Patent US4387564A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4387564A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Extendible rocket engine exhaust nozzle assembly
Assignee: Textron Inc
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Filing: 1980-10-03
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Granted: 1983-06-14
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Expires: 2000-10-03
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed an improved upper-stage rocket motor/engine assembly of the type which comprises in combination with the basic rocket engine/motor and rigid or fixed nozzle thereof one or more telescoping nestible-extendible truncated cone-shaped collars of rigid structural form, and a further deployable perimetrically attached skirt formed of sheet metal or the like which is pleat-folded inwardly from an initial truncated cone-shaped configuration into a generally planar configuration. The assembly when inoperative is stowed within the basic engine/motor and nozzle profile; but in association with engine/motor firing the extendible components thereof are progressively deployed in accord with an improved technique to provide the desired extended length and plume exiting diameter/area nozzle effect.
Inventors
- 👤 Lee F. Carey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:23
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/22; B64G1/40; B64G1/403; F; F02; F02K; F02K9/00; F02K9/97; F02K9/976; B64G1/24; B64G1/242; B64G1/2427
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
An extendible rocket thruster exhaust plume nozzle assembly comprising, in combination with a thruster casing having a structurally rigid fixed nozzle extending conically therefrom; one or more truncated-cone-shaped collars of rigid structural forms carried by slide support means arranged concentrically about said fixed nozzle, the outermost collar thereof being thereby furthermost extendible downstream of the thruster exhaust plume upon firing of the thruster and deployment of said assembly; a further deployable skirt member perimetrically attached to said outermost of said collars, said skirt member comprising an annularly shaped pleat-folded sheet material fabrication of generally planar configuration retracted within the exit profiles of said collars and when so retracted is located out of the plume exhaust profile; said collar(s) and said skirt member being nested in compacted relation within the requisite overall profile envelope of said thruster casing and fixed nozzle combination; restraint means locking said outermost collar member against deployment relative to said casing nozzle; release means operative upon firing of said thruster to unlock said restraint means; and force supply means operative upon unlocking of said restraint means to propel said outermost collar to slide on its support means in downstream direction relative to the thruster exhaust plume and to move said skirt member into the exhaust plume profile whereupon said skirt member unfolds in response to fluid pressures thereagainst generated by firing of said thruster.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
An extendible rocket thruster exhaust plume nozzle assembly comprising, in combination with a thruster casing having a structurally rigid fixed nozzle extending conically therefrom; one or more truncated-cone-shaped collars of rigid structural forms carried by slide support means arranged concentrically about said fixed nozzle, the outermost collar thereof being thereby furthermost extendible downstream of the thruster exhaust plume upon firing of the thruster and deployment of said assembly; a further deployable skirt member perimetrically attached to said outermost of said collars, said skirt member comprising an annularly shaped pleat-folded sheet material fabrication of generally planar configuration retracted within the exit profiles of said collars and when so retracted is located out of the plume exhaust profile; said collar(s) and said skirt member being nested in compacted relation within the requisite overall profile envelope of said thruster casing and fixed nozzle combination; restraint means locking said outermost collar member against deployment relative to said casing nozzle; release means operative upon firing of said thruster to unlock said restraint means; and force supply means operative upon unlocking of said restraint means to propel said outermost collar to slide on its support means in downstream direction relative to the thruster exhaust plume and to move said skirt member into the exhaust plume profile whereupon said skirt member unfolds in response to fluid pressures thereagainst generated by firing of said thruster.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said force supply means comprises spring means pre-compressed into spring force stored condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said spring means comprises compression springs slidably biasing said outermost collar relative to its slide support means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said springs are compressed between stationary brackets extending from the fixed nozzle and portions of said outermost collar, and wherein said outermost collar is locked against deployment by restraint means interconnecting said stationary brackets and said collar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said restraint means comprises explosive bolts responsive to destruct control means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slide support means comprises rods arranged in parallel longitudinally extending and spaced apart relation around said fixed nozzle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said skirt member is of generally flat annular form and comprises a fabrication from ductile sheet material having been plastically deformed and pleat-folded along a plurality of crease lines from a frusto-conical shape into a substantially flat annular form.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said plurality of creases along which said folded skirt has been folded, are straight line creases and include an equal integral number of repeated first, second and third creases.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said skirt member comprises a workpiece formed of sheet material initially pleat-folded in a manner which permits said skirt to assume a generally annular planar form, and is attached to said outermost collar in a stowed position radially outwardly of and behind the exit end of the thruster fixed nozzle, said skirt device being so formed of thin sheet heat-resistant, substantially non-elastic material as to be adapted to unfold upon thruster firing into a frusto-conical configuration providing a constant slope extension of the fixed nozzle; thereby increasing both the length and diameter of the effective thruster nozzle and skirt combination.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said force supply means includes the thruster fuel combustion exhaust plume acting on the infolded and progressively unfolding skirt member to produce impingement and drag forces operating thereagainst.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-06-13 | 1986-12-13 | 1987-06-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-13 | 1990-12-13 | 1991-06-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-13 | 1994-12-13 | 1995-06-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |