EXTERNALLY POWERED HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle, the hybrid propulsion system comprising:
- a propellant tank for providing a flow of propellant;
a propellant heater; and
an exhaust nozzle;
the propellant tank being in fluid communication with the propellant heater and configured for providing a flow of propellant to the propellant heater;
the propellant heater being in fluid communication with the propellant tank and the exhaust nozzle and initially comprising a quantity of oxidizer, the quantity of oxidizer being configured for reacting chemically with the flow of propellant to produce heat;
the propellant heater being further configured for receiving a beam of microwave energy and facilitating transmission of the beam of microwave energy to the flow of propellant; and
the exhaust nozzle being in fluid communication with the propellant heater and being for receiving a flow of propellant from the propellant heater, for accelerating the flow of propellant, and for expelling the flow of propellant so as to produce thrust.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle comprises a propellant tank for providing a supply of propellant, a propellant heater, and an exhaust nozzle. The propellant tank is in fluid communication with the propellant heater and is configured for providing a flow of propellant to the propellant heater. The propellant heater is in fluid communication with the propellant tank and the nozzle and initially comprises a supply of oxidizer that is configured for reacting chemically with the propellant to produce heat. The propellant heater is further configured for receiving a beam of microwave energy and facilitating transmission of the beam of microwave energy to the propellant. The nozzle is in fluid communication with the propellant heater and is configured for receiving a flow of propellant from the propellant heater, for accelerating the propellant, and for expelling the propellant so as to produce thrust.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle, the hybrid propulsion system comprising:
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a propellant tank for providing a flow of propellant; a propellant heater; and an exhaust nozzle; the propellant tank being in fluid communication with the propellant heater and configured for providing a flow of propellant to the propellant heater; the propellant heater being in fluid communication with the propellant tank and the exhaust nozzle and initially comprising a quantity of oxidizer, the quantity of oxidizer being configured for reacting chemically with the flow of propellant to produce heat; the propellant heater being further configured for receiving a beam of microwave energy and facilitating transmission of the beam of microwave energy to the flow of propellant; and the exhaust nozzle being in fluid communication with the propellant heater and being for receiving a flow of propellant from the propellant heater, for accelerating the flow of propellant, and for expelling the flow of propellant so as to produce thrust. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of operating a hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle comprising:
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providing a flow of propellant, a propellant heater, and a nozzle, the flow of propellant being in fluid communication with the propellant heater, the propellant heater being in fluid communication with the flow of propellant and the nozzle; initially disposing, in the propellant heater, a quantity of oxidizer configured for reacting chemically with the flow of propellant to produce heat; establishing a flow of propellant from the flow of propellant to the propellant heater; during an initial flight phase of the vehicle; reacting the flow of propellant with the quantity of oxidizer in the propellant heater to produce a heated flow of propellant; and delivering the flow of propellant from the propellant heater to the nozzle for delivery through the nozzle to outside the vehicle; and during a subsequent flight phase of the vehicle; heating the flow of propellant with an external microwave beam in the propellant heater to produce a heated flow of propellant; and delivering the flow of propellant from the propellant heater to the nozzle for delivery through the nozzle to outside the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle comprising a hybrid propulsion system, the hybrid propulsion system comprising:
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a propellant tank for providing a supply of propellant; a propellant heater; and an exhaust nozzle; the propellant tank being in fluid communication with the propellant heater and configured for providing a flow of propellant to the propellant heater; the propellant heater being in fluid communication with the propellant tank and the exhaust nozzle and initially comprising a quantity of oxidizer, the quantity of oxidizer being configured for reacting chemically with the flow of propellant to produce heat; the propellant heater being further configured for receiving a beam of microwave energy and facilitating transmission of the beam of microwave energy to the flow of propellant; and the exhaust nozzle being in fluid communication with the propellant heater and being configured for receiving a flow of propellant from the propellant heater, for accelerating the flow of propellant, and for expelling the flow of propellant so as to produce thrust. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification