US3785591A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cooling system, employing heat-expandable means, for an aerodynamically heated vehicle
Assignee: LTV Aerospace Corp
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Filing: 1971-05-25
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Granted: 1974-01-15
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Expires: 1991-05-25
Abstract
Abstract A cooling system for an aerodynamically heated vehicle includes a chamber disposed within the vehicle and containing a coolant and a heat-expandable means for increasing the pressure and reducing the volume within the chamber upon being heated during aerodynamic heating of the vehicle. Coolant under pressure exerted within the chamber by the expandable means is ejected from the chamber and conducted to the external surface of the heated, external skin of the vehicle. In one embodiment, a plurality of coolant chambers are disposed within a vehicle, each being positioned adjacent a respective portion of the outer skin of the vehicle for providing independent protection of each portion.
Inventors
- 👤 C Stalmach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:15
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C1/00; B64C1/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
Apparatus for cooLing a vehicle during high-speed, atmospheric flight, the vehicle having an external skin at least a portion of which is subject to aerodynamic heating, the apparatus comprising: a chamber defined within the vehicle adjacent a portion of the skin which portion is subject to aerodynamic heating; a coolant partially filling the chamber; heat-expandable means, comprising a material also contained within the chamber and expandable while in a non-vaporized state, for expanding, increasing the pressure, and progressively reducing the volume available to the coolant within the chamber upon being heated by energy produced by aerodynamic heating of the vehicle; means, communicating between the chamber and the external surface of the skin at a leading area of the portion of the skin subject to aerodynamic heating, for conducting coolant to the external surface of the skin upon the pressure within the chamber being increased by the heat-expandable means; and means for normally preventing passage of coolant from the chamber to the external surface of the skin and for permitting passage of coolant to the external surface upon the occurrence of aerodynamic heating of the vehicle above a predetermined level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
Apparatus for cooLing a vehicle during high-speed, atmospheric flight, the vehicle having an external skin at least a portion of which is subject to aerodynamic heating, the apparatus comprising: a chamber defined within the vehicle adjacent a portion of the skin which portion is subject to aerodynamic heating; a coolant partially filling the chamber; heat-expandable means, comprising a material also contained within the chamber and expandable while in a non-vaporized state, for expanding, increasing the pressure, and progressively reducing the volume available to the coolant within the chamber upon being heated by energy produced by aerodynamic heating of the vehicle; means, communicating between the chamber and the external surface of the skin at a leading area of the portion of the skin subject to aerodynamic heating, for conducting coolant to the external surface of the skin upon the pressure within the chamber being increased by the heat-expandable means; and means for normally preventing passage of coolant from the chamber to the external surface of the skin and for permitting passage of coolant to the external surface upon the occurrence of aerodynamic heating of the vehicle above a predetermined level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber is at least partially defined by the inner surface of the portion of the skin subject to aerodynamic heating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for conducting coolant to the external surface of the skin comprises a means for conducting coolant to the external surface of the skin by transpiration of the coolant through a body of porous material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the body of porous material has an external surface contiguous with the external surface of the skin, and wherein the means for normally preventing passage of coolant from the chamber to the external surface of the skin and for permitting passage of the coolant upon the occurrence of aerodynamic heating of the vehicle above a predetermined level comprises a coating normally sealing the external surface of the body of porous material, the coating having a melting point below the preselected temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the vehicle constitutes a missile having a forward nose section, and wherein the body of porous material constitutes the forward portion of the nose of the missile, whereby coolant ejected through the body of porous material during aerodynamic heating of the missile is carried rearwardly adjacent the external surface of the missile by the adjacent airflow for cooling the missile.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat-expandable means comprises a quantity of a heat-expandable material having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially greater than that of the coolant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the heat-expandable material is disposed adjacent portions of the periphery of the chamber and between said portions of the periphery of the chamber and the coolant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the coolant is disposed adjacent portions of the periphery of the chamber and between said portions of the periphery of the chamber and the heat-expandable material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the heat-expandable material is a resilient, rubberlike material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the heat-expandable material is silicone rubber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the heat-expandable material is an open-celled, spongelike material which is impregnated with the coolant, the impregnated, heat-expandable material substantially filling the chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 11, the chamber being provided with an outlet communicating with the means for conducting coolant to the external surface of the skin, the apparatus further comprising at least one perforated tube contained within the chamber and communicating with the chamber outlet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for conducting coolant to the exteRnal surface of the skin comprises a means for conducting coolant to the external surface of the skin by transpiration of the coolant through a body of porous material, and wherein at least one perforated tube is provided in communication with the chamber and extending within the body of porous material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3024941A
Cited
US3103885A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-14 | 1977-07-16 | 1978-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-14 | 1981-07-16 | 1982-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-14 | 1985-07-16 | 1986-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |