Two-piece aft closure for a rocket motor case
AssigneeAerojet-General Corporation
InventorsWilliam M. Wallace, Michael T. Gagne, Chester A. Copperthite
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aft closure assembly manufactured from two separate and distinct pieces made from different materials is provided for a rocket motor case. The aft closure assembly includes at least a retaining ring piece made from a first material similar to or having a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to that of the motor case. The aft closure assembly includes a blast tube and closure piece that can be manufactured from a second material that does not need to be similar to nor have a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to the motor case and retaining ring piece. This is possible because the blast tube and closure piece includes a face seal that seals against a face of the retaining ring.
Claims30
A system for sealing a pressure vessel, comprising:
- (a) a retaining ring having a first seal to seal between an outer surface of the retaining ring and the inner surface of the pressure vessel;
- and
- (b) a closure connected to the retaining ring, the closure having a second seal to seal between the closure and a face of the retaining ring;
- (c) wherein the face of the retaining ring that is sealed by the second seal is orthogonal to the outer surface of the retaining ring.
A system for sealing a pressure vessel, comprising a retaining ring having a radial seal to seal between the pressure vessel and the retaining ring, and a closure having a face seal to seal between the retaining ring and the closure.
An aft closure assembly for a motor case, comprising:
- a retaining ring piece having a first seal around the outer circumference that seals against an inner circumference of the motor case;
- and
- a blast tube and closure piece having a second seal on a face of the retaining ring piece to seal between the retaining ring piece and blast tube and closure piece.
A sealing system comprising:
- a first seal that seals an outer circumference to an inner circumference;
- a second seal that seals a surface orthogonal to the inner circumference.
A system for sealing a vessel having an opening, comprising:
- a retaining ring on the inside of the pressure vessel to seal between the pressure vessel and the retaining ring;
- and
- a closure having a surface orthogonal to the outside circumference of the retaining ring to seal between an end face of the retaining ring and the orthogonal surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.