Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a side thruster valve for performing motion control of an aerospace craft by using solid propellant and also relates to a side thruster device using this side thruster valve.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    A prior art side thruster valve that performs motion control of an aerospace craft can be basically separated into two types, that is, one in which a plurality of respectively independent side thruster valves are arranged and the other in which two valves having their backs connected to each other are arranged symmetrically relative to a central axis of the aerospace craft so that the valves are opened on one side and closed on the other side by a common shaft having valve plugs. Here, as one example of the prior art side thruster valve, the latter type will be outlined with reference to FIG. 11.  
           [0005]    [0005]FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view showing one example of a side thruster valve used in a prior art side thruster device.  
           [0006]    Numerals O 1   a , O 1   b  designate nozzles, that are constructed within a housing O 2  and comprise nozzle skirts O 3   a , O 3   b  and valve plugs O 4   a , O 4   b . The nozzles O 1   a , O 1   b  are arranged having their backs connected to each other symmetrically relative to a central axis as a symmetry axis of the aerospace craft.  
           [0007]    Inside of the nozzle skirts O 3   a , O 3   b  that have their backs likewise connected to each other, the valve plugs O 4   a , O 4   b , respectively, are arranged being connected to each other by a common shaft O 6 .  
           [0008]    The shaft O 6  has a joint O 15  at a central position in the shaft longitudinal direction and connects to a link O 18  via the joint O 15 . The link O 18  is constructed to connect to a screwed shaft O 13  via another joint O 14  that exists at a symmetry position of the joint O 15  and to be rotatable swingingly right and left in the figure around a pin O 17  that exists at a central fulcrum position of the link O 18 .  
           [0009]    The screwed shaft O 13  engages with a nut O 12  that is supported to a casing O 9  rotatably in a fixed position. The nut O 12  is joined with a toothed gear O 11  and both of the nut O 12  and the toothed gear O 11  are rotatable by a servo-motor or the like (not shown).  
           [0010]    The screwed shaft O 13  is connected to a potentiometer O 21 , so that motion of the screwed shaft O 13  in its axial direction and the resulted rotation angle of the link O 18  around the pin O 17  can be detected.  
           [0011]    Thus, in the prior art side thruster valve, when the servo-motor or the like is rotated, the screwed shaft O 13  is rotated by the engagement with the nut O 12  to be moved in the axial direction.  
           [0012]    This axial motion of the screwed shaft O 13  is conveyed to the shaft  06  via the link O 18 . Thereby, the valve plugs O 4   a , O 4   b  provided at both ends of the shaft O 6  open one of nozzle throats O 5   a , O 5   b  and close the other of them. Thus, jetting of combustion gas supplied from supply ports O 19   a , O 19   b  is adjusted to thereby change the thrust continuously and differentially.  
           [0013]    In the prior art side thruster valve as exemplified and described above, the valve plugs O 4   a , O 4   b , opposed to each other, are connected by the single shaft O 6 . Thereby, the fluid forces acting on the valve plugs O 4   a , O 4   b  in the mutually reverse directions are canceled and the drive force of the servo-motor can be reduced, which is advantageous to some extent.  
           [0014]    Also, for moving the opposed two nozzles O 1   a , O 1   b , one servo-motor is provided so that the thrust is changed over in the opposed directions. Hence, as compared with the case where the nozzles O 1   a , O b  are opened or closed independently of each other, there is also obtained an advantage that the space of the servo-motor can be reduced.  
           [0015]    However, all the drive force of the nozzles O 1   a , O 1   b  depends on the actuator device comprising the servo-motor and the mechanism of the screwed shaft O 13 , the link O 18 , etc. and there is caused a large inertia force of the mechanism of the shaft O 6 , the valve plugs O 4   a , O 4   b , the link O 18 , etc. Hence, in order to realize a quick response by reducing the thrust change-over time, there is inevitably required a high torque of the servo-motor, which leads to a large size of the device.  
           [0016]    Also, due to the symmetry arrangement of the nozzles O 1   a , O 1   b  to be symmetrically opened and closed by the link O 18 , etc., the areas of the nozzle throats O 5   a , O 5   b  are not changeable independent of each other. Hence, in the combustion using solid propellant, there arises a problem that such a combustion control that, when no thrust is needed, all the nozzles are opened to thereby reduce the combustion gas pressure of the solid propellant and to reduce the combustion speed for improving the fuel consumption cannot be done.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0017]    In order to solve the abovementioned problems in the prior art side thruster valve, it is an object of the present invention to provide a side thruster valve in which a required torque of an actuating means including a drive unit, such as a servo-motor, needed for opening and closing the nozzle is reduced to thereby realize a compact and light weight device. Also, it is another object of the present invention to provide a side thruster device in which a plurality of the mentioned compact and light weight side thruster valves are provided independently of each other to thereby broaden a freedom of combustion control and improve the fuel consumption.  
           [0018]    For achieving the mentioned object, as a first means, the present invention provides a side thruster valve of a type performing thrust adjustment for motion control of an aerospace craft by changing valve plug opening and thereby changing jetting of combustion gas, comprising a valve plug having its back directed to an axis of the aerospace craft and independently movable between a fully opened position and a fully closed position of the valve plug in a plane orthogonal to the axis of the aerospace craft, an actuating means for moving the valve plug in an axial direction of the valve plug and an elastic member for activating the valve plug in the axial direction of the valve plug.  
           [0019]    That is, according to the first means of the present invention, the side thruster valve comprises the valve plug independently movable between the fully opened position and the fully closed position, the actuating means for moving the valve plug in the valve plug axial direction and the elastic member for activating the valve plug in the valve plug axial direction. By the cooperation of the actuating means and the elastic member, the valve plug, having its back directed to the aerospace craft axis, is moved between the fully opened position and the fully closed position in the plane orthogonal to the aerospace craft axis. Thereby, the opening of the valve plug is changed so as to change the jetting of the combustion gas and the thrust is adjusted to thereby control the motion of the aerospace craft.  
           [0020]    Also, as a second means, the present invention provides a side thruster valve as mentioned in the first means, wherein the elastic member is a spring that activates the valve plug to a neutral position from the fully opened position or the fully closed position of the valve plug and the spring is set to its natural length when the valve plug is in the neutral position.  
           [0021]    That is, according to the second means, in order to move the valve plug to the fully opened position or the fully closed position, the actuating means and the spring as the elastic member cooperate with each other. The spring is set to its natural length at the neutral position of the valve plug, so that the valve plug is activated to move to the neutral position from the fully opened position or the fully closed position. Thus, in the opening and closing of the valve plug, the function of the actuating means is largely assisted by the spring force and the required torque of the actuating means including a drive unit, such as a servo-motor, is reduced and a compact and light weight device can be realized.  
           [0022]    Also, as a third means, the present invention provides a side thruster valve as mentioned in the first means, wherein the valve plug is constructed integrally and coaxially with a piston that is slidable within a cylinder by receiving the combustion gas on one side of the piston, the one side of the piston communicates with a cylinder chamber formed on the other side of the piston via an orifice and there are provided a device that controls the cylinder chamber to open into the atmosphere and a spring as the elastic member that activates the valve plug to a closing side of the valve plug.  
           [0023]    That is, according to the third means, the combustion gas acts on one side of the piston that is constructed integrally and coaxially with the valve plug and is supplied via the orifice into the cylinder chamber that is formed on the other side of the piston. When the combustion gas pressure on the one side and the back pressure in the cylinder chamber on the other side are balanced with each other, the spring force that activates the valve plug to the closing side is added to the valve plug so that the valve plug is closed. Also, when the control device that controls the cylinder chamber to open into the atmosphere is operated, the balance of the combustion gas pressure and the back pressure in the cylinder chamber is released and thereby the valve plug is moved to the opening side. Thus, by using the control device, such as a simple actuator, the back pressure in the cylinder chamber is controlled so as to open and close the valve plug and a compact and light weight device can be easily realized.  
