Patent ID: 6651438
Filing Date: 2003-11-25
Classification: F02K,F42B

Abstract:
A rocket nozzle assembly for rocket motor having a converging passageway and a diverging passageway, said rocket nozzle assembly comprising:a nozzle insert structure having a converging region that converges in cross-section meeting a throat region aft of the converging region, and a diverging region aft of the throat region extending radially outwardly, the converging region and throat region and diverging region substantially coaxially aligned along a central axis of a passageway defining the converging passageway and the diverging passageway; a first thrust control cylinder rotatable about a first axis extending transverse to the central axis of the passageway, the first thrust control cylinder intersecting the throat region, and the first thrust control cylinder including a first groove extending transverse to the first axis; a second thrust control cylinder rotatable about a second axis extending transverse to the central axis of the passageway, the second thrust control cylinder intersecting the throat region, and the second thrust control cylinder including a second groove extending transverse to the second axis, the first axis of the first thrust control cylinder being substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the second axis of the second thrust control cylinder, the first axis and the second axis lying in a plane that is substantially normal to the central axis of the passageway; and at least one thrust control cylinder-rotating subassembly associated with the first thrust control cylinder and the second thrust control cylinder to rotate the first thrust control cylinder and the second thrust control cylinder about the first axis and the second axis, respectively, to move the first groove and the second groove relative to the throat region for changing an effective cross-sectional area of the throat region of the converging passageway and the diverging passageway at the throat region for controlling the thrust of an operating rocket motor.