Base drag reduction fairing using shape memory materials

    公开(公告)号:US10184762B2

    公开(公告)日:2019-01-22

    申请号:US14956169

    申请日:2015-12-01

    Abstract: A device is provided. The device includes at least one SMM component fabricated from an SMM. The SMM component is configured to change shape in response to receiving a stimulus. The SMM component is also configured to deploy from a device body of the device allowing the device to change shape in an advantageous way. A method implemented by a device is also provided. The method includes changing a shape of an SMM component of the device in response to receiving a stimulus. The SMM component is fabricated from an SMM. The method also includes deploying the SMM component from a device body of the device allowing the device to change shape in an advantageous way.

    Solid propellant additive manufacturing system

    公开(公告)号:US11208362B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-12-28

    申请号:US16226741

    申请日:2018-12-20

    Abstract: A system is used for additively manufacturing propellant elements, such as for rocket motors, includes partially curing a propellant mixture before extruding or otherwise dispensing the material, such that the extruded propellant material is deposited on the element in a partially-cured state. The curing process for the partially-cured extruded material may be completed shortly after the material is put into place, for example by the material being heated at or above its cure temperature, such that it finishes curing before it fully cools. The propellant material may be prepared by first mixing together, a fuel, an oxidizer, and a binder, such as in an acoustic mixer. After that mixing a curative may be added to the mixture. The propellant mixture may then be directed to an extruder (or other dispenser), in which the mixture is heated to or above a cure temperature prior to the deposition, and then deposited.

    Projectile with single-piece main body

    公开(公告)号:US10247530B2

    公开(公告)日:2019-04-02

    申请号:US15217482

    申请日:2016-07-22

    Abstract: A projectile, such as a railgun-launched projectile, includes a single-piece body that is additively manufactured. The single piece body includes fuel within it, and one or more cavities for receiving an oxidizer. The body also defines one or more combustion chambers therein for combustion of the fuel and oxidizer as part of a divert thruster system. Thus the projectile is able to fully contain the divert thruster system within the single-piece body without using any hot gas seals as part of the system. The body may also define a cavity for receiving a pressurized fluid, used as part of a cold-gas attitude control system of the projectile. The body may also define passages between the pressurized fluid cavity and other parts of the attitude control system, such as valves and/or nozzles that are outside of the body, for example being aft of the one-piece body.

    Lightweight thermal battery system for high-temperature environments

    公开(公告)号:US11335917B2

    公开(公告)日:2022-05-17

    申请号:US16181892

    申请日:2018-11-06

    Abstract: An apparatus includes a thermal battery, which includes a housing and one or more battery cells within the housing. Each battery cell includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. The electrolyte in each battery cell is configured to be in a solid state when the battery cell is inactive. The apparatus also includes a phase change material around at least part of the housing. The phase change material is configured to conduct external heat into the housing in order to melt the electrolyte in each battery cell and activate the battery cell. The phase change material is also configured to change phase in order to reduce conduction of the external heat into the housing.

    Integrated thruster
    8.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US10662898B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-05-26

    申请号:US15259945

    申请日:2016-09-08

    Abstract: A thruster has an additively-manufactured housing that includes an integrally-formed nozzle with a burst disk in it. The housing is part of a casing that surrounds and encloses a propellant that is burned to produce pressurized gases that burst the burst disk and produce thrust. The thruster may be placed in a receptacle that defines a recess for receiving the thruster. The receptacle also may be additively manufactured. The thruster and the recess both may be cylindrical, with the housing being closely fit with the cylindrical walls of the receptacle. This may allow some of the structural loads on the housing, such as loads produced by the combustion of the propellant, to be transferred to the adjoining walls of the receptacle. This enables the housing to have less structural strength than if it were to have to contain the pressure from the propellant all on its own.

    SOLID PROPELLANT ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEM

    公开(公告)号:US20200024210A1

    公开(公告)日:2020-01-23

    申请号:US16226741

    申请日:2018-12-20

    Abstract: A system is used for additively manufacturing propellant elements, such as for rocket motors, includes partially curing a propellant mixture before extruding or otherwise dispensing the material, such that the extruded propellant material is deposited on the element in a partially-cured state. The curing process for the partially-cured extruded material may be completed shortly after the material is put into place, for example by the material being heated at or above its cure temperature, such that it finishes curing before it fully cools. The propellant material may be prepared by first mixing together, a fuel, an oxidizer, and a binder, such as in an acoustic mixer. After that mixing a curative may be added to the mixture. The propellant mixture may then be directed to an extruder (or other dispenser), in which the mixture is heated to or above a cure temperature prior to the deposition, and then deposited.

Patent Agency Ranking