Patent ID: 6293091
Filing Date: 2001-09-25
Classification: F02K,Y02T

Abstract:
An airframe comprising:a vehicle having a solid propellant rocket engine and one of a ramjet or a scramjet engine;a thrust plug extending from an end of the vehicle which directs combustion gases produced by the solid propellant rocket engine or ramjet/scramjet engine to produce forward thrust;a longitudinal passage extending from the end of the vehicle to an opening forward of the end which receives external air directed by forward movement of the airframe and in which solid fuel propellant of the solid propellant rocket engine is located; and wherein during rocket engine operation solid propellant is combusted to produce the combustion gases in the longitudinal combustion chamber which are conveyed by the inner and outer ablative material into contact with the thrust plug and during ramjet/scramjet operation, the longitudinal passage is open to flow of external air after operation of the solid propellant rocket engine is completed and which supports combustion of fuel by the ramjet/scramjet engine to produce combustion gases which are conveyed by the longitudinal passage into contact with the thrust plug.