Patent GB-1051761-A (GB)
IPC: F02K9/56
Abstract: 1,051,761. Rocket propulsion. THOMPSON RAMO WOOLDRIDGE Inc. Feb. 24, 1964 [Feb. 25, 1963], No.7613/64. Heading F1J. A variable thrust bipropellant rocket engine comprises a combustion chamber 32 (Fig. 11), an injector assembly 38 extending into the combustion chamber and including a sleeve 117 forming a passage for one propellant and an inner peripheral orifice 121 within the combustion chamber, an orifice control sleeve 113 mounted concentrically with respect to the inner sleeve, a second peripheral orifice 122 formed around the control sleeve, and a passage 86 for the other propellant communicating with the second orifice 122. The engine comprises also a pair of flow control valves 53, 54 (see Fig. 2), each of the valves having an inlet and an outlet section, the inlet section of the valve 53 being connected by line 45 to a source of oxidizer under pressure 51, and the inlet section of the valve 54 being connected to a source of fuel under pressure 52; the outlet section of the control valve 53 is connected by line 48 to the passage 86 leading to the peripheral orifice 122, and the outlet section of the control valve 54 is connected by line 47 to the passage 117 leading to the peripheral orifice 121. The control sleeve 113 may be movable axially for simultaneously changing the areas of the orifices 121 and 122. The flow control valves 53, 54 may be cavitating Venturi valves having a throat section 63, 64 between the inlet and outlet sections, also a pintle 55, 56 respectively extending into the throat for varying the area thereof and means for simultaneously actuating both of the pintles. Means are provided for controlling the axial position of the control sleeve 113, for controlling the axial positions of the pintles, also for controlling the relative axial positions of the pintles thus varying the ratio of fuel to oxidizer. Such means are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2 and comprise an actuator 42 to which a signal indicative of the required thrust level is supplied, the signal being transmitted to a push rod 76 to which are pivotally connected a lever arm 71 and a link 77. The lever arm 71 is pivotally connected at its other end 72 to support structure 66 and carries intermediate its ends a ratio control disc 62, the angular position of which may be adjusted and secured by locknuts 73, 74 Fig. 3 (not shown). A pin 97 extends diametrically through the control disc, the opposite ends of the pin being connected to links 59, 60 which in turn are connected by push rods 57, 58 to the pintles 55, 56 of the cavitating Venturi flow control valves whereby the flow of oxidizer and fuel may be controlled. Angular adjustment of the ratio control disc varies the angular position of the pin 97 and so varies the relative axial displacements of the pintles 55, 56 and thus also the ratio of oxidizer and fuel. The link 77 is pivotally connected to an adjustable lever arm 81 which is forked at its upper end 101, 102, the forked portions being pivotally mounted in the arms 110 of a fixed bracket. The forked portions carry eccentric bosses 105, 106 on which are mounted arms 107, 108 which extend from a collar 109 (see Fig. 11), the collar being secured by pins 111, 112 to the axially slidable orifice control sleeve 113, the pins 111, 112 extending through elongated slots formed in the injector housing 114. Axial movement of the control sleeve 113 varies the area of the peripheral orifice 121 through which fuel passing through the fixed inner sleeve 117 discharges into the combustion chamber, and simultaneously varies the area of the peripheral orifice 122 through which oxidizer flowing in the passage 86 discharges into the combustion chamber, see Fig. 15. In a second embodiment one of the cavitating Venturi control valves is formed integrally with the injector assembly the second cavitating Venturi control valve being disposed adjacent the first, the pintles of the control valves being mounted at one side of the pivot of a pivotally mounted lever, the actuator being mounted at the other side of the pivot. The axially movable control sleeve of the injector assembly is also connected to the lever at the same side of the pivot as the pintles. The position of the pivot point may be adjusted so as to control the ratio of fuel and oxidizer. In a further embodiment no provision is made for adjustment of the fuel and oxidizer ratio.