초록 ▼

A reusable rocket airplane which may be utilized to launch satellites and other payloads into space. The airplane may also be used for rapid surface to surface flight. The reusable rocket airplane may be safely supplied with oxidizer in mid-air, achieve an altitude outside the Earth's atmosphere, an

A reusable rocket airplane which may be utilized to launch satellites and other payloads into space. The airplane may also be used for rapid surface to surface flight. The reusable rocket airplane may be safely supplied with oxidizer in mid-air, achieve an altitude outside the Earth's atmosphere, and return safely to be used again. The rocket airplane utilizes unique concepts to secure its gas turbine engines for high speed flight, minimize fluid spillage during mid-air oxidizer transfer, as well as employs design features advantageous to the economical building and reuse of the rocket airplane.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A rocket propelled airplane, comprising:a low pressure propellant tank in the wine or fuselage of said airplane, said propellant tank adapted to contain propellant therein;a rocket engine including a reservoir of cold high pressure gas and a heat exchanger to warm the gas in order

[ We claim:] [1.] A rocket propelled airplane, comprising:a low pressure propellant tank in the wine or fuselage of said airplane, said propellant tank adapted to contain propellant therein;a rocket engine including a reservoir of cold high pressure gas and a heat exchanger to warm the gas in order to pressurize the propellant tank, wherein said rocket engine is an airbreathing engine having one or more air inlets;a pump to raise the propellant in the propellant tank from a low pressure to a higher pressure adapted for the use in the rocket engine; anda turbine to apply energy from the warm high pressure gas to operate said pump, said turbine having an exhaust port which is vented to the propellant tank so that pressure in the propellant tank may be maintained as the propellant is withdrawn from the propellant tank.