초록 ▼

An internal combustion catapult for loads such as an aircraft using much of the conventional steam system in that an existing elongated launch tube is utilized with an existing movable piston. The steam generation system may be replaced and a plurality of combustors positioned at the aft end of the

An internal combustion catapult for loads such as an aircraft using much of the conventional steam system in that an existing elongated launch tube is utilized with an existing movable piston. The steam generation system may be replaced and a plurality of combustors positioned at the aft end of the launch tube facing the trailing end of the piston. Each of these combustors includes an injector assembly for supplying a combustible propellant. At least one igniter is operatively positioned with respect to the combustor to ignite the combustible propellant to form hot launch gases at high pressure to project the piston down the launch tube to launch the aircraft. A water manifold injects water into the combustion gases to cool them and form steam to propel the piston down the launch tube. The propellant may be a propellant composed of, for example, hydroxylammonium nitrate and a hydrocarbon fuel or a bipropellant system using a combustible fuel composed of organic substances and an oxidizer such as ammonium nitrate, hydroxylammonium nitrate, hydrazine, nitrogen tetroxide and liquid oxygen.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] An internal combustion airplane catapult launcher comprising:an elongated launch tube,a movable piston fitted within said launch tube for connection to an airplane to be launched,a plurality of combustors in fluid communication with the aft end of said launch tube and the trailing e

[ I claim:] [1.] An internal combustion airplane catapult launcher comprising:an elongated launch tube,a movable piston fitted within said launch tube for connection to an airplane to be launched,a plurality of combustors in fluid communication with the aft end of said launch tube and the trailing end of said piston,an injector assembly including at least one injector for supplying a combustible propellant to each of said combustors for combustion,said injector assembly including at least one igniter operatively positioned with respect to said combustor for igniting said combustible propellant,whereby upon said propellant being fed into said combustors and ignited by said igniters, the piston is projected down the launch tube to launch the aircraft.