laval nozzle means connected to said fuel tank for discharging fuel into said mixing chamber; e. heating means for heating said propellant in said tank to a temperature sufficient for causing said propellant to be discharged through said nozzle in a two-phase liquid gas flow; and f. means for injecting an oxidizer for said propellant into said mixing chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
Reaction drive apparatus comprising, in combination: a. a fuel tank: b. a mass of alkali metal propellant contained in said tank; c. a mixing chamber; d. first De Laval nozzle means connected to said fuel tank for discharging fuel into said mixing chamber; e. heating means for heating said propellant in said tank to a temperature sufficient for causing said propellant to be discharged through said nozzle in a two-phase liquid gas flow; and f. means for injecting an oxidizer for said propellant into said mixing chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said mixing chamber is a combustion chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus defined in claim 2, further comprising second De Laval nozzle means connected to said combustion chamber for discharging products of combustion from said combustion chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein said first De Laval nozzle means is arranged to discharge fuel in the same direction as said second De Laval nozzle means discharges products of combustion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising control valve means arranged between said fuel tank and said first De Laval nozzle means for regulating the amount of fuel passing from said fuel tank to said first De Laval nozzle means. 6 The apparatus defineD in claim 1, wherein said means for injecting an oxidizer into said mixing chamber includes diffusor means for catching atmospheric air and injection said air into said mixing chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein said means for injecting an oxidizer into said mixing chamber includes injection nozzle means arranged to inject oxidizer at least in the region where said second De Laval nozzle is connected to said mixing chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus defined in claim 7, wherein said injection nozzle means is arranged to inject oxidizer along the entire length of said mixing chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus defined in claim 2, further comprising heat exchanger means connected to said fuel tank, said first De Laval nozzle and to said combustion chamber for preheating said fuel after it leaves said fuel tank and prior to its discharge through said first De Laval nozzle, said heat exchanger using heat generated in said combustion chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said propellant is normally present in its solid state.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2408111A
Cited
FR1004298A
Cited
US3203171A
Cited
US3107485A
Cited
US3102388A
Cited
US3149460A
Cited
US3116603A
Cited
US3320742A
Cited
US3368354A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-26 | 1975-01-25 | 1975-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-26 | 1979-01-25 | 1979-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-26 | 1983-01-25 | 1983-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |