Miniature Actuating Guided Nozzle Mechanism

FTT has designed, built, and tested a prototype of their Miniature Actuating Guided Nozzle Mechanism (MAGNM) for use with DACS thrusters. FTT"s MAGNM is a passive nozzle extension that surrounds the DACS thruster on a guide tube. When ready to deploy the nozzle extension, inert gas or propellant pressurizes the main combustion chamber and that pressure acts on a pressure cap located on the end of the nozzle extension. The pressure on the cap creates a force that actuates the nozzle extension. Once the nozzle extension reaches the fully deployed position, a latching mechanism locks it in place and the cap blows out. FTT believes the MAGNM design is superior for a few reasons. It does not require flexible materials, which allows for composite or coated refractory metal extendable nozzles. The entire system is very simple with few parts, all of which can be easily manufactured. FTT believes it has an innovative product to address this solicitation and with the funding provided by the SBIR program will produce a very successful and reliable nozzle extension for DACS thrusters.