US 11,988,173 B2
Multi-pulse propulsion system with passive initiation
Richard W. McKnight, Tucson, AZ (US); David W. Homes, Tucson, AZ (US); and William Sanborn, Jr., Chandler, AZ (US)
Assigned to Raytheon Company, Tewksbury, MA (US)
Filed by Raytheon Company, Tewksbury, MA (US)
Filed on Oct. 21, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/075,987.
Prior Publication US 2022/0120241 A1, Apr. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. F02K 9/95 (2006.01); F02K 9/08 (2006.01); F02K 9/26 (2006.01); F02K 9/28 (2006.01); F02K 9/38 (2006.01); F42C 1/09 (2006.01)
CPC F02K 9/95 (2013.01) [F02K 9/08 (2013.01); F02K 9/26 (2013.01); F02K 9/28 (2013.01); F02K 9/38 (2013.01); F42C 1/09 (2013.01); F05D 2260/85 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multi-pulse propulsion system comprising:
a main system controller configured to initiate at least one pulse of the multi-pulse propulsion system;
at least one pulse chamber containing at least one propellant for igniting during the at least one pulse;
a first igniter connected to and controlled by the main system controller configured to initiate the at least one pulse by igniting the at least one propellant contained in the at least one pulse chamber;
at least one additional pulse chamber containing at least one additional propellant for igniting during at least one additional pulse of the multi-pulse propulsion system, wherein the at least one additional pulse is subsequent to and separate from the at least one pulse, wherein the at least one additional propellant is not ignited until the at least one additional pulse; and
at least one passive fuzing system including one or more passive components that are operable without external triggering logic, wherein the at least one passive fuzing system is separate from the main system controller and configured to initiate the at least one additional pulse independently of initiation by the main system controller, the at least one passive fuzing system comprising a sensor and a second igniter, the sensor being configured to sense an environmental condition, and the second igniter being configured to provide a stimulus that causes ignition of the at least one additional propellant in response to the sensor sensing that the environmental condition has reached or exceeded one or more threshold values, wherein the passive fuzing system is operable independent of a connection to the main system controller,
wherein the environmental condition sensed by the sensor includes temperature or pressure, and
wherein when a threshold temperature or pressure value is sensed by the sensor, the second igniter is activated to ignite the at least one additional propellant, thereby initiating the at least one additional pulse.