US 2026/0218669 A1Published application

Displacement controlled joint

AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Systems Corporation

InventorsChristopher M. Schmit, Jessica Jaye Widrick, Michael S. Stevens, Richard A. Steele

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Abstract

A displacement controlled joint (DCJ) for joining rocket segments is disclosed. The DCJ includes a tang ring and a clevis ring. The tang ring includes a tang neck and a tang displacement control feature (DCF). The tang neck connects a tang ring composite joint clevis to a field joint tang. The tang DCF is formed in and extends into the tang neck. The tang DCF defines an inner radial surface of the tang neck including a recess extending into and radially around the tang neck. The clevis ring includes a clevis neck and a clevis DCF. The clevis neck connects a field joint clevis to a clevis ring composite joint clevis. The clevis DCF is formed in and extends into the clevis neck. The clevis DCF defines a radial surface of the clevis neck including a recess extending into and radially around the clevis neck.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A displacement controlled joint for joining segments of a rocket motor, the displacement controlled joint comprising:

a tang ring including a first annular shape, the tang ring comprising:
a tang ring composite joint clevis configured to receive an end of a first segment case of one of the segments therein;
a field joint tang;
a tang neck connecting the tang ring composite joint clevis to the field joint tang;
and
a tang displacement control feature formed in and extending into the tang neck, the tang displacement control feature defining an inner radial surface of the tang neck including a recess extending into and radially around the tang neck;
and
a clevis ring including a second annular shape, the clevis ring comprising:
a clevis ring composite joint clevis configured to receive an end of a second segment case of another of the segments therein;
a field joint clevis configured to receive the field joint tang therein;
a clevis neck connecting the field joint clevis to the clevis ring composite joint clevis;
and
a clevis displacement control feature formed in and extending into the clevis neck, the clevis displacement control feature defining a surface chosen from among an inner radial surface of the clevis neck and an outer radial surface of the clevis neck, the clevis displacement control feature including a recess extending into and radially around the clevis neck.

10 more elements

A rocket segment of a rocket motor, comprising:

a segment case comprising a composite structure including a hollow cylinder shape;
a tang ring including a first annular shape, the tang ring comprising:
a tang ring composite joint clevis with a first axial end of the segment case received therein;
a field joint tang configured to be received in a clevis of an adjoining rocket segment of the rocket motor;
a tang neck connecting the tang ring composite joint clevis to the field joint tang;
and
a tang displacement control feature formed in and extending into the tang neck, the tang displacement control feature defining an inner radial surface of the tang neck including a recess extending into and radially around the tang neck;
and
a clevis ring including a second annular shape, the clevis ring comprising:
a clevis ring composite joint clevis with a second axial end of the segment case received therein;
a field joint clevis configured to receive a tang of another rocket segment of the rocket motor;
a clevis neck connecting the field joint clevis to the clevis ring composite joint clevis;
and
a clevis displacement control feature formed in and extending into the clevis neck, the clevis displacement control feature defining a radial surface of the clevis neck including a recess extending into and radially around the clevis neck.

11 more elements

A segmented rocket motor, comprising:

a first rocket segment comprising:
a first segment case;
and
a tang ring including a first annular shape, the tang ring comprising:
a tang ring composite joint clevis with an end of the first segment case received therein;
a field joint tang;
a tang neck connecting the tang ring composite joint clevis to the field joint tang;
and
a tang displacement control feature formed in and extending into the tang neck, the tang displacement control feature defining an inner radial surface of the tang neck including a recess extending into and radially around the tang neck;
and
a second rocket segment adjoining the first rocket segment and comprising:
a second segment case;
and
a clevis ring including a second annular shape, the clevis ring comprising:
a clevis ring composite joint clevis with an end of the second segment case received therein;
a field joint clevis receiving the field joint tang therein;
a clevis neck connecting the field joint clevis to the clevis ring composite joint clevis;
and
a clevis displacement control feature formed in and extending into the clevis neck, the clevis displacement control feature defining a radial surface of the clevis neck including a recess extending into and radially around the clevis neck.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.