Robert Goddard's Early Design for Liquid-Fueled Rocket Engines
A foundational 1914 patent by Robert Goddard detailing the basic mechanical structure of a rocket engine using liquid fuel.
Original patent title: “Rocket apparatus.”
A foundational 1914 patent by Robert Goddard detailing the basic mechanical structure of a rocket engine using liquid fuel. Granted to Individual in 1914 with 59 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a rocket apparatus designed to improve efficiency by using a combustion chamber and a nozzle to accelerate exhaust gases. It outlines a system where liquid fuel and an oxidizer are injected into a chamber to create controlled thrust. By focusing on the geometry of the combustion chamber and the expansion of gases, it established the fundamental architecture for modern liquid-propellant rockets. This was a significant shift from the solid-fuel rockets used for centuries, as it allowed for more controlled and sustained flight.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover modern guidance or navigation systems for rockets.
- Does not cover multi-stage rocket designs or separation mechanisms.
- Does not cover specific chemical compositions of modern high-performance rocket fuels.
- Does not cover electronic ignition systems or computer-controlled thrust vectoring.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
Goddard realized that a rocket could operate in a vacuum by carrying its own oxidizer, and he used a de Laval nozzle to maximize the velocity of exhaust gases.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Liquid-fueled rocket engines
SpaceX Merlin engines
Blue Origin BE-4 engines
Early sounding rockets
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Robert Goddard is widely considered the father of modern rocketry. This patent provided the early conceptual framework that allowed engineers to move beyond simple fireworks and toward space exploration. It remains a primary reference point in the history of aerospace engineering.
Filed
October 1, 1913
Granted
July 7, 1914
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Modern aerospace giants like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and United Launch Alliance continue to refine the liquid-propellant combustion cycles pioneered by these early designs. These companies have scaled the basic principles of fluid injection and nozzle expansion to achieve orbital flight.
Market impact
This patent helped shift the aerospace industry from theoretical physics to practical engineering. It laid the groundwork for the mid-20th-century space race and the current commercial space flight industry, establishing the basic mechanical requirements for any liquid-fueled launch vehicle.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a rocket apparatus designed to improve efficiency by using a combustion chamber and a nozzle to accelerate exhaust gases. It outlines a system where liquid fuel and an oxidizer are injected into a chamber to create controlled thrust. By focusing on the geometry of the combustion chamber and the expansion of gases, it established the fundamental architecture for modern liquid-propellant rockets. This was a significant shift from the solid-fuel rockets used for centuries, as it allowed for more controlled and sustained flight.
The clever bit
Goddard realized that a rocket could operate in a vacuum by carrying its own oxidizer, and he used a de Laval nozzle to maximize the velocity of exhaust gases.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover modern guidance or navigation systems for rockets.
- Does not cover multi-stage rocket designs or separation mechanisms.
- Does not cover specific chemical compositions of modern high-performance rocket fuels.
- Does not cover electronic ignition systems or computer-controlled thrust vectoring.
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
35/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$29K – $92K
Midpoint $58K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Goddard, R. H. (1914). Robert Goddard's Early Design for Liquid-Fueled Rocket Engines (U.S. Patent No. 1,102,653). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1102653/liquid-fuel-rocket-goddard
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Robert Goddard's Early Design for Liquid-Fueled Rocket Engines cover?
A foundational 1914 patent by Robert Goddard detailing the basic mechanical structure of a rocket engine using liquid fuel.
Who owns patent US 1102653?
Individual owns this patent, granted in 1914.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 1102653 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 59 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Robert Goddard is widely considered the father of modern rocketry. This patent provided the early conceptual framework that allowed engineers to move beyond simple fireworks and toward space exploration. It remains a primary reference point in the history of aerospace engineering.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover modern guidance or navigation systems for rockets.
Same assignee
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