US2555085A

US2555085A - Two-liquid feeding reflecting device for combustion chambers in propulsion apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2555085A
Application number: US27283A
Authority: US
Inventors: Esther C Goddard
Original assignee: DANIEL AND FLORENCE GUGGENHEIM
Current assignee: DANIEL AND FLORENCE GUGGENHEIM; DANIEL AND FLORENCE GUGGENHEIM FOUNDATION
Priority date: 1948-05-15
Filing date: 1948-05-15
Publication date: 1951-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 1968-05-29

Description

y 1951 R. GODDARD TWO-LIQUID FEEDING REFLECTING DEVICE FOR COMBUSTION CHAMBERS IN PROPULSION APPARATUS Filed May 15, 1948 OR as d.

Patented May 29, 1951 UNITED STATS PATENT OFFICE 2,555,085 TWO-LIQUID FEEDING itiii mio'rmo on VICE Foe COMBUSTION CHAMBERS IN PROPULSION APPARATUS Robert H. Goddard, deceased, late of Annapolis, Md., by Esther C. Goddard, executrix, Worces fer, Mass, assigii'or' of one half to The Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Foundation, New York, N. 31.; a corporation of New York Application May 15, 1943, Serial No. 27,283

4 Claims. I

This invention relates to combustion chambers, as used in rockets and in other propulsion apparates. in which two different combustion liquids are used.

It is the general object of this invention to provide improved means for feeding two diiferent combustion liquids to a combustion chamber and for effecting intimate intermingling thereof.

A further object is to provide feeding means in which the intermingled liquids are thereafter reflected to a common focal point. In a modified construction, the intermingled liquids are successively reflected to a series of such focal points.

The invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more'particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Preferred forms of the invention are shown in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of the improved feeding means;

Fig. 2 is a force diagram relating to the structure shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a modified construction.

Referring to Fig. 1, the improved feeding means is shown as mounted axially at the inner or closed end of a combustion chamber C of the usual form, as shown for instance in prior Goddard Patent No. 2,397,657 issued April 2, 1946.

The feeding means comprises an inner pipe l constituting a supply pipe for liquid fuel, as gasoline, and concentric tubular members I2 and M mounted in spaced relation to provide an annular passage P for an oxidizing liquid, such as liquid oxygen.

The outer tubular member 14 may be welded or otherwise secured in the wall of the chamber 0, and vanes or partitions I6 and H hold the pipe i0 and tubular members I2 and 14 in fixed concentric spaced relation. It will be understood that the gasoline and liquid oxygen are both supplied under substantial pressure.

The pipe l0 and the inner tubular member 12 are separated by an annular space S which prevents freezing of the gasoline by the liquid'oxygen before it enters the chamber C.

At its inner end, the inner tubular member I2 is outwardly expanded at to provide an annular slot 2: between the expanded part 20 and the outer tubular member [4. Through this slot a sheet of liquid oxygen is injected into the combustion chamber.

The outer end of the pipe [0 is similarly expanded at 24, and a cap is provided which 2 coacts with the expanded portion 24 to provide a second annular feed slot 2'0 for a sheet of liquid fuel or gasoline. The cap 25 is supported on a spider 28 mounted in the inner end of the pipe I0.

The annular sheets of gasoline and liquid oxygen cross and intermingle approximately at the point K. Very complete and satisfactory intermingling of the combustion liquids" is thus effected.

A reflecting ring 36 is supported on arms 3| mounted on the outer tubular member l4, and the ring 36 is positioned for engagement by the intermingled liquids, as shown by the force diagram in Fig. 2. The direction and mass of the gasoline is indicated by the arrow at, and the direction and mass of the liquid oxygen is indicated by the arrow b. The resultant direction of travel of the mixed liquids is indicated by the arrow 0. The mixed liquids thus engage the reflecting ring 30 and are reflected to a focal point F, at which the most intense combustion takes place.

A modified construction is shown in Fig. 3, in

which gasoline is injected under pressure through the expanded end 42 of the pipe 49 and a cap M mounted on a spider 45. Liquid oxygen is supplied under pressure through an annular passage P between an outer tubular member 50 and an inner tubular member 52. The member 50 is welded or otherwise firmly secured in the inner end wall of a combustion chamber C, and the

parts

40, 52 and 59 are held in spaced concentric relation by partitions 54 and 55.

The inner end of the outer tubular member 55 is expanded in bell shape, as indicated at 66, and is then reversely displaced and shaped to provide successive annular reflecting surfaces 6|, 52 and 63 joined to the bell-shaped portion 66 by an annular curved portion 65. At the inner end of the reflecting portion 6|, a tubular member 66 projects inward and is expanded at 67 to provide an annular feeding slot 10 adjacent the slot 4| previously described.

The inner tubular member 52 is expanded at its inner end, as indicated at 12. The partitions 55 are extended to the end of the portion 12 to maintain the parts 61-12 in spaced relation.

The operation of the modified construction is as follows: Liquid fuel, as gasoline, is supplied under pressure through the pipe 40 and is delivered as a flat sheet through the annular slot 4|. Liquid oxygen is supplied under pressure to the passage P and then travels through a passage P2 between the bell-shaped parts and I2.

The liquid oxygen then travels reversely through the passage P3 between the bell-shaped part 12 and the inner reflecting portions 6| to 63.

The liquid oxygen is then delivered in sheet form through the passage P4 and the annular slot 10 and intermingles with the sheet of gasoline injected through the adjacent slot 4|.

The intermingled liquids are then reflected by the surface 6| to a focal point FI, and such portion of the liquids as remains unvaporized passes through the focus and engages the reflecting surface 62 by which it is reflected to a second focal point F2. Any portion of the liquids which still remain unvaporized then engages the reflecting surface 63 and is reflected to a third focal point F3.

Three successive reflections are commonly sufficient to insure complete vaporization and complete combustion, but it will be understood that the series of reflections and focal points may be further extended, if found desirable under special circumstances.

Having described two forms of the invention and the advantages thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what is claimed is:

1. In a combustion chamber, an annular memher having an inner reflecting surface, and axial means to project adjacent portions of two different combustion liquids substantially radially outward against said annular reflecting surface, and said reflecting surface being positioned at an outward obtuse angle to the axis so that liquids projected against said surface are reflected by said surface to a common axial focal point spaced axially from the entrance point of said liquids to said combustion chamber and toward the discharge end of said chamber.

2. In a combustion chamber, an annular member having an inner reflecting surface, and axial means to project adjacent portions of two different combustion liquids substantially radially outward against said annular reflecting surface, and said inner reflecting surface being concave and positioned generally at an outward obtuse angle, so that liquids projected against said surface are reflected by said surface to a common axial focal point spaced axially from the entrance point of said liquids to said combustion chamber and toward the discharge end of said chamber.

3. In a combustion chamber, axial means to feed concentric conical sheets of two different liquids to a combustion chamber, and said chamber having an axially extended series of annular reflecting surfaces associated with said feeding means and by which intermingled portions of said two liquids are reflected to successive and axially spaced focal combustion points.

4. The combination in a combustion chamber as set forth in claim 3, in which each annular reflecting surface is frusto-conical and in which the successive reflecting surfaces are of successively increased diameter.

ESTHER. C. GODDARD, Erecutrix of the Last Will and Testament of Robert H. Goddard, Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,055,366 Schrader Sept. 22, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 310,899 Great Britain Apr. 26, 1929