Gas strut separation for staged rocket

摘要

A staged rocket apparatus includes first and second stages connected by a releasable connector. A plurality of pressurized gas struts are connected between the first and second stages and provide a separating force urging the first and second stages apart. The gas struts are held in a telescopingly collapsed first position by the releasable connector. The separating force is maintained at a minimum value so long as the releasable connector holds the struts in their first position. When the releasable connector is disconnected the separating force increases due to gas flow through a metering passage having a progressively increasing flow area from a high pressure chamber to a low pressure chamber.

主权项

1. A method of providing a separating force, comprising:
(a) providing a gas strut including first and second telescoping members, a high pressure gas chamber, a low pressure gas chamber, a metering passage between the chambers, and a metering passage seal; (b) holding the telescoping members in a telescopingly collapsed first position wherein the metering passage seal prevents gas flow through the metering passage, and providing a first separating force between the telescoping members in the first position due to gas pressure in the high pressure chamber; (c) releasing the telescoping members and allowing the telescoping members to move from the first position toward a telescopingly expanded second position; and (d) as the telescoping members move from the first position toward the second position, flowing pressurized gas from the high pressure gas chamber to the low pressure gas chamber via the metering passage and increasing the separating force.