US3596465A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inflatable transpiration cooled nozzle
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1970-03-12
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Granted: 1971-08-03
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Expires: 1990-03-12
Abstract
Abstract A rocket engine nozzle skirt for increasing the expansion ratio of a main engine nozzle. The skirt is fabricated from a woven, double wall, fabric material which can be folded back around the main nozzle and later inflated to achieve its desired shape. The exterior surface of the nozzle extension is coated with a suitable sealant leaving the inner wall unsealed and with a porosity such that the inflation gas bleeds through to provide transpiration cooling of the nozzle skirt.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald E Pryor
- 👤 Benjamin K Holmes
- 👤 James R Thompson Jr
- 👤 Charles N Scott
- 👤 William W Sowa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:14
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02K; F02K9/00; F02K9/97; F02K9/976
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
An improved rocket nozzle, comprising: a main rocket having a divergent shape nozzle; a manifold mounted adjacent the back end of said nozzle, said manifold receiving the exhaust gas from the main rocket turbine; a fabric nozzle extension diverging from its forward to rear ends; said nozzle having outer and inner wall panels of woven fabrics interconnected by fiber drop threads; said panels being joined at their rear end and having a low porosity; said outer and inner wall panels being joined to said turbine exhaust manifold so the gas exhaust thereof will spill between the wall panels and thereby inflate the nozzle extension and give it mechanical rigidity; said nozzle extension having its walls sealed except for the inner wall such that the exhaust gas will transpire through it and protect the nozzle from the exhaust gases of the main rocket engine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
An improved rocket nozzle, comprising: a main rocket having a divergent shape nozzle; a manifold mounted adjacent the back end of said nozzle, said manifold receiving the exhaust gas from the main rocket turbine; a fabric nozzle extension diverging from its forward to rear ends; said nozzle having outer and inner wall panels of woven fabrics interconnected by fiber drop threads; said panels being joined at their rear end and having a low porosity; said outer and inner wall panels being joined to said turbine exhaust manifold so the gas exhaust thereof will spill between the wall panels and thereby inflate the nozzle extension and give it mechanical rigidity; said nozzle extension having its walls sealed except for the inner wall such that the exhaust gas will transpire through it and protect the nozzle from the exhaust gases of the main rocket engine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An improved rocket nozzle according to claim 1 in which the fibers of the woven fabrics and drop threads of the nozzle extension are metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An improved rocket nozzle according to claim 2 in which said sealed walls are sealed with a silicon elastomeric material and the metal woven fibers and drop threads are of stainless steel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
An improved nozzle extension for a rocket engine, comprising: a fabric sandwich construction having a divergent opening extending from its front to rear ends; said construction having an outer wall panel of woven fabric and an inner wall of woven fabric interconnected by drop threads, said panels being joined at their rear end and having a low porosity; said outer panel being sealed and said inner panel being unsealed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
An improved nozzle extension for a rocket engine, comprising: a fabric sandwich construction having a divergent opening extending from its front to rear ends; said construction having an outer wall panel of woven fabric and an inner wall of woven fabric interconnected by drop threads, said panels being joined at their rear end and having a low porosity; said outer panel being sealed and said inner panel being unsealed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An improved nozzle extension according to claim 4 wherein said fabric and drop threads are woven from stainless steel multifilament yarn.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An improved nozzle extension according to claim 5 wherein said multifilament yarn is made of 0.5 mil filaments twisted two turns per inch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
An improved nozzle extension according to claim 5 in which the fabric is made using about 112 yarns per inch in the warp direction with each yarn consisting of about 90-half-mil filaments, and about 80 yarns per inch in the fill direction with each yarn consisting of about 300-half-mil filaments, and a drop thread density of about 42.5 yarns per square inch with each yarn consisting of about 300-half-mil filaments such that a panel porosity of about 1 percent is achieved.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An improved nozzle extension according to claim 5 wherein said outer panel is sealed with a silicon elastomeric material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
An improved nozzle extension according to claim 4 including a mounting ring joined to the front end of the outer panel and a mounting ring joined to the front end of the inner panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
An improved nozzle extension according to claim 4 including means for inflating said sandwich construction with a gas such that it will become mechanically rigid and the gas will bleed through the unsealed inner panel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-02 | 1975-02-01 | 1975-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-02-01 | 1979-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-02 | 1983-02-01 | 1983-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |