Abstract: An air-breathing turbojet engine (101) for a hypersonic vehicle is shown. The engine comprises a pump for pumping a cryogenic fuel, an inlet (102) configured to compress inlet air by one or more shocks, a cooler (103) to cool the compressed inlet air using the cryogenic fuel, and a turbo-compressor (104) to compress the air further. A combustor (105) receives compressed cooled air from the turbo-compressor and a first portion of the cryogenic fuel for combustion. A first turbine (106) expands and is driven by combustion products, and a second turbine (107) expands and is driven by a second portion of the cryogenic fuel. The first turbine and the second turbine drive the turbo-compressor via a shaft. An afterburner (109) receives combustion products from the first turbine and the second portion of the cryogenic fuel from the second turbine for combustion therein.

Abstract: A hybrid power system for a vertical takeoff and landing (“VTOL”) aircraft including a first power source operable to provide a power output for at least a forward flight mode; and a second power source configured to provide a high specific power output for an altitude adjustment flight mode, the second power source including an auxiliary gas generator coupled to a turbine and a drive system. In other aspects, there is provided a VTOL aircraft and methods for providing power to a VTOL aircraft.

Abstract: A turbopump includes a turbine fed with hot gas, a pump driven by the turbine and fed with liquid fluid, and a hot gas exhaust pipe situated downstream from the turbine. The turbopump includes a bleed-and-injection circuit including a bleeder for bleeding the liquid fluid at the outlet from the pump, a heater for heating the liquid fluid as bled off in this way so as to transform it into gaseous fluid, and an injector for injecting the gaseous fluid into an interface region of the turbopump situated between the pump and the turbine, so as to optimize the flow and temperature conditions of the fluid entering into the turbine cavity in order to eliminate the vibratory phenomena that result from interaction between the fluid and the turbine disk.

Abstract: The invention relates to systems enabling the use of cryogenic fuels within combustion engines, including jet engines.

Abstract: A support ring for a row of vanes in an engine section of a gas turbine engine includes an annular main body portion for providing structural support for a row of vanes in the engine section, an aft hook, a forward wall, and a strong back plate. The aft hook extends from an aft side of the main body portion and is coupled to an outer engine casing for structurally supporting the support ring in the engine section. The forward wall extends generally radially outwardly from a forward side of the main body portion. The strong back plate spans between the forward wall and the aft hook and effects a reduction in dynamic displacement between the forward wall and the aft hook during operation of the engine.

Abstract: A turbojet is combined with a co-axially integrated rotary rocket to form a propulsion system called a Rotary Turbo Rocket that can function as a turbojet, as an afterburning turbojet, as an Air Turbo Rocket, or as a rotary rocket. The Rotary Turbo Rocket can operate in any of these propulsion modes singularly, or in any combination of these propulsion modes, and can transition continuously or abruptly between operating modes. The Rotary Turbo Rocket can span the zero to orbital flight velocity speed range and/or operate continuously as it transitions from atmospheric to space flight by transitioning between operating modes.

Abstract: A rocket engine comprises a prechamber and a combustion chamber, two respective feed pipes of the engine, and two turbopumps. The engine is a staged combustion engine. A jet pump is arranged in at least a first feed pipe. After being pressurized, a portion of the fluid flowing in the first feed pipe is directed to the jet pump in order to enable the jet pump to entrain the fluid flowing in said feed pipe to the admission orifice of said first pump, thereby raising the pressure at the feed orifice of the pump.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of aerospace propulsion, and more particularly to a propulsion assembly having at least one channel defined by an inner wall and an outer wall, the channel presenting an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the assembly including a plurality of rocket engines oriented axially in the channel and forming ejectors for accelerating a flow of air in the channel to supersonic speed. Downstream from the outlet opening from the channel, the inner wall forms a single expansion ramp nozzle. The invention also provides an aerospace craft and a method of propulsion using such a propulsion assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for a hybrid liquid propellant rocket engine. In an embodiment, the engine includes a first pump powered by a first turbine, a second pump powered by a second turbine, and a gas generator. An output of the gas generator is connected to the first turbine and the second turbine. The engine further includes a third pump powered by a third turbine, a fourth pump powered by a fourth turbine, and a nozzle having an expander cycle in a wall and a combustion chamber. An output of the third pump is connected to the expander cycle and an output of the wall is connected to the third turbine and the fourth turbine. An output of the fourth pump, an output of the third turbine, and an output of the fourth turbine are connected to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A system and method of cooling a rocket motor component includes injecting a high pressure liquid coolant through an injector nozzle into a cooling chamber. The cooling chamber having a pressure lower than the high pressure liquid coolant. The liquid coolant flashes into a saturated liquid-vapor coolant mixture in the cooling chamber. The saturated liquid-vapor coolant mixture is at equilibrium at the lower pressure of the cooling chamber. Heat from the rocket motor component to be cooled is absorbed by the coolant. A portion of the liquid portion of the saturated liquid-vapor coolant mixture is converted into gas phase, the converted portion being less than 100% of the coolant. A portion of the coolant is released from the cooling chamber and the coolant in the cooling chamber is dynamically maintained at less than 100% gas phase of the coolant as the thrust and heat generated by the rocket motor varies.

Abstract: A centrifugal impeller with a single inlet and dual outlets that include a low pressure outlet and a high pressure outlet. The impeller includes low pressure blades with high pressure blades located downstream. The impeller can be shrouded or unshrouded, and can include an inner shroud that forms a flow path for the low pressure fluid and a high pressure flow path for the high pressure fluid. The impeller can include a high pressure volute and a low pressure volute that forms a dual volute with dual diffusers for both fluids.

Abstract: A rocket propulsion system having a liquid fuel tank and a liquid oxidizer tank, where a liquid inert gas tank supplies liquid inert gas to a liquid inert gas pump driven by a turbine of the engine to pressurize the liquid inert gas, which is passed through a heat exchanger around the nozzle to vaporize the inert gas, that is then used to pressurize the liquid oxidizer tank so that a liquid oxidizer pump is not needed, or to pressurize both the liquid oxidizer tank and the liquid fuel tank so that a liquid oxidizer pump and a liquid fuel pump are not needed in the rocket engine.

Abstract: A propulsion system including: a booster; a turbojet engine; the booster including a chamber which is fixed to a rear casing of the turbojet engine by being arranged along the longitudinal axis thereof, which chamber includes at a rear a jet pipe and includes at least one charge and a mechanism initiating the charge; and gas bleed tubes connected to the booster and which are configured either for igniting the combustion chamber of the turbojet engine on for starting the turbine of the turbojet.

Abstract: A turbopump for feeding a low-thrust rocket engine comprises a pump, a turbine, and a common rotary shaft connected to the pump and to the turbine. First and second bearings closer respectively to the pump and to the turbine serve to support the common shaft. The second bearing is a hydrodynamic bearing connected to a gas supply source, and the turbopump also includes at least one dynamic sealing gasket around the shaft and interposed between the first and second bearings.

Abstract: A hybrid expander cycle rocket engine with separate turbopumps for a fuel and an oxidizer, where the fuel pump is driven by gaseous fuel passed from the fuel pump and through a heat exchanger formed within the nozzle or combustion chamber and passed through the fuel turbine and then into the combustion chamber. The oxidizer turbopump is driven by the gas generator with the fuel diverted from the fuel pump and burned with some of the oxidizer from the oxidizer pump.

Abstract: A rocket engine includes a thrust chamber having a cooling channel, which is adapted to provide sustained cracking conditions for a fluid (e.g., kerosene) within the cooling channel under steady-state engine operating conditions. An augmenter having a fluid input communicates with an output of the cooling channel, and an output of the augmenter is in fluid communication with a turbine. A pump is mechanically coupled to the turbine, and provides fluid flow to the inlet of the cooling channel.

Abstract: An engine system includes a thrust chamber that has a cooling channel. The cooling channel is adapted to provide sustained cracking conditions for a fluid at steady-state operating conditions. A turbine has an input in fluid communication with an output of the cooling channel. A pump is mechanically coupled with the turbine and is in fluid communication with the cooling channel.

Abstract: A rocket nozzle includes a dual-bell nozzle and a gas introducing section configured to introduce gas into space surrounded by the dual-bell nozzle. Combustion gas flows in the space. The dual-bell nozzle includes a first stage nozzle bell-shaped and surrounding an upstream portion of the space, and a second stage nozzle bell-shaped and surrounding a downstream portion of the space. The dual-bell nozzle has an inflection point between the first stage nozzle and the second stage nozzle. The gas introducing section includes a gas inlet provided to an inner wall surface of the first stage nozzle. The gas is introduced into the space from the gas inlet.

Abstract: A Helmholtz resonator is used to detect a presence of a two-phase flow in a conduit. The resonator is sized so that a range of frequencies it is tuned for corresponds to a change in the speed of sound as the fluid changes from all liquid, to liquid plus vapor, and to all vapor. A band-pass filter is used to cancel out any external noise that would pollute the signal from the resonator. The resonator is used to monitor for a two-phase flow occurring within a feed line leading into a turbopump of a rocket engine.

