# 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.

- **Patent:** US 1102653
- **Original title:** Rocket apparatus.
- **Owner:** Individual
- **Granted:** 1914
- **Status:** Public domain (expired)
- **Times cited:** 59
- **Field:** aerospace, mechanical

## What it does

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.

## 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.

## 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.

## Real-world examples

1. Liquid-fueled rocket engines
2. SpaceX Merlin engines
3. Blue Origin BE-4 engines
4. Early sounding rockets

## Why it matters

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.

## 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.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1102653/liquid-fuel-rocket-goddard

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US1102653

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._


## Related patents

Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus:

- [Frank Whittle's Early Jet Engine Design](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2168726/jet-engine-whittle) — Frank Whittle's 1937 patent for an aircraft propulsion system using a gas turbine, which laid the foundation for modern jet engines.
- [How Rocket Rings Help Boosters Land Safely](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10266282/crew-dragon-launch-escape-system) — Blue Origin's patent for a ring-shaped structure on a rocket that helps control airflow during descent and assists in separating rocket stages.
- [How Tiny Water-Powered Thrusters Steer Small Satellites](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11878818/starlink-maritime) — A method for building microscopic water-based rocket engines that use heat to push water through tiny nozzles to steer small satellites in space.
- [How Ole Evinrude Invented the Modern Portable Outboard Motor](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1001260/outboard-motor-evinrude) — A 1911 patent for a compact, detachable marine engine that allowed small boats to be powered by a portable, gasoline-driven propeller unit.
- [George Selden's 1895 Patent for a Road Engine](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/549160/selden-automobile-patent) — George Selden's 1895 patent describes a 'road engine,' a precursor to the automobile, focusing on a combined engine and vehicle design.