Research/Patents/US 5101622
US 5101622

AEROSPACE PROPULSION

Assignee

ROLLS-ROYCE PLC

Filed

Dec 20, 1984

Granted

Apr 7, 1992

Location

OXFORD GB

Abstract

An engine for application to the propulsion of aerospace vehicles (terrestrial or orbital) capable of operating in two propulsive modes. The first mode employs liquid hydrogen to pre-cool the intake air of a turbo-compressor in order to deliver it at high pressure to a rocket type combustor/nozzle assembly. In this mode the external atmosphere is the source of oxidizer for the fuel. At a high Mach number in the hypersonic regime the engine changes to the second mode which is a conventional high performance rocket engine using liquid oxygen carried on the vehicle to oxidize the liquid hydrogen fuel. Both modes of propulsion use common hardware, namely the liquid hydrogen pump and the combustor nozzle assembly.

Source: Google Patents

35 USC §181 Secrecy Order

Imposed

Nov 19, 1985

Rescinded

Aug 2, 1991

Duration

5 years, 8 months

Inventor

  • 1ALAN BOND

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Back to patent indexSource: USPTO 35 USC §181 secrecy order records