Patent ID: 7797943
Filing Date: 2010-09-21
Classification: F02K

Abstract:
1. A centerbody pilot pod for a scramjet engine, where said scramjet engine has, in sequence and in fluid communication an air intake that is effective to divide a supersonic stream of air into a pilot air portion and a main air portion, a main isolator and a main combustor, said centerbody pilot pod comprising: a pilot isolator effective to receive said pilot air portion, which is from 3% to 10%, by volume, of said supersonic stream and to reduce said pilot air portion to subsonic, said pilot isolator disposed between said air intake and a pilot diffuser; said pilot diffuser disposed between said pilot isolator and a pilot flameholder; said pilot flameholder disposed between said pilot diffuser and a pilot combustor; wherein said centerbody pilot pod is disposed in axis symmetry along a central axis of said main isolator and supported by a plurality of struts extending from an inner wall of said main isolator to an outer surface of said centerbody pilot pod such that the exhaust from said pilot combustor is confined to said main combustor center and said main air portion travels around said centerbody pilot pod.