Oxidizer package for propellant system for rockets

Abstract

An oxidizer package for a propellant system for a motor in which the oxidizer is separated from fuel grain, the oxidizer package comprising oxidizer material and an ignition system therefor in a wrapping or sealing material. A hybrid rocket comprising oxidizer material and fuel grain, the oxidizer material being separated from the fuel grain and being in the form of a single package or plurality of packages of oxidizer material and an ignition system therefor, said packages generally conforming to the shape of the rocket. A grid of a pyrotechnic material. A propulsion system for a hybrid rocket comprising oxidizer material in a matrix, mesh, wool, foamed metal or wires of structural or pyrotechnic material.

1 . An oxidizer package for a propellant system for a motor in a rocket, the oxidizer package comprising: 
 coated oxidizer material disposed in a matrix; and    an ignition system therefor,    wherein the matrix is selected from the group consisting of an ancillary compound, a mixture of an oxidizer and an ancillary compound, and a pyrotechnic material.    
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the coated oxidizer material is hermetically sealed.  
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the coated oxidizer material has a coating selected from the group consisting of at least one of coated aluminum, pyroalloying metal foil, a laminate or sheet of aluminum, a laminate or sheet of magnesium, an energetic polymer, a non-energetic polymer, nitrocellulose and a double-base propellant; the coated aluminum is selected from the group consisting of polymer-coated aluminum, aluminum coated with a mixture of polymer and magnesium, and aluminum coated with a fluoroelastomer and magnesium.  
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the coated oxidizer material has an oxidizer material selected from the group consisting of a liquid, a solid and a semi-solid material.  
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the coated oxidizer material has an oxidizer material that comprises at least one oxidizer.  
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the coated oxidizer material has an oxidizer material that comprises a mixture of an oxidizer and an ancillary compound.  
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the ancillary compound is selected from the group consisting of a fluoropolymer, a fluoroelastomer, an energetic polymer, a non-energetic polymer, an energetic metal, a crystalline explosive, a polymerized peroxide and a double-base propellant.  
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 6  wherein the ancillary compound of the oxidizer material is selected from the group consisting of a fluoropolymer, a fluoroelastomer, an energetic polymer, a non-energetic polymer, an energetic metal, a crystalline explosive, a polymerized peroxide and a double-base propellant.  
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the ancillary compound of the matrix is a solid propellant formulated for stoichiometric oxygen balance or excess oxygen.  
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 6  wherein the ancillary compound of the oxidizer material is a solid propellant formulated for stoichiometric oxygen balance or excess oxygen.  
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the oxidizer is selected from the group consisting of a liquid, a solid and a semi-solid material.  
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the coated oxidizer material further comprises carriers or performance enhancing compounds selected from the group consisting of a fluoropolymer, a fluoroelastomer, an energetic polymer, a non-energetic polymer, an energetic metal, a crystalline explosive, polymerized peroxide, a metal hydride and a double-base propellant.  
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the matrix is the ancillary compound.  
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the matrix is the oxidizer and the ancillary compound.  
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the matrix is the pyrotechnic material.  
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the ancillary compound is selected from the group consisting of HTPB, PBAN, epoxy, thermoplastic polymer, GAP, BAMO, AMMO, NMMO and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 6  wherein the ancillary compound of the oxidizer material is selected from the group consisting of HTPB, PBAN, epoxy, thermoplastic polymer, GAP, BAMO, AMMO, NMMO and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the matrix is polyethylene/vinyl acetate (EVA), optionally cross-linked.  
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the oxidizer is selected from the group consisting of ammonium perchlorate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium dinitramide, hydroxylammonium nitrate, hydroxylammonium perchlorate, hydrazinium nitroformate, nitronium perchlorate, nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide and nitrocellulose/nitroglycerine.  
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the coated oxidizer material has an oxidizer material selected from the group consisting of ammonium perchlorate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium dinitramide, hydroxylammonium nitrate, hydroxylammonium perchlorate, hydrazinium nitroformate, nitronium perchlorate, nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide and nitrocellulose/nitroglycerine.  
     
     
         21 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the matrix comprises 90-94% oxidizer, 2.5-4.5% ancillary compounds, 0.5-1.0% burn rate modifiers, 0.5-1.0% energetic metals, 0.2-0.5% process modifiers and 0.2-0.4% curative agents.  
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the matrix is a grid of the pyrotechnical material.  
     
     
         23 . The package of  claim 22  wherein the grid is selected from the group consisting of mesh, wool, foamed metal and wires.  
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the pyrotechnic material has a burn rate faster than the oxidizer material.  
     
     
         25 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the pyrotechnic material is selected from the group consisting of polymer-coated aluminum, aluminum coated with a mixture of polymer and magnesium, aluminum coated with a fluoroelastomer and magnesium, pyroalloying metal foil, laminates of magnesium foil and fluoropolymer, a fluoropolymer sheet coated with magnesium, a fluoropolymer sheet coated with aluminum, a fluoropolymer sheet coated with an alloy of magnesium and aluminum, nitrocellulose and double-base propellant.  
     
     
         26 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the ancillary compound undergoes exothermic decomposition substantially without consumption of oxygen from the oxidizer material.  
     
     
         27 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the package is hermetically sealed.  
     
     
         28 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the package is a breathable package.  
     
     
         29 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the motor is a hybrid rocket motor.  
     
     
         30 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the motor is a breathable rocket motor.  
     
     
         31 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the motor is a combined hybrid and breathable rocket motor.  
     
     
         32 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the motor is a solid rocket motor.  
     
     
         33 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the motor is a scramjet.  
     
     
         34 . The package of  claim 1  wherein the motor is a ramjet.  
     
     
         35 . The package of  claim 29  wherein the packages are adapted to be separated by an inhibitor layer.  
     
     
         36 . The package of  claim 35  wherein the package is adapted to form a plurality of packages of oxidizing material in a stacked column.  
     
     
         37 . The package of  claim 35  wherein the package is in the shape of a right section of a cylinder.  
     
     
         38 . The package of  claim 37  wherein said right cylinder is divided into more than one section.  
     
     
         39 . The package of  claim 38  wherein said sections are selected from semi-circles, tri-sections and quadrants.  
     
     
         40 . The package of  claim 37  wherein the package has a circular cross-section with parallel planar opposing ends.