Rocket vehicle with integrated attitude control and thrust vectoring
US9429105B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 7, 2013 |
| Grant date | Aug 30, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 10, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF42B10/66
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A rocket vehicle includes a controller that integrates operation of a variable-vector main thruster and attitude control thrusters. When the main thruster is firing and roll is commanded, the controller can provide roll moment by firing only a single attitude control thruster, while changing the thrust vector of the main thruster to offset any pitch/yaw moments induced by the firing of the single attitude control thruster. The single attitude control thruster may be a thruster on the leeward side of the rocket vehicle. Since there is a lower wall pressure on the leeward side of the rocket vehicle, the thruster efficiency is improved by accomplishing roll by use of a single thruster (which may be one of a pair of thrusters used to achieve roll in one direction). A significant reduction in fuel use may be accomplished.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.