Thermal protection device using the vaporization and superheating of a rechargeable liquid
AssigneeAerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle
InventorRoger Le Touche
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for thermal protection of a structure (22) is provided. In one embodiment the device comprises a retention layer (12) impregnated by a fluid substance that is normally in the liquid state. The fluid substance is resupplied to the retention layer via a porous membrane that is impermeable to the substance when it is in the liquid state but is permeable thereto when it is in the vapor state. The membrane is interposed between the retention layer and a supply space for the substance in its liquid state adjacent the structure to be protected.
Claims19
A device for thermal protection of a structure, and comprising:
- a. at least one retention layer impregnated with a fluid substance which is normally in the liquid state and has a boiling point that is below a maximum permissible temperature of said structure;
- and
- b. means for resupplying said retention layer with said substance, said resupplying means comprising a porous membrane that is impermeable to said substance when said substance is in said liquid state but is permeable thereto when said substance is in the vapor state, said membrane being interposed between said retention layer and a supply space for supplying said substance when said substance is in the liquid state, said supply space being adjacent to said structure.
A device for thermal protection of a structure, and comprising:
- a. at least one retention layer impregnated with a fluid substance which is normally in the liquid state and has a boiling point that is below a maximum permissible temperature of said structure;
- and
- b. means for resupplying said retention layer with said substance, said resupplying means comprising a porous membrane that is impermeable to said substance when said substance is in said liquid state but is permeable thereto when said substance is in the vapor state, said membrane being interposed between said retention layer and a supply space communicating with an injection means which comprises a double-acting jack having a longitudinal axis oriented in the direction of the accelerations and decelerations of the craft, and including means for selectively connecting two opposite chambers of the jack to a reservoir of the substance in the liquid state and to the supply space depending upon whether the craft is exposed to accelerations or decelerations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.