Laser hardened missile casing
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorRichard L. Gentilman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermally protective covering for a structure includes a thermally ablating layer comprising a nonporous ablative material comprising pyrolytic graphite or carbon composites bonded to a rigid, nonporous insulating layer comprising composites having high strength fibers in an insulating matrix. The insulating layer is bonded to the casing of the structural element to be protected. More preferably, the thermally ablating layer comprises pyrolytic graphite and the rigid, nonporous insulating member comprises silica phenolic. The ablating layer is bonded to the insulating layer with a high temperature graphite cement having adhesive properties to at least 3000.degree. K. In a preferred embodiment, means are provided for venting pyrolysis gas produced during exposure of the ablating layer to a high energy laser.
Claims20
A thermal protective covering for a casing of a structural element, comprising:
- a thermally ablating layer;
- a rigid, nonporous thermally insulating layer comprising a high modulus fiber incorporated in a thermally insulating matrix bonded between the casing of the structural element and the thermally ablating layer;
- means for venting pyrolysis gases comprising, a plurality of grooves disposed in a surface of a first one of said ablating layer and thermally insulating layer with said surface being bonded to the second one of said ablating layer and thermal insulating layer, said grooves terminating at edge portions of said first layer.
A thermal protection covering for a casing comprising:
- a plurality of tiles, each tile comprising:
- (i) a thermally ablating layer;
- (ii) a thermally insulating layer comprising a rigid, nonporous thermally insulating material comprising a high modulus fiber incorporated in a thermally insulating matrix, said layer having a first surface bonded with graphite cement to said thermally ablating layer, said first surface having a plurality of channels disposed in said first surface and terminating at corresponding edges of said thermally insulating layer;
- and
- wherein said tiles are bonded to said casing and arranged to provide a gap between pairs of adjacent edges of corresponding pairs of adjacent tiles.
A thermal protection covering for a casing comprising:
- a plurality of tiles, each tile comprising:
- (i) a thermally ablating layer;
- (ii) a thermally insulating layer comprising a high modulus fiber incorporated in a thermally insulating matrix, said layer having a first surface bonded to said thermally ablating layer said first surface having a plurality of channels disposed in said first surface and terminating at corresponding edges of said thermally insulating layer;
- and
- wherein said tiles are bonded to said casing and arranged to provide a gap between each of pairs of adjacent edges of corresponding pairs of adjacent tiles.
A thermally protective covering for a casing comprising:
- a plurality of tiles, each tile comprising:
- (i) a thermally ablating layer comprising a nonporous material;
- (ii) a rigid nonporous thermally insulating layer comprising a composite material of a high modulus fiber incorporated in a thermally insulating matrix
- means for bonding each tile to said casing;
- and
- means for venting pyrolytic gases produced when the protective layer is exposed to a high intensity energy source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.