Abstract: Assemblies of one or more implant structures make possible the achievement of diverse interventions involving the fusion and/or stabilization of lumbar and sacral vertebra in a non-invasive manner, with minimal incision, and without the necessitating the removing the intervertebral disc. The representative lumbar spine interventions, which can be performed on adults or children, include, but are not limited to, lumbar interbody fusion; translaminar lumbar fusion; lumbar facet fusion; trans-iliac lumbar fusion; and the stabilization of a spondylolisthesis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reactor utilizing high-voltage discharge for processing exhausted hydrogen gas emitted during membrane plating, etching, or washing of semiconductors, where higher than 95% of destruction and removal efficiency (DRE) of hydrogen gas is obtained.

Abstract: A rocket nozzle includes a dual-bell nozzle and a gas introducing section configured to introduce gas into space surrounded by the dual-bell nozzle. Combustion gas flows in the space. The dual-bell nozzle includes a first stage nozzle bell-shaped and surrounding an upstream portion of the space, and a second stage nozzle bell-shaped and surrounding a downstream portion of the space. The dual-bell nozzle has an inflection point between the first stage nozzle and the second stage nozzle. The gas introducing section includes a gas inlet provided to an inner wall surface of the first stage nozzle. The gas is introduced into the space from the gas inlet.

Abstract: A propulsion system for a combined aircraft/spacecraft including: a jet engine having a longitudinal axis defined in a direction from a front end at an air intake to a rear end at a jet exhaust: a front end at an air intake to a rear end at the jet exhaust; a rocket engine having a longitudinal axis defined normal to a rear end at a rocket exhaust; a common engine housing having an elongated shape and wherein the jet engine and the rocket engine are configured substantially coaxially and with respective rear ends facing the same direction when the rocket engine is operated.

Abstract: A linear aerospike rocket engine receives continuous air breathing assistance from an oxygen turbopump powered axial flow air compressor and side mounted integrated adjustable ramp shape ramjets. The preferred embodiment receives all its thrust from air breathing during the start to about 1.95 kilometers per second (4300 mph) up to 20 miles altitude. It uses about 50% of the thrust from air breathing from 1.95-3 klm/second (4300-6700 mph). It uses about 10% of the thrust from air breathing engines at 30 miles altitude. It uses rocket turbines for powering the air compressor or the liquid oxygen pump, but not simultaneously.

Abstract: An aft closure assembly manufactured from two separate and distinct pieces made from different materials is provided for a rocket motor case. The aft closure assembly includes at least a retaining ring piece made from a first material similar to or having a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to that of the motor case. The aft closure assembly includes a blast tube and closure piece that can be manufactured from a second material that does not need to be similar to nor have a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to the motor case and retaining ring piece. This is possible because the blast tube and closure piece includes a face seal that seals against a face of the retaining ring.

Abstract: The engine for a rocket is suitable for using for an educational program. The engine uses a liquid phase propellant having a predetermined boiling point and a heating substance having a temperature higher than the boiling point. The engine has an inner wall having a circumferential surface; an outer wall surrounding the inner wall, the outer wall having an interior surface spaced from the circumferential surface of the inner wall by a predetermined distance such that the space between the circumferential surface and the interior surface form a mixing chamber having an opening; and injector for injecting the liquid-phase propellant and the heating substance into the mixing chamber so that the propellant is evaporated by the heating substance thereby creating a jet stream moving from the opening of the mixing chamber to the outside of the mixing chamber.

Abstract: A micro air vehicle is propelled by a bipropellant micro engine supplied with hydrogen peroxide and a hydrocarbon fuel. The hydrogen peroxide is decomposed to produce steam and oxygen at high temperature and the hydrocarbon fuel is burnt within a combustion chamber with oxygen produced from such decomposition. Products of such decomposition and combustion are exited through a nozzle to produce thrust. In a preferred embodiment there is also a ducted turbofan located downstream of the nozzle exit.

Abstract: A gaseous-fuel rocket engine in which an expanding oxidizer driven turbine or electric motor drives the an axial gaseous-fuel turbine compressor. The oxidizer is subsequently injected into a gaseous-fuel duct surrounding the axial gaseous-fuel compressor and defining a gaseous-fuel path having an inlet. The gaseous-fuel and oxygen mixture is ignited and the burned gases are expanded through a converging-diverging exhaust nozzle.

Abstract: A multi-mode multi-propellant rocket engine capable of operating in a plurality of selected modes. G f ⁡ ( K X + 1 ) ⁢ C * A * ⁢ P 0 = 1 Propellant components may include liquid hydrogen, liquid hydrocarbon, liquid oxygen, liquid fluorine, and liquid air. The liquid oxygen and the liquid air are stored in separate tanks are mixed in a dedicated mixer prior to their injection into the combustion chamber.

Abstract: The invention is an airframe which includes a vehicle (12) having a solid propellant rocket engine (14) and a ramjet or scramjet engine (16); a thrust plug (18) extending from an end (20) of the vehicle which directs combustion gases (23 and 64) produced by the solid propellant rocket engine or ramjet/scramjet engine to produce forward thrust; a longitudinal passage (38) extending from the end of the vehicle to an opening (30) forward of the end which receives external air directed by forward movement of the vehicle and in which solid propellant (32) of the solid propellant rocket engine is located, and wherein during rocket operation solid propellant is combusted to produce the combustion gases in the longitudinal passage which are conveyed by the longitudinal passage into contact with the thrust plug and during ramjet/scramjet operation the longitudinal passage is open to flow of external air after operation of the solid propellant rocket engine is completed and which supports mixing and combustion of the a

Abstract: A turbo-rocket thruster is disclosed in which the turbine compressor is used to intake and compress a gaseous fuel for combustion with a stored oxidizer injected into the compressed gaseous fuel stream. The compressor stage is driven by the turbine stage, which is driven by burning gaseous fuel passing across the turbine blades. The burned gases are then expanded through an exhaust nozzle and thereby ejected to produce reaction thrust.

Abstract: A low noise power plant (100) for providing thrust to a missile (102) having a solid fuel propellant (104) for generating a pressurized gas. A turbine (106) converts the pressurized gas to rotary motion and a drive shaft (108) transfers the rotary motion to a load (110). In a preferred embodiment, the power plant (100) is utilized to drive a projectile (102). A solid fuel stick (104) located within a combustion chamber (112) is ignited and burned to provide pressurized gas which is directed to the turbine (106) via an exhaust tube (114). The pressurized gas is at a relatively low pressure and volume which minimizes the generation of noise. The turbine (106) and the drive shaft (108) are each rotated by the pressurized gas. The gases expelled from the turbine (106) are near atmospheric pressure which further minimizes the generation of noise. The power of the rotating drive shaft (108) can be converted to useful power by a speed reduction gearbox (140).

Abstract: A combined turborocket and ramjet propulsion unit comprises an air intake duct, and an air compressor with two counter-rotating rotor stages disposed downstream of the duct in an annular path formed between an outer casing and a central body which is maintained in position relative to the casing by structural arms. The rotor stages of the compressor are driven by a power turbine driven by combustion gases from a gas generator which burns liquid propellants. The power turbine includes two interleaved counter-rotating modules arraanged within the central body in a position longitudinally between the two compressor stages which they drive, and the gas generator is disposed axially within the central body to the rear of the turbine modules, the generator supplying the combustion gases to the turbine in an upstream direction through a central ejection chamber and an annular reversing chamber which redirects the gases rearwards through the turbine.

Abstract: An engine for application to the propulsion of aerospace vehicles (terrestrial or orbital) capable of operating in two propulsive modes. The first mode employs liquid hydrogen to pre-cool the intake air of a turbo-compressor in order to deliver it at high pressure to a rocket type combustor/nozzle assembly. In this mode the external atmosphere is the source of oxidizer for the fuel. At a high Mach number in the hypersonic regime the engine changes to the second mode which is a conventional high performance rocket engine using liquid oxygen carried on the vehicle to oxidize the liquid hydrogen fuel. Both modes of propulsion use common hardware, namely the liquid hydrogen pump and the combustor nozzle assembly.

Abstract: A jet engine designed to power a supersonic airplane throughout a range of speeds from subsonic to high supersonic includes a housing which bounds an internal passage having in succession a fixed-area inlet section, a diverging passage section, a mixing section, a combustion section, and an outlet section. A fan rotor rotates in the inlet section and includes a plurality of rotor blade members. The housing includes a main body and at least one flap which is movable between one end position in which it externally bounds a portion of the diverging passage section and another end position in which it externally delimits a diverging discharge passage connecting the diverging passage section with the exterior of the housing. The cross-sectional area of the outlet section is adjustable.

Abstract: The invention is a propulsion system. In detail, the invention comprises a hollow housing having a longitudinal axis and an inlet end and an exhaust nozzle end. A shaft is rotatively mounted along the longitudinal axis within the housing, extending from the inlet end to the exhaust nozzle end. A fan is attached to one end of the shaft in proximity to the inlet end of the housing. A turbine, having a plurality of blades, is attached to the opposite end of the shaft in proximity to the exhaust nozzle end of the housing. A solid propellant rocket motor is detachably mounted to the housing, having a thrust axis alignable with the longitudinal axis of the housing such that, when the motor is ignited, at least a portion of any exhaust gases therefrom are intercepted by the blades of the turbine for driving same.

Abstract: A combination engine for a flying craft capable of flying at speeds within a wide range from subsonic speeds to hypersonic speeds, is equipped with a rocket engine section that is independent of an atmospheric air supply, and a turbo air jet engine section having a compressor which is driven by a turbine that is also independent of an external air supply. The combination may further include extra fuel supply nozzles for operation as a ram jet which uses the same flow channel as the turbo air jet engine section. A gas generator equipped with two valving mechanisms is arranged coaxially with the rocket engine section. The valving mechanisms are controllable to open the gas generator chamber to the rocket combustion chamber while closing off gas flow to the turbo air jet section or vice versa. Either section can work alone or in parallel and simultaneously with the other section.

Abstract: A combined air-hydrogen turbo-rocket engine is disclosed having a simplified construction in which the hydrogen driven turbine is formed integrally with the rotor wheel of the axial air compressor stages. The rotor stages are located downstream of a stator vane structure and are driven by gaseous hydrogen passing across the turbine blades. The hydrogen is subsequently injected into an air duct surrounding the axial air compressor and defining an airflow path having an air inlet. The hydrogen-air mixture is ignited and the burned gases are expanded through a converging-diverging exhaust nozzle.

Abstract: Self-contained hybrid propulsion systems have long been recognized as a class of propulsion systems that combine a liquid propellant and a solid propellant into a single system. The propellants are stored separately and the liquid propellant is delivered to the motor casing that holds the solid propellant. The present invention contemplates gasifying the liquid propellant prior to introduction into the motor casing in order to enhance system performance. The solid propellant grain is ignited and partially burned generating heat to evaporate the remaining solid propellant grain at a controlled rate. The resulting mixture is then passed to a secondary combustion region where it is mixed with additional gasified liquid propellant to complete the combustion. An integrated turbopump assembly including a pump portion, a preburner portion and a turbine portion is provided to pressurize and gasify the liquid propellant.

Abstract: An engine suitable for use in an aerospace plane is a composite engine comprising, in combination, a turbo jet engine, a ram jet engine, and a rocket engine, all arranged co-axially. An aerospace plane comprises such an engine mounted in a body defining, toward a rear thereof, in association with said engine, a nozzle surface which extends rearwardly in curved, concave manner, and which is part-round in cross-section, said or each nozzle surface being arranged in relation to a nozzle of said engine to be an extension of the nozzle.

Abstract: A rocket engine is described having a hollow rotor positioned in axial alignment with an outer tubular casing. Fuel and oxidizer are mixed and burned in a first combustion chamber in the rotor and then expelled through nozzles into a second combustion chamber. Vanes are secured to the rotor for pumping air into the second combustion chamber through valve flaps during a first mode of operation, an oxidizer nozzle is positioned in alignment with the rotor axis for supplying oxidizer to the second combustion chamber during a second mode of operation.

Abstract: This invention is a solid fuel air turbo rocket. A solid propellant charge, hich is richer in fuel than conventional propellant compositions, burns in an initial chamber. The gases so produced pass through turbine blades into a second chamber. The turbine, which is rotated by the gases impinging on and passing through the blades, drives a compressor which compresses air from the atmosphere. This compressed air is fed into the second chamber where the oxygen in the air reacts with the fuel rich gas to produce further combustion and gas expansion. The gasious products so generated pass through a nozzle into the atmosphere, resulting in thrust to the missile. As the missile accelerates a variable area air inlet is reduced to maintain a normal shock at the throat. When ramjet take-over velocities are reached, the turbo-compressor is jettisoned to allow the second chamber to function as a ramjet burner.

Abstract: The invention discloses an air-turborocket having a single set of compres blades extending radially from a common rotor. A shroud ring encircles the outer periphery of the compressor blades and holds a plurality of turbine blades on the outer periphery thereof which are driven by hot expanding fuel rich gases obtained from the partial combustion of a solid propellant in a first combustion chamber external to a compressor housing. The hot expanding fuel rich gases drive the turbine blades which drive the compressor blades thereby providing compressed air which is forcibly mixed by a mixer/diffuser with the hot expanding fuel rich gases for further combustion to provide thrust in a second combustion chamber aft to the compressor.