           [0024]    Moreover, as a fourth means, the present invention provides a side thruster device that comprises a plurality of the side thruster valves as mentioned in any one of the first to the third means. The plurality of side thruster valves are arranged independently of each other at the symmetrical positions relative to the axis of the aerospace craft.  
           [0025]    That is, according to the fourth means, in the side thruster device, the side thruster valve made in the compact and light weight form by any one of the first to the third means is provided in the number of plural pieces. These side thruster valves are arranged independently of each other at the symmetrical positions relative to the axis of the aerospace craft. Hence, the plurality of side thruster valves are individually controllable and, if no thrust is needed, all of the plurality of side thruster valves are fully opened to thereby lower the combustion gas pressure, so that the combustion speed of the solid propellant is lowered and the fuel consumption can be improved. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an entire side thruster valve of a first embodiment according to the present invention, in which the side thruster valve is half opened.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the side thruster valve of FIG. 1, in which the side thruster valve is fully opened.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the side thruster valve of FIG. 1, in which the side thruster valve is fully closed.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a side thruster device comprising the side thruster valve of FIG. 1, in which the side thruster device is fully opened on its one side.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the side thruster device of FIG. 4, in which the side thruster device is fully opened on its both sides, as no thrust is needed.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a relation between the valve plug opening and the nozzle throat pressure.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of an entire side thruster valve of a second embodiment according to the present invention, in which the side thruster valve is half opened.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the side thruster valve of FIG. 7, in which the side thruster valve is fully opened.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the side thruster valve of FIG. 7, in which the side thruster valve is fully closed.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of a side thruster device comprising the side thruster valve of FIG. 7, in which the side thruster device is fully opened on its both sides, as no thrust is needed.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view showing one example of a side thruster valve in a prior art side thruster device. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0037]    The invention will be described more concretely based on embodiments according to the present invention with reference to the appended figures.  
         [0038]    A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.  1  to  6 . FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an entire side thruster valve of the first embodiment, in which the side thruster valve is half opened. FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the side thruster valve of FIG. 1, in which the valve is fully opened. FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the side thruster valve of FIG. 1, in which the valve is fully closed. FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a side thruster device comprising two of the side thruster valves of FIG. 1, in which the side thruster device is fully opened in one direction so that jetting of combustion gas is effected in that direction. FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the side thruster device of FIG. 4, in which no thrust is needed and the side thruster device is fully opened. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a relation between the valve opening and the nozzle throat pressure.  
         [0039]    In the present first embodiment, numeral  1  designates a nozzle, that is constructed within a housing  2  as a main component part in combination with a nozzle skirt  3 , a valve plug  4 , etc.  
         [0040]    That is, the valve plug  4  is provided on the combustion gas upstream side of the nozzle skirt  3 . Combustion gas is supplied from a supply port  17  provided on one side of the valve plug  4  to be jetted through a gap between the portion of a nozzle throat  5  and the valve plug  4 . Thereby, the thrust is generated by jetting of the combustion gas from the nozzle  1 .  
         [0041]    The valve plug  4  is connected to a shaft  6  and the shaft  6  slidably passes through the housing  2 . By the flow path area of the nozzle throat  5  being made continuously changeable, the size of the thrust is made continuously controllable.  
         [0042]    A spring seat  7  is fitted to the shaft  6  at the shaft end on the other side of the valve plug  4  and a spring  8  is provided between the housing  2  and the spring seat  7 . The spring  8  is selected so as to maintain its natural length when the valve plug  4  is in a neutral position (that is, a mid position between the fully opened position and the fully closed position) and both ends of the spring  8  are joined to the housing  2  and the spring seat  7 . Thus, the spring  8  is deformable both in the expanding (pushing) and contracting (pulling) directions corresponding to the movement of the valve plug  4  to the fully opened position and the fully closed position.  
         [0043]    A joint  9  is fixed to the spring seat  7  and one end of a link  12  engages with the joint  9 . The other end of the link  12  engages with another joint  11  that is fixed to a ball nut  13 . The link  12  is made rotatable swingingly around a pin  10  as a fulcrum.  
