초록 ▼

An autonomous ice penetrator/payload delivery system is provided which, when once launched from its parent vehicle will, upon reaching the surface of the ice automatically right itself to proper orientation with respect to the ice surface for penetration. A modified solid propellant rocket engine is

An autonomous ice penetrator/payload delivery system is provided which, when once launched from its parent vehicle will, upon reaching the surface of the ice automatically right itself to proper orientation with respect to the ice surface for penetration. A modified solid propellant rocket engine is used as the heat source to penetrate the ice rapidly and automatically is ignited upon the ice pentrator/payload containment vessel attaining proper orientation with its longitudinal axis substantially normal to the ice surface. The hot gasses of combustion produced by the modified rocket engine impinge upon the ice thereby melting it. As the ice is melted and penetrated, the penetrator/payload containment vessel will follow the receding ice surface either by gravity, or by motive forces provided by the modified rocket engine, or both. In situations where the ice penetrator is launched below the surface of the ice, buoyancy built into the penetrator system containment vessel will cause it to penetrate the ice either due to its buoyancy alone or in conjunction with a motive force developed by the modified rocket engine. The penetrator system container in conjunction with the bore hole formed by the melting ice also functions as a guide to maintain verticality of the penetrator during the initial stages of penetration of the ice surface. The walls of the subsequent bore hole formed in the ice and the generally long, cylindrical shape of the penetrator/payload containment vessel body naturally coact to maintain the vertical penetration angle.

대표청구항 ▼

An ice penetrator system including in combination container means for containing a modified low thrust rocket engine having a nozzle, a source of rocket fuel and rocket fuel ignition means for controllably igniting the rocket engine; rapid automatically operating self-righting means supported on sai

An ice penetrator system including in combination container means for containing a modified low thrust rocket engine having a nozzle, a source of rocket fuel and rocket fuel ignition means for controllably igniting the rocket engine; rapid automatically operating self-righting means supported on said container means for rapidly and reliably automatically orientating said container means and the rocket engine nozzle in a desired orientation relative to the ice surface with the container means resting on and above or below the ice surface prior to actuation of the self-righting means; and rocket engine ignition control means for automatically activating the rocket fuel ignition means upon the container means obtaining a desired orientation relative to the ice surface.