US 11,927,152 B2
Reaction control vortex thruster system
Ryan C. Cavitt, Waunakee, WI (US); Trevor P. Ormonde, Madison, WI (US); Jake W. Carey, Madison, WI (US); Patrick D. Satyshur, Madison, WI (US); Christopher P. St. Clair, Madison, WI (US); and Scott M. Munson, Monona, WI (US)
Assigned to Sierra Space Corporation, Broomfield, CO (US)
Filed by Sierra Space Corporation, Broomfield, CO (US)
Filed on Jan. 6, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/094,300.
Application 18/094,300 is a continuation of application No. 16/449,229, filed on Jun. 21, 2019, granted, now 11,572,851.
Prior Publication US 2023/0160359 A1, May 25, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F02K 9/68 (2006.01); F02K 9/28 (2006.01); F02K 9/42 (2006.01); F02K 9/44 (2006.01); F02K 9/58 (2006.01); F02K 9/72 (2006.01)
CPC F02K 9/68 (2013.01) [F02K 9/28 (2013.01); F02K 9/42 (2013.01); F02K 9/425 (2013.01); F02K 9/44 (2013.01); F02K 9/58 (2013.01); F02K 9/72 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vortex thruster system, comprising:
a catalyst bed contained in a catalyst bed housing, the catalyst bed housing having an inlet for receiving a monopropellant to be transformed into a decomposed monopropellant by the catalyst bed, the catalyst bed housing having an outlet configured to allow the decomposed monopropellant to be dispensed from the catalyst bed housing for generating at least one thrust level;
a vortex combustion chamber configured to receive the decomposed monopropellant for assisting with creating the at least one thrust level;
an annular chamber extending along a side wall of the vortex combustion chamber, the annular chamber in fluid communication with and downstream from the outlet of the catalyst bed housing for receiving a first portion of the decomposed monopropellant, the side wall including a plurality of ports extending between the annular chamber and the vortex combustion chamber for delivering the first portion of the decomposed monopropellant into the vortex combustion chamber; and
a proximal chamber positioned upstream from the annular chamber and along a proximal wall of the vortex combustion chamber, the proximal chamber positioned downstream from the outlet of the catalyst bed housing for receiving a second portion of the decomposed monopropellant dispensed from the outlet of the catalyst bed housing, the proximal wall including a proximal injection port for delivering the second portion of the decomposed monopropellant into a combustion zone extending along the longitudinal axis of the vortex combustion chamber, wherein the vortex combustion chamber is configured to receive the first portion and the second portion of the decomposed monopropellant to create the at least one thrust level.