Aeronautics and astronautics – Aircraft propulsion – Launching
Patent
1997-11-10
1999-12-28
Wesson, Theresa M.
Aeronautics and astronautics
Aircraft propulsion
Launching
B64F 104
Patent
active
060070226
ABSTRACT:
An internal combustion catapult for loads such as an aircraft using much of the conventional steam system in that an existing elongated launch tube is utilized with an existing movable piston. The steam generation system may be replaced and a plurality of combustors positioned at the aft end of the launch tube facing the trailing end of the piston. Each of these combustors includes an injector assembly for supplying a combustible propellant. At least one igniter is operatively positioned with respect to the combustor to ignite the combustible propellant to form hot launch gases at high pressure to project the piston down the launch tube to launch the aircraft. A water manifold injects water into the combustion gases to cool them and form steam to propel the piston down the launch tube. The propellant may be a propellant composed of, for example, hydroxylammonium nitrate and a hydrocarbon fuel or a bipropellant system using a combustible fuel composed of organic substances and an oxidizer such as ammonium nitrate, hydroxylammonium nitrate, hydrazine, nitrogen tetroxide and liquid oxygen.
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Newport News Shipbuilding
Wesson Theresa M.
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