Patent ID: 6457306
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: B64G,F02K

Abstract:
A drive system for a rocket engine propellant pump of a launch vehicle, the pump being operatively interposed between a liquid propellant tank and a combustion chamber of said rocket engine to pump the liquid propellant from the tank to the combustion chamber during a launch of said launch vehicle away from Earth, the pump including a rotating impeller for pumping the liquid propellant, the impeller being rotatable about an impeller shaft, said drive system comprising:electric motor means for driving the pump, said electric motor means having an output shaft, said electric motor means comprising a plurality of motors for cooperatively driving said pump, said electric motors providing substantially an entire power required for driving said pump throughout a full operating time period of said pump during said launch; electric power source means for powering said electric motor; and coupling means for rotationally coupling said output shaft of said electric motor means to the impeller shaft of the pump; whereby said electric motor means is utilized in conjunction with the pump to transfer the liquid propellant from the propellant tank to the combustion chamber throughout said full operating time period of said pump during said launch.