Patent US3726088A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3726088A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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On-demand variable flow closed loop gas generator system with a variable area injector
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1971-08-20
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Granted: 1973-04-10
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Expires: 1991-08-20
Abstract
Abstract A closed loop monopropellant on-demand fuel feeding system for firing a reaction control device. The system includes a single bellows variable area injector having no valves other than an explosive disc in the propellant supply system separating the gas generator from the fuel storage tanks. The injector comprises a stationary pintle with swirl slots and a movable orifice plate attached to the bellows to vary the area of the swirl slots.
Inventors
- 👤 W Kretschmer
- 👤 P Heady
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:08
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02K; F02K9/00; F02K9/42; F02K9/60; F02K9/68; F02K9/44; F02K9/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
An on-demand closed loop variable flow gas generator for a reaction control system including a fuel flow means, variable flow injector, igniter and a gas generator with a plurality of thruster means, said injector comprising in combination: a. a fuel inlet operatively connected to said fuel flow means; b. fuel discharge ports; c. a stationary pintle device including said fuel inlet and said discharge port and a cone shaped point attached to a circular shaped downward extending portion, said downward extending portion including a means for swirling fuel and a plurality fuel discharge slots; d. a vertically extending partially enclosed sleeve with an upper flange portion and a lower flange portion having swirling fuel exit ports said sleeve circularly encompassing said stationary pintle; e. a bellows portion circularly encompassing said sleeve, said circularly surrounding pintle wherein a space between said bellows and said sleeve forms a fuel flow path for said fuel; f. an orifice plate operatively attached to said bellows and said sleeve so that when said bellows compresses or expands said sleeve and said plate move in a vertical direction with respect to said bellows; g. said plate having an orifice opening onto said gas generator; and h. said sleeve having a recessed portion to accept said downward extending portion of said pintle wherein said recessed portion varies the discharge area of said slots.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
An on-demand closed loop variable flow gas generator for a reaction control system including a fuel flow means, variable flow injector, igniter and a gas generator with a plurality of thruster means, said injector comprising in combination: a. a fuel inlet operatively connected to said fuel flow means; b. fuel discharge ports; c. a stationary pintle device including said fuel inlet and said discharge port and a cone shaped point attached to a circular shaped downward extending portion, said downward extending portion including a means for swirling fuel and a plurality fuel discharge slots; d. a vertically extending partially enclosed sleeve with an upper flange portion and a lower flange portion having swirling fuel exit ports said sleeve circularly encompassing said stationary pintle; e. a bellows portion circularly encompassing said sleeve, said circularly surrounding pintle wherein a space between said bellows and said sleeve forms a fuel flow path for said fuel; f. an orifice plate operatively attached to said bellows and said sleeve so that when said bellows compresses or expands said sleeve and said plate move in a vertical direction with respect to said bellows; g. said plate having an orifice opening onto said gas generator; and h. said sleeve having a recessed portion to accept said downward extending portion of said pintle wherein said recessed portion varies the discharge area of said slots.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device in claim 1 wherein said igniter is operatively attached to an opening into said gas generator at a 30* angle from said injector to allow a convergence between ignited fuel and injector fuel at locus point in said generator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
124 words
The device recited in claim 1 wherein said igniter is divided into a first section and a second section wherein said first and second section are separated by a foil burst disc, said first section comprising a solid propellent grain and a squib to ignite said propellant and a filter attached to a nozzle, said nozzle discharging said ignited propellant at such a pressure to break said disc, thus allowing propellant to enter said second section, said second section comprising ball powder surrounding a further burst disc and a foil disc which separates said second section from the chamber of said gas generator, said ignited propellant subsequently igniting ball powder and breaking said discs, thus allowing said ignited propellant to enter said gas generator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device recited in claim 1 wherein saiD sleeve includes a pressure equalization means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device recited in claim 4 wherein said equalization means is a flange extending from the upper portion of said sleeve and said flange including three pressure equalization holes wherein said flange is located between a vertical limiting means whereby said vertical movement of said flange bellows and orifice plate are limited by said limiting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device recited in claim 5 wherein said equalization means further includes a sealing means coupled to said flange wherein said flange having holes and said sealing means, when located in said limiting means, functions as a dash pot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device recited in claim 1 wherein said swirl slots are tangentially intermittently located at 45* of the side walls of said downward extending portion of said pintle and in a stationary relationship with respect to said orifice.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device recited in claim 7 wherein the propellant is brought into rotation into said orifice plate by means of said tangential slots of downward section of said stationary pintle in a swirl chamber formed by said orifice and said slots.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device recited in claim 8 wherein said movable orifice includes a slotted portion to accept said downward extending portion with said tangential slots whereby said orifice plate in moving away from said pintle said tangential slots are uncovered thus varying the effective area of said swirl chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device recited in claim 9 wherein said swirl chamber is joined to the bellows wherein said movement is initiated by a pressure differential across the bellows and swirl chamber wherein the resistance to movement by said bellows is further controlled by a pressure equalization means.
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) | 1976-04-09 | 1976-10-09 | 1977-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-09 | 1980-10-09 | 1981-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-09 | 1984-10-09 | 1985-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |