초록 ▼

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 de

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.

대표청구항 ▼

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 concentric

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.