Hybrid helium heater pressurization system and electrical ignition system for pressure-fed hybrid rockets
First Claim
1. Apparatus including a hybrid heater pressurization system, for a rocket comprising a first liquid fuel component and a second fuel component, comprising pressurization means, for forcing the first liquid fuel component into contact with the second fuel component, the pressurization means comprising:
- (I) a gas initially stored at a cryogenic temperature;
(ii) a hybrid heater having a longitudinal axis and generating combustion products when ignited for heating the gas by mixing the combustion products of the hybrid heater with the gas in a mixing chamber;
the gas being injected through ports circumferentially disposed about the axis; and
(iii) diffuser means for introducing the heated gas into a container containing the first liquid fuel component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for pressurizing a liquid oxygen tank (20) in a pressure-fed hybrid rocket (100) provides pressure at a first end of the tank (20) so that liquid oxygen can exit the second end. A hybrid heater (50) creates the pressure by mixing gaseous oxygen with the solid fuel (51) in the hybrid heater (50) to create an extremely high temperature. Helium is then mixed with the combustion products via an inlet (60) and this hot, inert mixture enters the liquid oxygen tank (20) via a diffuser (70). A second hybrid heater (90) pressurizes the gaseous helium sphere (40) to reduce the pressure decay caused by the withdrawal of the helium. Two of the hybrid heaters (50 and 90) are fed gaseous oxygen from a sphere (30). A novel ignition system is used to ignite the hybrid heaters (50, 90, 250). One of the hybrid heaters (250) is used to ignite the hybrid motor (100) in the rocket (11).
42 Citations
30 Claims
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1. Apparatus including a hybrid heater pressurization system, for a rocket comprising a first liquid fuel component and a second fuel component, comprising pressurization means, for forcing the first liquid fuel component into contact with the second fuel component, the pressurization means comprising:
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(I) a gas initially stored at a cryogenic temperature; (ii) a hybrid heater having a longitudinal axis and generating combustion products when ignited for heating the gas by mixing the combustion products of the hybrid heater with the gas in a mixing chamber;
the gas being injected through ports circumferentially disposed about the axis; and(iii) diffuser means for introducing the heated gas into a container containing the first liquid fuel component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification