GB2570983A

GB2570983A - Valve for a controllable transverse thrust engine

Info

Publication number: GB2570983A
Application number: GB1820043.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bauer Karl; Ramsel Jürgen
Original assignee: Bayern Chemie Gesellschaft fuer Flugchemische Antriebe mbH
Current assignee: Bayern Chemie Gesellschaft fuer Flugchemische Antriebe mbH
Priority date: 2017-12-14
Filing date: 2018-12-10
Publication date: 2019-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 2038-12-10
Also published as: FR3076896A1; NO20181590A1; GB2570983B; GB201820043D0; FR3076896B1; DE102017129941A1

Abstract

Valve 10 for a controllable transverse thrust engine 1 for missiles having a nozzle 2, has a movable valve body 3 with a control unit 5. The valve body 3 is connected to the control unit 5 via at least one ceramic body 4. The ceramic body may be a plurality of balls 24.

Description

Valve for a controllable transverse thrust engine

The invention relates to a valve for a controllable transverse thrust engine for missiles according to the preamble of claim 1 and claim 2 and to a transverse thrust engine comprising such a valve according to the preamble of claim 12 as well as to a missile with a transverse thrust engine comprising a corresponding valve according to the preamble of claim 13.

State of the art:

A rocket or missile is launched and/or transported after launch by means of a thrust engine. The nozzle of a transverse thrust engine of a rocket or a missile serves, inter alia, the purpose of utilizing the propellant. The nozzle accelerates the gases produced during the combustion of the propellant as they exit the combustion chamber.

The exit velocity is the velocity of the gases when they reach the nozzle orifice. A parameter for the exit velocity is the spatial-geometrical configuration of the nozzle and here, in particular, the area ratio between the nozzle throat and the nozzle orifice.

Just like thrust engines, transverse thrust engines also have nozzles which are operated by means of combustion gases produced during the combustion of propellant in the combustion chamber.

Nozzles of such transverse thrust engines, which are referred to as transverse thrust nozzles below, are aimed at generating thrust deviating from the longitudinal axis of the missile to be controlled; as a rule, the thrust is directed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the missile to be controlled. Transverse thrust engines thus also serve to build up transverse acceleration relative to the perpendicular longitudinal axis.

From a functional point of view, the use of such transverse thrust nozzles is not limited to the actual transverse thrust engines, but can also be considered for use with thrust engines, in particular thrust engines for cruise flight.

This allows thrust engines as well as transverse thrust engines to be used in particular for changes in attitude control and/or path control of the missile.

Such transverse thrust engines, which are initiated in particular in the launch phase and in the final approach phase (end game) of their missile, significantly improve the maneuverability of the missile.

If such transverse thrust nozzles serve for use in thrust engines, they can be used especially in so-called upper stages and thus cause their position to change in orbit.

Such transverse thrust engines are well known and described, for example, in the German patent application DE 10 2016 101 560 Al of the applicant or in DE 197 35 279 Cl.

The applicant makes the disclosure made in DE 10 2016 101 560 Al also the subject matter of the present disclosure.

The term missile within the meaning of the present disclosure is understood to mean all airworthy objects, i.e. in particular rockets, spaceships, probes, aircraft, satellites, regardless of whether they are, for example, ground-based, airborne, person-supported, vehicle-based or waterborne.

Controllable transverse thrust engines usually have a plurality of nozzles, which are often arranged in a radial and, in particular, Cartesian manner in or around the missile.

Control or adjustment algorithms have the effect of controlling or adjusting actuators, the nozzles or the valves operatively connected to the nozzles.

Controllability within the meaning of the present invention is also understood to mean adjustability; accordingly, control is also understood to mean adjustment.

The valves may be cold gas valves, but are often hot gas valves. The control or adjustment has an influence on a control unit, which is operatively connected to the respective transverse thrust nozzle and which carries out the change in attitude control or path control of the missile.

The control unit may comprise vertical rudders or similar components which contribute to the change in direction of the missile.

The control or the implementation of the measures for the change in direction of the missile often take place in milliseconds at extremely high temperatures. During extensive examinations of the components naturally destroyed after their intended use, the applicant determined that problems occurring in practice with the compliance with precise changes made to the attitude control or path control may be due to leaks in the control unit. These leaks can lead to structural failure of the control unit and thus make the changes in attitude control or path control of the missile by actuating the transverse thrust nozzles at least more difficult or even impossible.

Technical problem:

Based on these drawbacks of the state of the art it is therefore one object of the invention to keep the control unit of the transverse thrust engines permanently functional during the generation and performance of the changes in attitude control or path control of the missile.

A technical problem associated therewith is to ensure permanent and precise compliance with the changes in attitude control or path control of the missile initiated by the transverse thrust nozzles.

In particular, the aim is to be able to transfer the control forces to the control unit without restriction.

Furthermore, a cost-effective, simple and easily producible configuration of the transverse thrust nozzles, their valves as well as the transverse thrust engines containing the transverse thrust nozzles should be achieved in this respect.

These aspects of the technical problem are solved by means of a valve, a nozzle for a controllable transverse thrust engine according to claim 1 and claim 2 and a transverse thrust engine comprising such a nozzle according to claim 12 as well as a missile comprising such a transverse thrust engine according to claim 13. Preferred embodiments are described in the subclaims.

Description of the invention:

The invention is based on the starting point summarized below and on the analysis of the states and sequences of extremely complex, but above all extremely short processes at immense temperatures initiated by the actuation of the transverse thrust nozzles:

The controllable transverse thrust engines are operated with hot gases, which are produced in the combustion chamber of the missile as a result of the combustion of the propellant, since they have a higher degree of efficiency than cold gases.

The invention is described below on the basis of a transverse thrust engine or a transverse thrust nozzle provided for such a transverse thrust engine. This description applies to all transverse thrust engines or transverse thrust nozzles used in a missile according to the invention.

The controllable transverse thrust nozzle contains an arrangement of at least one valve. The valve has a valve body.

The valve body is arranged inside the housing of the transverse thrust nozzle.

The valve serves the purpose of controlling the respective gas flow. The valve is preferably configured in the form of a hot gas valve. It can be controlled by any suitable means, e.g. via electromagneticaIly operated components.

The valve body is movable. The valve body can preferably be moved in both directions along its longitudinal axis. Due to this movable configuration of the valve body, it is possible to control the flow rate and the flow velocity of the combustion gases flowing around the valve body.

If the valve body is moved in the direction of discharge of the gas flow from the transverse thrust nozzle, the valve body of the valve with its preferably conical, e.g. pointed conical complementary section, also referred to as head area, approaches the convex course of the inside wall of the transverse thrust nozzle in the area of its nozzle throat. As a result, the cross section of the channel for the passage of the combustion gases changes, with the channel being arranged between the head section of the valve body and the nozzle throat of the nozzle. Consequently, the flow cross section between the nozzle, or more precisely between the nozzle throat of the nozzle, and the valve body is changed by the movable valve body.

The change in cross section of the channel can lead from a complete closure of the nozzle throat by the conical complementary section or head section of the valve body to a complete opening of the nozzle throat. Depending on the open or closed state of the flow cross section channel, the flow around the valve body by the combustion gases changes.

The valve body of the valve is preferably configured in the form of a so-called pintle configuration, also referred to as pin configuration, in which the pintle or the pin can close or open the nozzle throat of the transverse thrust nozzle.

However, other types of nozzles and valve configurations can also be considered, e.g. in the form of seat hole nozzles or blind hole nozzles.

In addition, the valve body of the valve of the transverse thrust nozzle is connected to the control unit of the transverse thrust engine.

The movement of the valve body along its longitudinal axis is effected by the control unit. The control unit is in turn actuated by an actuator. This causes the change in attitude control or path control.

Irrespective of the structural configuration of the nozzle type or the valve and its valve body, the hot combustion gases flow around the valve body when changes are initiated and made to the attitude control or path control, causing the valve body to heat up considerably.

For this reason, it is one aspect that first of all the material of the valve body of the valve is heatresistant or constructed of a heat-resistant material.