         [0044]    The ball nut  13  engages with a ball screw  14  provided on a rotating shaft of a servo-motor  15  and the servo-motor  15  is fitted to the housing  2  via a support  16 .  
         [0045]    That is, the structure is made such that, if the servo-motor  15  is rotated, the ball screw  14  rotates, the ball nut  13  engaged with the ball screw  14  moves in the axial direction of the ball screw  14 , the link  12  is rotated via the joint  11 , the joint  9  moves in the axial direction of the shaft  6  and the area of the nozzle throat  5  is changed by the valve plug  4 . Thereby, the thrust is continuously changed.  
         [0046]    In the present first embodiment according to the present invention constructed as mentioned above, where Pt is a pressure (nozzle throat pressure) acting on the surface of the nozzle throat  5  side of the valve plug  4 , Pa is a surrounding pressure and Ps is a combustion gas supply pressure, as shown in FIG. 1, if the valve plug  4  is gradually separated from the nozzle throat  5 , as shown in FIG. 2, the nozzle throat pressure Pt finally becomes equal to the combustion gas supply pressure Ps. This position is the fully opened position of the valve plug  4 .  
         [0047]    On the other hand, if the valve plug  4  is brought closer to the nozzle throat  5 , as shown in FIG. 3, the nozzle throat  5  finally becomes fully closed and the nozzle throat pressure Pt becomes equal to the surrounding pressure Pa. This position is the fully closed position of the valve plug  4 .  
         [0048]    As the result of experiments, it is confirmed that the nozzle throat pressure Pt lowers substantially linearly from the fully opened position to the fully closed position of the valve plug  4 , as shown in FIG. 6. Hence, at the neutral position of the valve plug opening where the valve plug  4  is in the mid position of the fully opened position and the fully closed position, the nozzle throat pressure of the valve plug  4  becomes equal to (Ps+Pa)/2, that is, Pt=(Ps+Pa)/2.  
         [0049]    At this position, if a shaft area Ar of the shaft  6  is selected so that the force acting on the valve plug  4  becomes zero, where At is an area of the nozzle throat  5 , then Ar equals (1−Ps/Pa)×At/2, that is, Ar=(1−Ps/Pa)×At/2.  
         [0050]    On the other hand, the spring  8  is a coil spring that is set to its natural length so as to be expandable (pushing) and contractible (pulling) therefrom when the valve plug  4  is in the neutral position. Where k is a spring constant of the spring  8  and δ is an entire stroke from the fully opened position to the fully closed position of the valve plug  4 , if the spring constant k is selected to be equal to (Pt−Pa)×At/δ, that is, k=(Pt−Pa)×At/δ, then the force acting on the valve plug  4  during the change of the nozzle throat pressure Pt corresponding to the opening and closing of the valve plug  4  can be canceled.  
         [0051]    That is, according to the present first embodiment, by setting the shaft area Ar and the spring constant k as mentioned above, the fluid force acting on the valve plug  4  can be entirely canceled.  
         [0052]    Thus, the required torque of the servo-motor  15  for driving the valve plug  4  can be only of such size as to overcome the inertia force and the friction force of the mechanism comprising the valve plug  4 , the link  12 , etc. and a compact and light weight servo-motor can be employed for driving the valve plug  4 .  
         [0053]    The abovementioned side thruster valve can be assembled into a side thruster device as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.  
         [0054]    That is, two of the side thruster valves  18 ,  19  having their backs mutually opposed to each other are arranged symmetrically relative to an axis of an aerospace craft and are joined to a case  20  of a single gas generator.  
         [0055]    An insulator  21  is provided within the case  20  and solid propellant  22  is filled inside of the insulator  21 . Combustion gas  24  is generated from combustion surface  23  of the solid propellant  22 .  
         [0056]    If thrust is needed on one of the two side thruster valves  18 ,  19 , for example, the side thruster valve  19 , as shown in FIG. 4, a nozzle throat area  26  of the side thruster valve  19  is ensured and, at the same time, a nozzle throat area  25  of the side thruster valve  18  is fully closed. Thereby, surface combustion of the solid propellant  22  is effected with a relatively high combustion speed  27  and combustion gas is discharged from the nozzle throat area  26  to thereby generate the thrust.  
