The present disclosure relates to an engine having two modes of operation—air breathing and rocket—that may be used in aerospace applications such as in an aircraft, flying machine, or aerospace vehicle. The engine's efficiency can be maximized by using a precooler arrangement to cool intake air in air breathing mode using cold fuel delivery systems used for the rocket mode. By introducing the precooler and certain other engine cycle components, and arranging and operating them as described, problems such as those associated with higher fuel and weight requirements and frost formation can be alleviated.

The present disclosure relates to an engine having two modes of operation—air breathing and rocket—that may be used in aerospace applications such as in an aircraft, flying machine, or aerospace vehicle. The engine's efficiency can be maximized by using a precooler arrangement to cool intake air in air breathing mode using cold fuel delivery systems used for the rocket mode. By introducing the precooler and certain other engine cycle components, and arranging and operating them as described, problems such as those associated with higher fuel and weight requirements and frost formation can be alleviated.

A jet engine has an inlet which takes in air, a combustor which combusts fuel by using the air, and a fuel control section which controls supply of the fuel. The combustor has a fuel supplying section which supplies the fuel, injectors which inject the fuel. Each injector contains openings which inject the fuel. The fuel supplying section supplies the fuel to the injector in a flow rate according to a command of an autopilot. The fuel control section controls the injectors such that the number of the openings which inject the fuel or flow-path cross-section areas of the pipes which send the fuel in case of the low-speed is more than the number of the openings which inject the fuel or the flow-path cross-section areas of the pipes which send the fuel in case of the high-speed.

A jet engine has an inlet which takes in air, a combustor which combusts fuel by using the air, and a fuel control section which controls supply of the fuel. The combustor has a fuel supplying section which supplies the fuel, injectors which inject the fuel. Each injector contains openings which inject the fuel. The fuel supplying section supplies the fuel to the injector in a flow rate according to a command of an autopilot. The fuel control section controls the injectors such that the number of the openings which inject the fuel or flow-path cross-section areas of the pipes which send the fuel in case of the low-speed is more than the number of the openings which inject the fuel or the flow-path cross-section areas of the pipes which send the fuel in case of the high-speed.

An air-breathing rocket engine in certain embodiments comprises an outer shell and an interior portion situated entirely within the front end of the outer shell. The interior portion includes a funnel-shaped intake and an annular primary combustion chamber between the inner front wall of the shell and the outer surface of the funnel-shaped intake. The intake has a central aperture that is in fluid communication with the throat and exhaust areas within the outer shell. A second circumferential gap is formed between the outer surface of the front inner wall and the inner surface of the front end of the outer shell and is in fluid communication with the throat and exhaust areas within the outer shell. One or more injector ports and one or more ignition ports are situated at the front end of the second circumferential gap.

An air-breathing rocket engine in certain embodiments comprises an outer shell and an interior portion situated entirely within the front end of the outer shell. The interior portion includes a funnel-shaped intake and an annular primary combustion chamber between the inner front wall of the shell and the outer surface of the funnel-shaped intake. The intake has a central aperture that is in fluid communication with the throat and exhaust areas within the outer shell. A second circumferential gap is formed between the outer surface of the front inner wall and the inner surface of the front end of the outer shell and is in fluid communication with the throat and exhaust areas within the outer shell. One or more injector ports and one or more ignition ports are situated at the front end of the second circumferential gap.

An integrated propulsion and warhead system for an artillery round includes a propulsion, such as a solid rocket motor and/or an air-breathing jet engine, and an annular explosive concentrically arranged around at least a portion of the propulsion system. The integrated propulsion and warhead system is included in a propulsion section of the artillery round so that space in an adjacent guidance section is increased and the space allocation for the propulsion system and annular explosive is optimized.

An integrated propulsion and warhead system for an artillery round includes a propulsion, such as a solid rocket motor and/or an air-breathing jet engine, and an annular explosive concentrically arranged around at least a portion of the propulsion system. The integrated propulsion and warhead system is included in a propulsion section of the artillery round so that space in an adjacent guidance section is increased and the space allocation for the propulsion system and annular explosive is optimized.

An air-breathing rocket engine in certain embodiments comprises an outer shell and an interior portion situated entirely within the front end of the outer shell. The interior portion includes a funnel-shaped intake and an annular primary combustion chamber between the inner front wall of the shell and the outer surface of the funnel-shaped intake. The intake has a central aperture that is in fluid communication with the throat and exhaust areas within the outer shell. A second circumferential gap is formed between the outer surface of the front inner wall and the inner surface of the front end of the outer shell and is in fluid communication with the throat and exhaust areas within the outer shell. One or more injector ports and one or more ignition ports are situated at the front end of the second circumferential gap.

An air-breathing rocket engine in certain embodiments comprises an outer shell and an interior portion situated entirely within the front end of the outer shell. The interior portion includes a funnel-shaped intake and an annular primary combustion chamber between the inner front wall of the shell and the outer surface of the funnel-shaped intake. The intake has a central aperture that is in fluid communication with the throat and exhaust areas within the outer shell. A second circumferential gap is formed between the outer surface of the front inner wall and the inner surface of the front end of the outer shell and is in fluid communication with the throat and exhaust areas within the outer shell. One or more injector ports and one or more ignition ports are situated at the front end of the second circumferential gap.