Heat-resistant materials are, for example, heat-resistant metals, such as tungsten, molybdenum or titanium-zirconium-molybdenum. The latter has a high degree of thermal resistance of up to approx. 1400 °C with low thermal expansion, which generally leads to its preferred use in hot runner nozzles.

However, one of the physical properties of these metallic materials is their high thermal conductivity. Depending on the reference sources or data sheets of suppliers or manufacturers, the thermal conductivity of the metallic materials mentioned above as examples is expressed, for instance, as W/(m x K) = 140 (20 °C) or W/(m x K) = approx. 130 (20 °C) in the case of titanium-zirconium-molybdenum and W/(m x K)=138 (20 °C) in the case of molybdenum.

This good thermal conductivity of metallic materials leads to the fact that components adjacent to the valve or the valve body, such as the control unit, also heat up and often overheat, in particular during prolonged operation of the nozzle. Excessive heating of the control unit results in the aforementioned leaks due to thermal expansion and finally in structural failure of the control unit, especially if, as is customary, it is made of a less heat-resistant material.

It is therefore an essential aspect of the invention to configure the valve of the transverse thrust nozzle in such a way that it not only has sufficient heat resistance, but also, directly or indirectly, such a reduced thermal conductivity compared to metallic materials that sufficiently prevents the heat from being transferred to adjacent components, such as the control unit.

A particularly preferable aspect is not only to provide a material for such a sufficient heat resistance, but at the same time to structurally configure the valve in such a way that only a small contact surface is achieved, through which the effect of the heat dissipation, i.e. the transfer of heat, takes place structurally. Such a configuration has the advantage that a larger range of materials is available for use so that, in particular, certain differences in thermal conductivity of a corresponding group of materials can be accepted, without, of course, disregarding the objective according to which the material itself or the group of materials to which the material belongs should basically have improved material properties in terms of heat resistance and reduction of thermal conductivity.

For this purpose, the invention first of all specifically suggests configuring the valve body of the valve of the transverse thrust nozzle directly or indirectly in such a way that it has sufficient heat resistance as well as reduced thermal conductivity compared to metallic materials that sufficiently prevents the heat from being transferred to adjacent components, such as the control unit.

The term direct within the meaning of the above explanation is understood to mean that the valve body itself has these properties.

The term indirect within the meaning of the above explanation is understood to mean that the valve body forms the structural or constructional basis for a further component or for a further component part, for further components or further component parts, which in turn is or are configured in such a way that it or they has or have sufficient heat resistance as well as reduced thermal conductivity in comparison to metallic materials, which sufficiently prevent the heat from being transferred to adjacent components, such as the control unit.

According to the invention, a body with poor thermal conductivity made of an inorganic and predominantly non-metallic material is provided. This material, which is referred to below as a ceramic material for the sake of simplification, can relate to the valve body itself or to a component which is independent of the actual valve body. The independent component can, for example, be adjacent to the valve body. This ceramic material reduces or even largely or completely excludes the excessive transfer of heat from the valve body to a component adjacent to the valve body, such as the control unit.

The inorganic and predominantly non-metallic materials, which are used according to the invention depending on the configuration of the transverse thrust nozzle and the requirements that may be placed on them, mainly include ceramic materials, but also inorganic glass or cement as an inorganic binder, which is used together with other inorganic materials for the production of concrete. The ceramic materials are preferred within the meaning of the invention. This is because glass, which in itself is less expensive to produce, generally has a lower melting temperature compared to a ceramic material, depending on its configuration.

Suitable ceramic materials are ceramic fiber materials, non-oxidic ceramic materials or oxidic ceramic materials.

In comparison to the metallic materials used in the state of the art, the ceramic materials suggested according to the invention have numerous positive properties, which include low density, high hardness, in particular high mechanical strength, dimensional stability, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, weather resistance during prolonged storage of the missile, predominantly low thermal conductivity as well as high insulating capacity.

Silicate ceramics are particularly suitable. Silicate ceramic materials include porcelain, steatite, cordierite and mullite. Silicate ceramics are relatively inexpensive due to relatively low sintering temperatures, good availability of the raw materials on which they are based as well as simple process sequences. Silicate ceramics have high mechanical strength, good insulating properties and excellent resistance to chemical attack in a variety of ways.

Oxide-ceramic materials are also particularly suitable, for example aluminum oxide with high strength and hardness, temperature stability, high wear resistance and corrosion resistance even at high temperatures. Zirconium oxide with its high fracture toughness, high bending fracture and tensile strength, high wear resistance, corrosion resistance and low thermal conductivity is one of them, for example.

Mixtures of ceramic materials are also suitable. This applies in particular to mixtures of the aforementioned groups of ceramic materials.

Mixtures especially of aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide, in particular in the form of zirconium oxide-reinforced aluminum oxide, are well suited. An equally suitable ceramic material is aluminum titanate, a mixture of aluminum oxide and titanium oxide; it has low thermal conductivity.

The above selection is only an exemplary list and is not exhaustive so that the person skilled in the art will also consider other ceramic materials, in particular mixtures thereof. These generally include high-performance ceramic or functional ceramic materials.

When selecting suitable ceramic materials, the person skilled in the art will take into account the fact that some of them have a slightly higher thermal conductivity compared to others.

Ceramic materials with a slightly higher thermal conductivity include, for example, ceramics made of magnesium oxide or silicon carbide or aluminum nitride, which the person skilled in the art can nevertheless take into consideration, especially in cases where it is possible to ensure a small contact surface in the nozzle in the area of transition to the control unit, since insulation can already be ensured over large areas by providing a small contact surface. The configuration of the structural connection of the valve body to the control unit via balls or the like described in more detail below should already be mentioned in this context.

In the direct configuration of heat resistance and lower thermal conductivity described above, the valve body itself comprises the ceramic material or the mixture of ceramic materials or consists thereof.

The valve body can consist entirely of a ceramic material. It is also possible, however, that the valve body consists of a core of a different material that is coated with a ceramic material of the desired thickness.

At its end area arranged in the direction of the control unit, i.e. at its area opposite the aforementioned head area, the valve body can preferably be configured to be smaller, e.g. narrower, thinner, than in its remaining part.

This end area is preferably configured in the form of a connection piece. Connection piece here means a configuration to which another component, such as the control unit, is connected. The end area of the valve body or the connection piece serves the purpose of connecting the valve body to another component, in particular to the control unit. In particular, the connection piece can consist of or comprise a ceramic material. As described with respect to the valve body, the connection piece may also have a core of a different material that is coated with a ceramic material of the desired thickness.

In the case of this above-described direct configuration of heat resistance and lower thermal conductivity of the valve body itself or the connection piece of the valve body, the valve body itself or the connection piece of the valve body assumes the function of a ceramic body.

In this respect, the component is identical from a spatial-geometrical point of view; however, it has an additional function beyond its actual valve function, which is the lower thermal conductivity and which is expressed by the concept of the ceramic body also in this case of the direct configuration of heat resistance and lower thermal conductivity.

The connection to the other component, in particular to the control unit, can be configured, for example, in the form of a push-in connection or a screw connection. Preferably, the adjacent component, e.g. the control unit, encompasses the valve body or the connection piece of the valve body with its one end facing the valve body. The connection is preferably configured in a form-fit manner. In addition, it can also be configured in a friction-fit and/or force-fit manner.

In spite of the direct contact between the valve body, in particular the connection piece of the valve body, and the component adjacent thereto, in particular the control unit, there is only limited thermal conduction from the valve body or from the connection piece of the valve body to the adjacent component, in particular the control unit, as a result of the ceramic material of the valve body or the connection piece. The adjacent component, in particular the control unit, does not heat up excessively even during prolonged operation; accordingly, the occurrence of leaks due to thermal expansion is avoided; the control unit remains functional.

The poorly conductive ceramic material still has a high degree of strength even at higher temperatures and can therefore transmit the control forces, without the control unit heating up too much.

In the indirect configuration of heat resistance and lower thermal conductivity discussed below, a separate body of a ceramic material is arranged on the valve body of the valve of the transverse thrust nozzle. This separate body is also referred to as a ceramic body.

In the case of this indirect configuration, the actual valve body, which controls the flow rate and the flow velocity of the combustion gases, may itself consist of or comprise the metallic materials described above, such as molybdenum or titanium-zirconium-molybdenum.

For this purpose, the ceramic body can advantageously be configured in the form of a rotational solid. The term rotational solid is generally understood in terms of geometry, i.e. as a solid which is formed by rotation of a generating surface lying in a plane about an axis of rotation lying in the same plane but not intersecting the surface. One example is the torus formed by the rotation of a circle. Also solids such as cylinders and hollow cylinders are considered to be rotational solids within the meaning of the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ceramic body is configured in the form of a plurality of balls. These balls are arranged at least once, preferably more than once, radially around the valve body, preferably radially around the connection piece of the valve body. The balls consist of or comprise a ceramic material according to the above explanations. This also applies to mixtures of such a ceramic material.

The choice of balls as a ceramic body has the aforementioned advantage that the contact surface between the valve body and the control unit can be reduced, thereby already achieving a large effect of the desired insulation.

With regard to the balls as a ceramic body, but also with regard to the ceramic body in general, the person skilled in the art will pay special attention to the strength criteria of the ceramic material and select it taking into account the composition of the material, the grain size of the starting and additional materials, the production conditions and the manufacturing process.

The flexural strength _σΒ [MPa] plays a special role among the various aspects of strength. Technical ceramics are characterized by high strength at high temperatures. From this point of view, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, partially stabilized zirconium oxide and silicon nitride are particularly suitable. The flexural strength at 25 °C is in the range of about 1000 _σΒ [MPa] for aluminum oxide and partially stabilized zirconium oxide.

The compressive strength of ceramics is generally 5 to 10 times the flexural strength.

Even taking the elastic properties into account, oxide and non-oxide ceramics as well as silicate ceramics have clear advantages over metallic materials. Silicon carbide, silicon nitride and aluminum oxide can also be mentioned as suitable ceramic materials in this respect.

The high hardness of technical ceramics also leads to advantages in comparison to metallic materials. Technical ceramics are characterized by high stiffness and dimensional stability, which results in favorable wear resistance. In this respect, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide and silicon carbide can again be mentioned by way of example as suitable ceramic materials.

The one end of the adjacent component, e.g. the control unit, facing the valve body, preferably encompasses the balls so that the balls are arranged in the section of the control unit forming an interior. This interior can, for example, be configured in the form of a cylindrical opening of this area of the control unit.

The valve body of the valve of the transverse thrust nozzle is thus connected to the control unit via the ceramic body configured in the form of the balls, for example in a form-fit manner. The transfer of heat between the valve body and the control unit takes place in a significantly reduced manner via the poorly heat-conductive ceramic body configured in the form of the balls, which still have high strengths, in particular compressive strength, even at higher temperatures and can therefore transmit the control forces, without the control unit heating up too much.

The configuration of the ceramic body in the form of balls has the advantage that the balls can be easily inserted into the connection space between the valve body, in particular the connection piece, and the control unit. In addition, the balls are only in contact with a line as a bearing surface, which additionally significantly reduces thermal conduction. Due to the high compressive strength of the ceramic material, the forces of the control unit can also be transmitted well when balls are used.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the balls of the ceramic body are arranged spirally around the connection piece of the valve body of the valve of the transverse thrust nozzle.

Instead of balls, other geometrical shapes of the ceramic body can also be chosen which achieve the aforementioned purposes in the same or a similar manner. For example, the choice of an ellipsoidal body can be considered. An annular or annular wave-shaped configuration, which is placed like a kind of ring around the connection piece of the valve body, can also be taken into consideration.

In a further embodiment, the ceramic body can also be configured in the form of a rotational solid, e.g. in the form of rolling elements. They have low thermal conduction and can transmit high forces. The rolling elements can be advantageously inserted into corresponding counter grooves, which, for example, are recessed in the connection piece of the ceramic body so that they are secured against falling out or slipping when the nozzle is mounted.

Preferably, the at least one ceramic body can be preloaded by way of a screw connection. This can be achieved, for example, by means of a threaded screw pressing, for example, on one of the aforementioned balls or rolling elements. Separate filling bores can also be provided.

If the ceramic body is configured in the form of balls or rolling elements, it is preferred that the space between them is filled with an insulating material.

It is also possible that the ceramic body has a disc-shaped configuration, for example, which is formed on the front side of the connection piece, for example by means of insertion tubes embedded in the valve body. A suitable number of insertion tubes ensures the transmission of the high control forces, i.e. such a disc-shaped ceramic body remains firmly connected to the valve body of the valve of the transverse thrust nozzle in this way. In this configuration, too, it is advantageous if the component adjacent to the valve body of the valve, in particular the control unit, encompasses the disc-shaped ceramic body, i.e. accommodates it in a cylindrical opening of this connecting area of the control unit.

Instead of a disc-shaped configuration of the ceramic body, other geometrical basic structures can also be considered, such as a polygonal configuration of the ceramic body engaging with a corresponding polygonal complementary opening in the connecting area of the control unit. This also ensures good transmission of the control forces to the control unit despite the environment of high temperatures.

Of course, in the embodiments of indirect configurations of heat resistance and lower thermal conductivity described above, the valve body itself or part of the valve body, e.g. the connection piece, can also be made of a ceramic material or additionally provided with such a material by way of a ceramic body arranged separately on the valve body.

In another embodiment of the invention, the preferably form-fit connection between the valve body and the control unit is achieved by a ceramic body configured in the form of at least one bushing. A bolt is arranged in the at least one bushing, which can preferably also be made of a ceramic material, but which - due to its embedding in the at least one ceramic bushing - can also consist of another material, e.g. molybdenum.

The at least one bushing is passed through the connection piece. The bolt protruding from the bushing with its head forms the preferably form-fit connection to the control unit, for example by engaging with or being inserted into a corresponding recess on the inside of the part of the control unit which overlaps the connection piece.

Description of exemplary embodiments:

The invention is further described in more detail on the basis of the following exemplary embodiments, to which it is, of course, not limited, wherein:

Fig. 1: shows a schematic cross section of a nozzle arrangement with a control unit and a ceramic body with balls as a ceramic body in a transverse thrust engine;

Fig. 2: shows a valve body according to the invention with a connection piece and a ceramic body configured in the form of balls;

Fig. 3: shows a schematic cross section of another nozzle arrangement with a control unit in a transverse thrust engine;

Fig. 4: shows a perspective view of a valve body with a ceramic body configured in the form of a bushing and bolt.

Fig. 1 shows a controllable transverse thrust engine 1, which has a controllable transverse thrust nozzle 2. The controllable transverse thrust nozzle 2 contains an arrangement of a valve 10. The valve 10 has a valve body 3.

The valve body 3 is arranged inside the housing of the transverse thrust nozzle 2 formed by the wall 18 of the transverse thrust nozzle 2.

The valve 10 serves the purpose of controlling the respective gas flow. The gas flow is indicated by the arrows 12 and 11. The transverse thrust nozzle 2 receives the gas flow marked with the reference numeral 12, which is led from the combustion chamber (not shown) via the gas supply channel 14 into the transverse thrust nozzle 2. The gas flow is guided into the receiving chamber 25 of the transverse thrust nozzle 2, which also receives the valve 10.

The gas flow flows around the valve body 3 of the valve 10 and is conducted in the direction of the nozzle throat 15 of the nozzle 2. The passage of the gas flow from the receiving chamber 25 to the interior 19 of the transverse thrust nozzle 2, which has a bell-shaped extension, takes place through the channel 16. As shown by the reference numeral 11, the gas flow is discharged from the interior 19 of the transverse thrust nozzle 2 in the further process.

As also shown in Fig. 1, the arrangement of the valve body 3 is configured so as to be movable. This is indicated by the double arrow 13. Accordingly, the valve body 3 can be moved in both directions 13 along its longitudinal axis 22.