         [0057]    On the other hand, if no adjustment of the direction of the aerospace craft is needed and thus no thrust is needed, as shown in FIG. 5, both of the nozzle throat areas  25 ,  26  are fully opened to thereby cancel the generated thrust. At the same time, the nozzle throat areas  25 ,  26  are doubled of the rated combustion time to thereby lower the pressure of the combustion gas  24  in the gas generator. Thus, the combustion speed  29  of the solid propellant  22  is lowered and the fuel consumption can be improved.  
         [0058]    It is to be noted that, while the example of FIGS. 4 and 5 shows a case where the two side thruster valves  18 ,  19  are provided, three or more of the side thruster valves may be provided according to the freedom of trajectory adjustment or motion control of the aerospace craft and, in this case, the combustion gas pressure can be further lowered and the fuel consumption is further improved.  
         [0059]    If the altitude where the side thruster valve operates is not constant so that the surrounding pressure Pa varies or if the combustion gas supply pressure Ps supplied from the gas generator varies inconstantly, the fluid force acting on the valve plugs may not completely canceled. But if the abovementioned equations are applied with average values of the possible range of the surrounding pressure Pa and the combustion gas supply pressure Ps, then the required torque of the servo-motor  15  can be minimized.  
         [0060]    Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.  7  to  10 . FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of an entire side thruster valve of the second embodiment, in which the side thruster valve is half opened. FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the side thruster valve of FIG. 7, in which the valve is fully opened. FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the side thruster valve of FIG. 7, in which the valve is fully closed. FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of a side thruster device comprising two of the side thruster valves of FIG. 7, in which no thrust is needed and the side thruster device is fully opened.  
         [0061]    In the present second embodiment, numeral  101  designates a nozzle, that is constructed as a main component part in combination with a cylinder  102 , a nozzle skirt  103  formed at the front end of the cylinder  102 , a valve plug  104 , etc.  
         [0062]    That is, the valve plug  104  is provided on the combustion gas upstream side of the nozzle skirt  103 . Combustion gas is supplied from a supply port  106  provided on one side of the valve plug  104  to be jetted through a gap between the portion of a nozzle throat  105  and the valve plug  104 . Thereby, the thrust is generated by jetting of the combustion gas from the nozzle  101 .  
         [0063]    The valve plug  104  at its central portion is integrally and coaxially connected with a piston  114 . The piston  114  at its one side surface receives combustion gas supply pressure Ps supplied from a supply port  106  so that the piston  114  is slidable in the valve plug axial direction within the cylinder  102 . By this sliding motion, the flow path area of the nozzle throat  105  is made continuously changeable and the size of the thrust is made continuously controllable.  
         [0064]    On the other side of the abovementioned side that receives the combustion gas supply pressure Ps of the piston  114 , there is formed a cylinder chamber  115 . Here, the pressure generated in the cylinder chamber  115  by the function of an orifice (valve plug inner orifice), etc, which will be described below, is designated as a back pressure Pv.  
         [0065]    The valve plug  104  on the other side of the nozzle  101  passes through the cylinder  102  and, at the end face thereof, abuts on a spring  108 . The spring  108  at its other end abuts on a spring seat  107  that is integrated with the cylinder  102 . Thereby, the valve plug  104  is activated in the direction of its closed position by a spring force Fs.  
         [0066]    As a portion of the piston  114 , there is provided the valve plug inner orifice  113 , as mentioned above, by which one side of the piston  114  communicates with the other side, so that the combustion gas supplied from the supply port  106  can flow into the cylinder chamber  115 .  
         [0067]    A pilot flow path  116  is provided in the cylinder chamber  115  and, downstream thereof, a pilot orifice  111  is provided, so that a pilot flow can be discharged outside therefrom. The pilot orifice  111  has a flow path area that is slightly smaller than that of the pilot flow path  116  and is larger than that of the valve plug inner orifice  113 .  
