Patent · US Expired

Ignitor for use in a liquid monopropellant gas generator

US5650585A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
3References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 30, 1995
Grant dateJul 22, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 30, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF41A1/04
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An initiator, for use in a gas generator, includes an enclosed volume in communication with apertures for introducing liquid propellant and pre-pressurization gas into a propellant ignition chamber, and an aperture for introducing combusted gasses into a gas generator. A mechanism for controlling when the gases are allowed to enter the gas generator, and a heater/electrode to initiate combustion of the liquid propellant, also communicate with the enclosed volume. The propellant and the pre-pressurization gas may be introduced together or through separate ports. The heater/electrode thermally decomposes and vaporizes the propellant causing pressurization of the ignition chamber until a critical value is reached and the propellant ignites and burns. The burning propellant increases the chamber pressure beyond a predetermined value thereby opening the controlling mechanism and allowing the combusted gases to be introduced into the gas generator combustion chamber.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.