Fastener assembly for connecting rocket engine nozzles
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorBradley C. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sliding connection between components of dissimilar materials includes a first mating surface formed on a first component and a second mating surface formed on a second component and configured to mate with the first mating surface. The first component is connected to the second component at the first and the second mating surfaces by a fastener including a shank, a sleeve received by the shank, and a resilient member received by the shank and contained by the sleeve. The resilient member is configured to press the first mating surface and the second mating surface against one another and to permit the first mating surface to slide against the second mating surface.
Claims24
A sliding connection between components of dissimilar materials, the connection comprising:
- a first mating surface formed on a first component;
- and
- a second mating surface formed on a second component and configured to mate with the first mating surface;
- wherein the first component is connected to the second component at the first and the second mating surfaces by a fastener comprising:
- a head;
- a shank extending from the head, the shank comprising:
- a slotted shoulder connected to the head;
- an unthreaded shaft connected to the slotted shoulder;
- and
- a threaded shaft connected to the unthreaded shaft;
- a sleeve received by the shank so as to be positioned between the head and the first mating surface of the first component within a through hole in the second component, wherein the sleeve is received by the unthreaded shaft and abuts a bottom of the slotted shoulder and the first mating surface of the first component;
- and
- a resilient member received by the shank and contained between the sleeve and the head;
- wherein the resilient member is configured to press the first mating surface and the second mating surface against one another and to permit the first mating surface to slide against the second mating surface.
A sliding connection between a liquid fuel rocket engine nozzle and a nozzle extension of dissimilar materials, the connection comprising:
- a boss formed on an aft end of the nozzle;
- and
- a flange formed on a forward end of the nozzle extension and connected to the boss by a fastener comprising:
- a head;
- a shank connected to the head, the shank including a slotted shoulder connected to the head;
- a sleeve received by the shank and that abuts a bottom of the slotted shoulder and an aft surface of the boss;
- and
- a resilient member interposed between the sleeve and the head, the resilient member comprising two tabs configured to be received by the slotted shoulder;
- wherein the resilient member is configured to press the aft surface of the boss and a forward surface of the flange against one another and to permit the aft surface of the boss to slide against the forward surface of the flange;
- and
- wherein the sleeve permits a torque load generated by the fastener to be applied directly onto the aft surface of the boss.
A liquid fuel rocket engine comprising:
- a combustion chamber;
- a metallic nozzle connected to an aft end of the combustion chamber and comprising a conical or axial face boss formed on an aft end of the metallic nozzle;
- and
- a non-metallic nozzle extension comprising a conical or axial face flange formed on a forward end of the non-metallic nozzle extension;
- wherein the non-metallic flange is connected to the metallic boss by a fastener comprising:
- a head;
- a shank connected to the head and passing through a hole in the non-metallic flange and threadably engaging the metallic boss, the shank comprising a slotted shoulder connected to the head;
- wherein the shank further comprises an unthreaded shaft connected to the slotted shoulder;
- and
- a threaded shaft connected to the unthreaded shaft and threadably engaging the metallic boss;
- a sleeve received by the shank and positioned in the hole, the sleeve being positioned between the head and an aft surface of the metallic boss, wherein the sleeve is received by the unthreaded shaft and abuts a bottom of the slotted shoulder and the aft surface of the metallic boss;
- and
- a resilient member received by the shank and interposed between the head and the sleeve, the resilient member comprising:
- a plurality of resilient washers interposed between the head and an aft surface of the non-metallic flange;
- and
- a flat washer interposed between the resilient washers and the aft surface of the non-metallic flange and having two tabs configured to be received by the slotted shoulder;
- wherein the resilient member is configured to be compressed between the head and the aft surface of the non-metallic flange such that the aft surface of the metallic boss is permitted to slide against a forward surface of the non-metallic flange;
- and
- wherein the sleeve permits a torque load generated by the fastener to be applied directly onto the aft surface of the metallic boss.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.