Patent US3802192A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US3802192A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Integral rocket-ramjet with combustor plenum chamber

Assignee: United States Department of the Air Force
•
Filing: 1972-10-04
•
Granted: 1974-04-09
•
Expires: 1992-10-04
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An integral rocket-ramjet engine, wherein a rocket fuel grain is located in the ramjet combustor, having a flow distribution plate forming a plenum chamber at the forward end of the engine to increase efficiency and stabilize the burning of the fuel during ramjet operation.

Inventors

  • 👤 E Curran

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 06:35
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02K; F02K7/00; F02K7/10; F02K7/18

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 182 words
In an integral rocket-ramjet booster having a rocket housing; a payload within said housing; a ramjet combustor within said housing; means for supplying ram air to said ramjet combustor; means for supplying fuel to said ramjet combustor; a rocket fuel grain in the ramjet combustor and nozzle means connected to said ramjet combustor; an apparatus for stabilizing the burning of the fuel in the ramjet combustor after rocket burnout; comprising: means, adjacent the front end of the fuel grain, for forming a plenum chamber at the head end of said ramjet combustor for receiving ram air and fuel means, in said plenum chamber forming means, for providing a stabilized flow of air and fuel in the ramjet combustor; said means for forming a plenum chamber comprising a wall member spaced from the forward end of said combustor; said wall member having a plurality of passages for fuel and air; said wall member having a projection adapted to fit into a central cavity in said fuel grain; said projection including means for providing a radial flow of air and fuel into said combustor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 182 words
In an integral rocket-ramjet booster having a rocket housing; a payload within said housing; a ramjet combustor within said housing; means for supplying ram air to said ramjet combustor; means for supplying fuel to said ramjet combustor; a rocket fuel grain in the ramjet combustor and nozzle means connected to said ramjet combustor; an apparatus for stabilizing the burning of the fuel in the ramjet combustor after rocket burnout; comprising: means, adjacent the front end of the fuel grain, for forming a plenum chamber at the head end of said ramjet combustor for receiving ram air and fuel means, in said plenum chamber forming means, for providing a stabilized flow of air and fuel in the ramjet combustor; said means for forming a plenum chamber comprising a wall member spaced from the forward end of said combustor; said wall member having a plurality of passages for fuel and air; said wall member having a projection adapted to fit into a central cavity in said fuel grain; said projection including means for providing a radial flow of air and fuel into said combustor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 170 words
In an integral rocket-ramjet booster having a rocket housing; a payload within said housing; a ramjet combustor within said housing; means for supplying ram air to said ramjet combustor; means for supplying fuel to said ramjet combustor; a rocket fuel grain in the ramjet combustor and nozzle means connected to said ramjet combustor; an apparatus for stabilizing the burning of the fuel in the ramjet combustor after rocket burnout; comprising: means, adjacent the front end of the fuel grain, for forming a plenum chamber at the head end of said ramjet combustor for receiving ram air and fuel and means, in said plenum chamber forming means, for providing a stabilized flow of air and fuel in the ramjet combustor; said means for forming a plenum chamber comprising a wall member spaced from the forward end of said combustor; said wall member having a plurality of passages for fuel and air; means positioned adjacent and supported by said wall member for controlling the flow of fuel and air through said passages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 170 words
In an integral rocket-ramjet booster having a rocket housing; a payload within said housing; a ramjet combustor within said housing; means for supplying ram air to said ramjet combustor; means for supplying fuel to said ramjet combustor; a rocket fuel grain in the ramjet combustor and nozzle means connected to said ramjet combustor; an apparatus for stabilizing the burning of the fuel in the ramjet combustor after rocket burnout; comprising: means, adjacent the front end of the fuel grain, for forming a plenum chamber at the head end of said ramjet combustor for receiving ram air and fuel and means, in said plenum chamber forming means, for providing a stabilized flow of air and fuel in the ramjet combustor; said means for forming a plenum chamber comprising a wall member spaced from the forward end of said combustor; said wall member having a plurality of passages for fuel and air; means positioned adjacent and supported by said wall member for controlling the flow of fuel and air through said passages.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 140 words
In an integral rocket-ramjet booster having a rocket housing; a payload within said housing; a ramjet combustor within said housing; means for supplying ram air to said ramjet combustor; means for supplying fuel to said ramjet combustor; a rocket fuel grain in the ramjet combustor and nozzle means connected to said ramjet combustor; an apparatus for stabilizing the burning of the fuel in the ramjet combustor after rocket burnout; comprising: means, adjacent the front end of the fuel grain, for forming a plenum chamber at the head end of said ramjet combustor for receiving ram air and fuel and means, in said plenum chamber forming means, for providing a stabilized flow of air and fuel in the ramjet combustor; wherein the means for forming a plenum chamber includes means for providing a swirl of air and fuel in said combustor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 140 words
In an integral rocket-ramjet booster having a rocket housing; a payload within said housing; a ramjet combustor within said housing; means for supplying ram air to said ramjet combustor; means for supplying fuel to said ramjet combustor; a rocket fuel grain in the ramjet combustor and nozzle means connected to said ramjet combustor; an apparatus for stabilizing the burning of the fuel in the ramjet combustor after rocket burnout; comprising: means, adjacent the front end of the fuel grain, for forming a plenum chamber at the head end of said ramjet combustor for receiving ram air and fuel and means, in said plenum chamber forming means, for providing a stabilized flow of air and fuel in the ramjet combustor; wherein the means for forming a plenum chamber includes means for providing a swirl of air and fuel in said combustor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 145 words
In an integral rocket-ramjet booster having a rocket housing; a payload within said housing; a ramjet combustor within said housing; means for supplying ram air to said ramjet combustor; means for supplying fuel to said ramjet combustor; a rocket fuel grain in the ramjet combustor and nozzle means connected to said ramjet combustor; an apparatus for stabilizing the burning of the fuel in the ramjet combustor after rocket burnout; comprising: means, adjacent the front end of the fuel grain, for forming a plenum chamber at the head end of said ramjet combustor for receiving ram air and fuel and means, in said plenum chamber forming means, for providing a stabilizer flow of air and fuel in the ramjet combustor; said plenum chamber is an annular plenum chamber; means for providing a radial inward flow of air and fuel from said plenum chamber into the combustor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 145 words
In an integral rocket-ramjet booster having a rocket housing; a payload within said housing; a ramjet combustor within said housing; means for supplying ram air to said ramjet combustor; means for supplying fuel to said ramjet combustor; a rocket fuel grain in the ramjet combustor and nozzle means connected to said ramjet combustor; an apparatus for stabilizing the burning of the fuel in the ramjet combustor after rocket burnout; comprising: means, adjacent the front end of the fuel grain, for forming a plenum chamber at the head end of said ramjet combustor for receiving ram air and fuel and means, in said plenum chamber forming means, for providing a stabilizer flow of air and fuel in the ramjet combustor; said plenum chamber is an annular plenum chamber; means for providing a radial inward flow of air and fuel from said plenum chamber into the combustor.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2457157A Cited
US2799987A Cited
US2987875A Cited
US3067582A Cited
US3724216A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-04-08 1977-10-08 1978-04-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-04-08 1981-10-08 1982-04-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-04-08 1985-10-08 1986-04-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag