Solid propellant rocket

Claim 2

The rocket motor of claim 1 wherein the polymeric binder is selected from the group consisting of plasticized double-based nitrocellulose, polybutadiene, polyurethane, polysulfide-hydrocarbon, polyisobutylene and polyvinyl-chloride.

Claim 3

The rocket motor of claim 1 wherein the powdered light fuel is selected from the group consisting of beryllium, boron, aluminum, magnesium, zirconium, titanium, lithium, silicon, aluminum borohydride and the hydrides of the metals.

Claim 4

The rocket system of claim 1 wherein the powdered light fuel is beryllium.

Claim 5

The rocket motor of claim 1 wherein the alkanes are selected from the group consisting of methane, ethane, butane, propane, heptane and dodecane, the alkenes are selected from the group consisting of ethylene and propylene and the alkyne is acetylene.

Claim 6

The rocket motor of claim 6 wherein said pressurized fuel contains fine suspensions of carbon.

Claim 7

The rocket motor of claim 1 including means within said pressure chamber adjacent said throat for initially partially cooling the gaseous products of combustion prior to their passage through the throat.

Claim 8

The rocket motor of claim 8 wherein said means for initially partially cooling the gaseous products of combustion includes a cast ring comprising 30-50 percent synthetic rubber compound rich in hydrocarbons, 10-30 percent carbon black and 15-40 percent nitroamine that reacts with the hot products of combustion and provides an endothermic reaction to remove heat.

Claim 9

The rocket motor of claim 9 wherein the synthetic rubber compound is selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polyurethane, polysulfide-hydrocarbon, polyisobutylene, polyvinylchloride, polyethylene, polypropylene and polyisoprene and the nitroamine is selected from the group consisting of 1,3, 5,7 tetranitro-1,3,5,7 tetrazacycloctane and 1,3,5 trinitro-1,3,5 triazacylcohexane.

Claim 10

A process for achieving high specific impulse in a solid propellant rocket motor, comprising combusting a solid propellant containing an oxidizer, polymeric binder and a powdered light fuel selected from the group consisting of beryllium, boron, aluminum, magnesium, zirconium, titanium, lithium, silicon, aluminum borohydride and the hydrides of the metals, to form as part of the products of combustion a mixture of steam and the oxide of the light metal, allowing said mixture to react at combustion temperatures to form the metal hydroxide gas, and cooling said metal hydroxide gas to a temperature sufficient to release the latent heat of vaporization of said metal hydroxide gas and form metal oxide crystals in a particle size of 0.01 to 0.5 microns and steam, said cooling being accomplished by injecting a pressurized fuel, selected from the group consisting of alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes, and mixtures thereof, into the metal hydroxide gas while it is expanding.

Claim 11

The process of claim 11 wherein said combustion temperature is in the range of 3,000* to 4,000* C and said cooled temperature is in the range of 900* to 1,500* C.

Claim 12

The process of claim 11 wherein the alkanes are selected from the group consisting of methane, ethane, butane, propane, heptane and dodecane, the alkenes are selected from the group consisting of ethylene and propylene and the alkylene is acetylene.

Claim 13

The process of claim 11 wherein said cooling step is initiated by first passing said products of combustion through a cast ring comprising 30-50 percent synthetic rubber compound rich in hydrocarbons, 10-30 percent carbon black and 15-40 percent nitroamine to react with said products of combustion endothermically to remove heat from said products of combustion prior to expansion.

Claim 14

The process of claim 14 wherein the synthetic rubber compound is selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polyurethane, polysulfide-hydrocarbon, polyisobutylene, polyvinylchloride, polyethylene, polypropylene and polyisoprene and the nitroamine is selected from the group consisting of 1,3, 5,7 tetranitro-1,3,5,7 tetrazacycloctane and 1,3,5 trinitro-1,3,5 triazacyclohexane.