This movable configuration of the valve body 3 allows the flow rate and the flow velocity of the combustion gases flowing around the valve body 3 to be controlled. If the valve body 3 is moved in the direction of discharge of the gas flow 11 from the transverse thrust nozzle 2, the valve body 3 with its conical complementary section 17, i.e. with its head section, approaches the convex course of the inside wall 23 of the wall 18 of the transverse thrust nozzle 2 in the area of its nozzle throat 15. As a result, the cross section of the channel 16 for the passage of the combustion gases changes. The channel 16 is arranged circumferentially around the complementary section 17 of the valve body 3, thus between the complementary section 17 of the valve body 3 and the convex course of the inside wall 23 of the wall 18 of the transverse thrust nozzle 2 in the area of its nozzle throat 15.

Fig. 1 shows the open position of the channel 16 in the area of the nozzle throat 15. A closed position of the channel 16 can be achieved by a movement (not shown) of the valve body 13 of the valve 10 to the left. This movement of the valve body 3 in both directions can therefore cause a change in cross section of the channel 16 from a complete closure of the nozzle throat 15 by the conical complementary section 17 to a complete opening of the nozzle throat 15. Depending on the open or closed position of the channel 16, the flow around the valve body 13 by the combustion gases in this area changes.

Fig. 1 shows the valve body 3 of the valve 10 as a so-called pintle configuration, in which the pintle or the pin can close or open the nozzle throat 15 by means of the complementary section 17, depending on the direction of movement of the valve body 3 of the valve 10.

As further shown in Fig. 1, the valve body 3 is connected to the control unit 5. The movement of the valve body 3 along its longitudinal axis 22, which is indicated by the double arrow with the reference numeral 13, also causes the control unit 5 to move. The movement is initiated and executed by the actuator 27, as a result of which the change in attitude control or path control of the missile is effected.

The control unit 5 is formed by the control lever 20, the bearing block 26 and the actuator 27. These components 20, 26 and 27 are configured so as to be movable in relation to each other so that the actuator 27 leads to a lateral displaceability of the control unit 5 and thus of the valve body 3, 6, 4, 24 via the movable connection to the control lever 20 and the bearing block 26.

The actuator 27 can, for example, be configured in the form of an electric spindle motor.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the valve body 3 of the valve 10 merges in its end area opposite the complementary section 17 into a connection piece 6 in a step-like manner. The connection piece 6 is configured to be narrower or thinner, i.e. with a smaller diameter, than the main part of the valve body 3. The end area of the valve body 3 or the connection piece 6 serves the purpose of connecting the valve body 3 to the control unit 5. The control unit 5 encompasses the connection piece 6 with its one end facing the valve body 3. The connection piece is configured in a form-fit manner.

Fig. 1 also shows the arrangement of a separate ceramic body 4. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, this ceramic body 4 is configured in the form of a plurality of balls 24. The balls 24 are arranged several times radially around the outer circumference of the connection piece 6 of the valve body 3.

The detailed illustration shown in Fig. 2 demonstrates that the valve body 3 is equipped with the connection piece 6 and the ceramic body 4 configured in the form of balls 24, with the balls 24 being arranged spirally around the connection piece 6. The nozzle 2 and the control unit 5 are not shown in this detailed illustration.

The one end of the control unit 5 facing the valve body 3 encompasses the balls 24. The encompassing can be configured either in the form of a push-in connection or in the form of a screw arrangement.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the valve body 3 is thus connected in a form-fit manner to the control unit 5 via the ceramic body 4 configured in the form of the balls 24. The transfer of heat between the valve body 3 and the control unit 5 takes place via the poorly heat-conductive ceramic body 4 configured in the form of the balls 24 and thus in a significantly reduced manner, with the balls 24 still having high strengths, in particular compressive strength, even at higher temperatures and therefore being able to transmit the control forces, without the control unit 5 heating up too much.

As explained in the general part of the description, this is achieved by the fact that the ceramic body 4, 24 consists of a ceramic material. The heat generated by the combustion gases as they flow around the valve body 3 is virtually blocked in the transition area, i.e. in the connection piece 6, because of the ceramic configuration of the ceramic body 4, 24, and at most transferred to the control unit 5 in only a limited manner.