         [0068]    Numeral  109  designates a linear type actuator, that is fitted to the cylinder  102  via a support  110 . If the actuator  109  is driven, a pilot valve  112  opens and closes the pilot orifice  111  to thereby control the rate of pilot flow and thus the back pressure Pv in the cylinder chamber  115 .  
         [0069]    That is, by the actuator  109  as a main component part and by the orifices including the pilot orifice  111  that is opened and closed by the pilot valve  112 , a device that controls the cylinder chamber  115  to open into the atmosphere is constructed.  
         [0070]    In the present second embodiment according to the present invention constructed as mentioned above, where Pt is a pressure (nozzle throat pressure) acting on the surface of the nozzle throat  105  side of the valve plug  104 , Pa is a surrounding pressure, Ps is a combustion gas supply pressure and Pv is the abovementioned back pressure in the cylinder chamber  115 , as shown in FIG. 7, if the valve plug  104  is gradually separated from the nozzle throat  105 , as shown in FIG. 8, the nozzle throat pressure Pt finally becomes equal to the combustion gas supply pressure Ps. This position is the fully opened position of the valve plug  104 .  
         [0071]    On the other hand, if the valve plug  104  is brought closer to the nozzle throat  105 , as shown in FIG. 9, the nozzle throat  105  finally becomes fully closed and the nozzle throat pressure Pt becomes equal to the surrounding pressure Pa. This position is the fully closed position of the valve plug  104 .  
         [0072]    As the result of experiments, it is confirmed that the nozzle throat pressure Pt lowers substantially linearly from the fully opened position to the fully closed position of the valve plug  104 , as described with respect to FIG. 6. In the present second embodiment, the spring  108  functions so as to cancel the change of the nozzle throat pressure Pt.  
         [0073]    That is, if the pilot valve  112  is fully opened, the back pressure Pv in the cylinder chamber  115  becomes lower than the combustion gas supply pressure Ps and, by the differential pressure between the back pressure Pv and the combustion gas supply pressure Ps, the valve plug  104  is urged toward the spring  108 . In a balanced position with the spring force Fs, the valve plug  104  finally stands still, so that the valve is fully opened and the thrust is generated by the nozzle  101 .  
         [0074]    On the other hand, if the pilot valve  112  is fully closed, the back pressure Pv in the cylinder chamber  115  becomes equal to the combustion gas supply pressure Ps and the valve plug  104  is urged toward the nozzle  101  by the force of the spring  108 . Thus, the valve plug  104  makes contact with the nozzle throat  105 , so that the valve is fully closed and no thrust is generated.  
         [0075]    While the pilot plug  112  is in a middle position, the back pressure Pv is of the value corresponding to the opening of the pilot plug  112  and the position is maintained where the force due to the differential pressure between the back pressure Pv and the combustion gas supply pressure Ps, the spring force Fs and the force due to the nozzle throat pressure Pt acting on the nozzle throat portion of the valve plug  104  are balanced.  
         [0076]    According to the present second embodiment, as the back pressure Pv largely changes with a small movement of the pilot valve  112  and also the combustion gas supply pressure Ps is as high as several MPa, the force acting on the valve plug  104  is large and, by using only a compact and light weight actuator  109 , it becomes possible to drive the valve plug  104  in a highly responsive and continuous manner.  
         [0077]    In the present second embodiment, one example of computation of the spring constant of the spring  108  and additional explanations on the relation between the spring constant and the position of valve plug  104 , etc. are as follows:  
         [0078]    In the state that: the surrounding pressure Pa=0 (vacuum), the nozzle throat area At=the shaft or rod area Ar, the pilot valve opening Av is variable between the valve plug inner orifice area Af and 2Af and the cylinder chamber back pressure Pv is variable between the combustion gas supply pressure Ps and Ps/2, and where δ is a stroke between the fully opened position and the fully closed position of the valve plug  104 , by the balancing in the fully opened position of the valve plug  104 ,  
               the                 spring                 constant                 k     =              {       At                 Ps     +       (       A   p     -     A                 t       )        Ps     -       (     Ap   -   Ar     )        Pv       }     /   δ                 =              {       Ap                 Ps     -       (     AP   -   Ar     )        PV       }     /   δ                 =              {       2      A                 t                 Ps     -     Ap                   Ps   /   2         }     /   δ                 =            3      Ps                   At   /   2        δ                   (     Ap                 is                 the                 entrire                 area                            of                 the                 cylinder                 102     )     .                               
