Aircraft thermal protection system

Aeronautics and astronautics – Aircraft structure

Patent

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

244158A, 244121, 244117A, 428116, 428117, 525731, 404 47, B64G 100

Patent

active

055605699

ABSTRACT:
A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing an aircraft thermal protection system for hypersonic cruise and space launch vehicles. A flexible outer skin formed from a metal super alloy is designed to flex and accommodate thermal growth in the vehicle structure. The flexible super alloy skin is made from a plurality of hexagonal shaped cups which are welded together at the edges in a honeycomb type of array with thermal expansion gaps provided between the outermost surfaces of the hexagonal cups. Gap covers extend across the thermal expansion gaps to reduce aerodynamic drag. The flexible outer skin extends over hexagonal shaped, high temperature ceramic blocks, which provide both an insulation layer and support for the outer skin. The flexible outer skin distributes airloads across various ones of the rigid ceramic blocks. A strain isolation pad extends across the ends of the blocks, opposite the flexible outer skin, to absorb strains induced by thermal expansion of the ceramic blocks and the materials beneath. A closed cell foam sheeting extends adjacent to the strain isolation pads, opposite the ceramic blocks, to provide a moisture barrier for preventing liquid formation and freezing on cryogenic fuel tanks. A thin super alloy backing foil extends along the closed cell foam sheeting, opposite the strain isolation pads. The flexible outer skin is secured to the backing foil by super alloy rods.

REFERENCES:
patent: 2477852 (1949-08-01), Bacon
patent: 4456208 (1984-06-01), Mac Conochie et al.
patent: 4756943 (1988-06-01), Koletzko
patent: 4925134 (1990-05-01), Keller et al.
patent: 5216886 (1993-06-01), Ewing
Product Brochure, "Rohacell PMI-Rigid Foam" by Rohm Tech, Inc.
Product Brochure, "Typical Application" by Haynes International, Inc. 1991.
Product Brochure, "High Thermal Performance (HTP)", by Lockheed Missiles & Space Company.
One page Brochure, "Cross Section of DURAFRSI" by NASA Ames Research Center.
One page Brochure, "Bimetal Silica Sandwich Panel" by ROHR Industries, Inc.

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Aircraft thermal protection system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Aircraft thermal protection system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Aircraft thermal protection system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1498421

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.