Fig. 1 shows the advantage of the ceramic body 4 configured in the form of balls 24, namely that the balls 24 can be easily inserted into the connection space between the valve body 3, in particular the connection piece 6, and the control unit 5. Furthermore, it can be seen that the balls 24 are only in contact with a line as a bearing surface, which additionally significantly reduces thermal conduction. Due to the high compressive strength of the ceramic material of the balls 24, the forces of the control unit 5 can also be transmitted well when balls are used.

Instead of balls, other geometrical shapes of the ceramic body 4 can also be chosen. The ceramic body 4 can in particular be configured in the form of a rotational solid, e.g. in the form of rolling elements 21 (not shown). They also have low thermal conduction and can transmit high forces.

The at least one ceramic body 4 can be preloaded by way of a screw connection (not shown).

In another embodiment, which is shown in Fig. 3 and in detail in Fig. 4, the form-fit connection between the valve body 3 and the control unit 5 is achieved by the ceramic body 4, which is configured in the form of at least one bushing 8. A bolt 9 is arranged in the at least one bushing 8, which, like the bushing 8, can be made of a ceramic material. As shown in Fig. 4, the at least one bushing 8 is passed through the connection piece 6. The bolt 9 protruding with its head from the bushing 8 forms the form-fit connection to the control unit 5 by being inserted into a corresponding recess on the inside of the part of the control unit 5 which overlaps the connection piece 6.

As regards the other components of the embodiment of the transverse thrust nozzle 2 of the transverse thrust engine 1 shown in Fig. 3 and 4, in particular the valve body 3, the explanations given for Fig. 1 also apply equally to Fig. 3.

List of reference numerals transverse thrust engine transverse thrust nozzle valve body ceramic body control unit connection piece screw connection bushing bolt valve gas flow (discharge from the transverse thrust nozzle) gas flow (led from the combustion chamber into the transverse thrust nozzle) direction of movement of the movable valve body 3 gas supply channel (coming from the combustion chamber) nozzle throat channel (for the passage of the combustion gases) complementary section of the valve body 3 to the nozzle throat 15 wall of the transverse thrust nozzle interior of the transverse thrust nozzle control lever rolling elements longitudinal axis convex course of the wall 18 balls receiving chamber bearing block actuator

Claims

1. Valve (10) of a nozzle (2) for a controllable transverse thrust engine (1) for missiles having a nozzle (2), having a movable valve body (3), having a control unit (5), characterized in that the valve body (3) has a ceramic body (4) and is connected via the latter to the control unit (5).

2. Valve (10) for a controllable transverse thrust engine (1) for missiles having a nozzle (2), having a movable valve body (3), having a control unit (5), characterized in that the valve body (3) is connected to the control unit (5) via at least one ceramic body (4).

3. Valve (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the valve body (3) has a connection piece (6) and in that the at least one ceramic body (4) is configured in the form of balls (24).

4. Valve (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least one ceramic body (4) is configured in the form of a rotational solid.

5. Valve (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one ceramic body (4) is configured in the form of balls (24).

6. Valve (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the at least one ceramic body (4) is arranged at least once radially around the connection piece (6) of the valve body (3).

7. Valve (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the at least one ceramic body (4) is arranged at least once radially around the connection piece (6) of the valve body (3).

8. Valve (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one ceramic body (4) consists of an oxide ceramic material or a non-oxide ceramic material or a silicate ceramic material.

9. Valve (10) according to one or more of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the space between a plurality of rotational solids is filled with an insulating material.

10. Valve (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one ceramic body (4) is preloaded by way of a screw connection (7).

11. Valve (10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one ceramic body (4) is configured in the form of at least one bushing (8) and is connected to the control unit (5) by means of at least one bolt (9).

12. Transverse thrust engine for missiles having a nozzle (2), having a valve (10) with a movable valve body (3) and having a control unit (5), characterized in that the valve (10) is configured according to one or more of claims 1 to 11.

13. Missile with at least one transverse thrust engine (1), characterized in that the transverse thrust engine (1) is configured according to claim 12.