 
         [0079]    In the above equation, if the pilot valve opening Av is changed to Af, 1.5 Af and 2Af, respectively, the valve plug position, the spring compression force Fs, the nozzle throat pressure Pt, the combustion gas supply pressure Ps and the cylinder chamber back pressure Pv become as follows:  
                                               Pilot Valve Opening Av   Af   1.5 Af   2 Af       Valve Plug Position   Fully closed   Half opened ½   Fully opened       Spring Compression   0   3Ps At/4   3Ps At/2       Force Fs   (Natural           length)       Nozzle Throat Pressure   0 (Vacuum)   Ps/2   Ps       Pt       Combustion Gas   Ps   Ps   Ps       Supply Pressure Ps       Cylinder Chamber   Ps   Ps/1.5   Ps/2       Back Pressure Pv                  
 
         [0080]    That is, at the opening action starting time of the valve plug  104 , if the pilot valve  112  opens slightly larger than the valve plug inner orifice area Af, the cylinder chamber back pressure Pv slightly lowers to loose the balance of force and the valve plug  104  moves to open  
         [0081]    While the valve plug  104  is in the opening action, the nozzle throat pressure Pt increases and the valve plug  104  moves to further open.  
         [0082]    Immediately before the fully opened position of the valve plug  104 , the reverse directional force due to the spring  108  becomes large and the motion of the valve plug  104  is retarded.  
         [0083]    At the closing action starting time of the valve plug  104 , the opening of the pilot valve  112  becomes smaller than 2Af, the cylinder chamber back pressure Pv increases and the valve plug  104  moves to close.  
         [0084]    The side thruster valve of the present second embodiment can be assembled into a side thruster device as shown in FIG. 10. That is, two of the side thruster valves having their backs mutually opposed to each other are arranged symmetrically relative to an axis of an aerospace craft and are joined to a case  120  of a single gas generator.  
         [0085]    An insulator  121  is provided within the case  120  and solid propellant  122  is filled inside of the insulator  121 . Combustion gas  124  is generated from combustion surface  123  of the solid propellant  122 .  
         [0086]    [0086]FIG. 10 shows a state of the side thruster device, wherein the two side thruster valves are in the neutral positions, as no thrust is needed. If the two side thruster valves are fully opened to thereby cancel the generated thrust and, at the same time, the nozzle throat areas are doubled of the rated combustion time to thereby lower the pressure of combustion gas  124  in the gas generator, then the combustion speed  125  of the solid propellant  122  is lowered and the fuel consumption can be improved.  
         [0087]    If thrust is needed on one of the two side thruster valves, the nozzle throat of that side thruster valve is opened and the other side thruster valve is fully closed. Thereby, surface combustion of the solid propellant  122  is effected and combustion gas is discharged from that nozzle throat to thereby generate the thrust.  
         [0088]    That is, the two side thruster valves, made in the compact and light weight form so as to save energy in the opening and closing actions, are provided independent of each other. Thereby, a wide freedom of controlling the opening and closing of the side thruster valves can be obtained and, especially when no thrust is needed, the respective side thruster valves are controlled to be fully opened. Thereby, the combustion speed  125  of the solid propellant is lowered and the fuel consumption can be improved.  
         [0089]    In the above, while the invention has been described based on the embodiments as illustrated, the invention is not limited to the mentioned embodiments but, as a matter of course, may be added with various modifications in the concrete structure within the scope of the appended claims.  
         [0090]    For example, in the second embodiment, the actuator  109  as the main component part constructing the device for controlling the cylinder chamber  115  to open into the atmosphere, is described as the linear type actuator, but it is not limited to the linear type and any type of the device, if it opens and closes the pilot orifice  111 , can be employed.

Technology Category: f