Rocket motor with combustion product deflector

Abstract

A missile includes a rocket motor that has a flow deflector in an expansion region of the rocket motor's nozzle. The flow deflector diverts flow of combustion products away from a safe region that is aft of the missile. The safe region protects an operator of a launcher used to fire the missile, such as a shoulder-fired launcher, from harm caused by the combustion products. The flow deflector may be small enough such that it does not significantly adversely affect the performance of the rocket motor. The presence of the flow diverter may allow for the rocket motor to be started sooner in the flight of the missile, or at a distance closer to the operator, while still keeping the operator safe. The flow deflector and supporting structure, such as struts, may be additively manufactured with at least an aft part of the nozzle, as a continuous single-piece part.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention is in the field of rocket motors, and missiles that include rocket motors.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART[0002]Shoulder-fired missiles that include rocket motors present a danger to the operator in that combustion gases from the rocket motor are directed back at the operator. The danger from these hot gases (and other combustion byproducts, such as debris) is often addressed by delaying firing of the rocket motor until the missile has flown a significant distance away from the operator. However this can have adverse system-level implications, such as a significantly large minimum range for the missile.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0003]A missile includes a rocket motor having a flow deflector in its exhaust region, deflecting combustion products so as to create a safe region for the operator, behind the missile.[0004]According to an aspect of the invention, a rocket motor includes: a fuel element; a converge-diverge nozzle through which combustion...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Enables the ignition of the rocket motor closer to the launcher without endangering the operator, reducing the minimum range requirement and enhancing safety by deflecting combustion products effectively.

Problems solved by technology

Shoulder-fired missiles that include rocket motors present a danger to the operator in that combustion gases from the rocket motor are directed back at the operator.

However this can have adverse system-level implications, such as a significantly large minimum range for the missile.

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