Device for modulating a gas ejection section

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10690090-B2
Application number	US-201515536448-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2015
Priority date	Dec 17, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

A modulation device for modulating a gas ejection section, the device being for placing in a nozzle upstream from the throat of the nozzle, the modulation device including a plug having a downstream end forming a member for partially obstructing the nozzle throat; and a plug guide having an internal housing in which the upstream end of the plug is present. The upstream end of the plug is suitable for sliding in the internal housing of the plug guide between a first position in which the upstream end of the plug is present in an upstream portion of the internal housing, and a second position in which the upstream end is present in a downstream portion of the internal housing. The upstream end of the plug is held in the first position by at least one retaining element for breaking under the effect of heat.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A modulation device for modulating a gas ejection section, the modulation device being for placing in a nozzle upstream from a throat of said nozzle, the modulation device comprising:
a plug extending between an upstream end and a downstream end, said downstream end having a diameter that decreases so as to form a member for partially obstructing the throat;
a plug guide having an internal housing in which the upstream end of the plug is present: the upstream end of said plug being suitable for sliding in the internal housing of the plug guide under a suction effect of pressure forces generated in the nozzle between a first position in which said upstream end of the plug is present in an upstream portion of the internal housing to enable a first thrust, and a second position in which said upstream end is present in a downstream portion of the internal housing to enable a second thrust, lower than the first thrust, the upstream end of said plug being held in the first position by at least one retaining element suitable for melting or softening under an effect of heat; and
an outer case surrounding the internal housing, wherein the at least one retaining element is spaced away from a wall of the outer case.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one retaining element is made of a material suitable for breaking as from a determined temperature.

3. A nozzle of variable throat section including a nozzle throat and a modulation device according to claim 1 for modulating the gas ejection section, said modulation device being placed in the nozzle upstream from said nozzle throat.

4. The nozzle according to claim 3 , wherein the nozzle is an aerospike type nozzle.

5. A thruster including a nozzle of variable throat section according to claim 3 .

6. The thruster according to claim 5 , comprising a shell containing a propellant charge, the nozzle of variable throat section being connected to a rear end wall of said shell by an extension or by a hinged connection.

Assignees

• Airbus Safran Launchers Sas
• Arianegroup Sas

Inventors

• Caubet Pascal
• Larrieu Jean-Michel
• Ripol Pierre

Classifications

• F05D2260/311

  of the frangible or shear type · CPC title

• F05D2240/1281

  Plug nozzles · CPC title

• F02K9/978 Primary

  Closures for nozzles; Nozzles comprising ejectable or discardable elements · CPC title

• F02K9/976

  Deployable nozzles · CPC title

• F02K9/86 Primary

  using nozzle throats of adjustable cross- section {(F02K9/978 takes precedence)} · CPC title