US4272956A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Time delay device for deployable rocket nozzle skirts
Assignee: ATK Launch Systems LLC
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Filing: 1979-01-22
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Granted: 1981-06-16
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Expires: 1999-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A rocket motor expansion cone extension skirt of the combustion gas deployable type is purposely delayed in its deployment by an erodable barrier in the motor's expansion cone upstream of the extension and which diverts combustion gas away from the skirt to prevent its deployment. The barrier is eroded away by the gases after a brief predetermined period of time long enough to permit the rocket motor to clear other structures in a situation such as may occur during vehicle stage separation, after which time deployment of the skirt occurs.
Inventors
- 👤 Garland C. Lamere
- 👤 Frank S. Inman
- 👤 Ronald B. Mitchell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:15
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02K; F02K9/00; F02K9/97; F02K9/976; F02K9/974
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A rocket motor having an expansion cone, a combustion gas deployable skirt for the expansion cone and a barrier blocking gas flow to said deployable skirt in its undeployed condition, means retaining said barrier in said expansion cone, and said barrier removed by the erosive action of the combustion gas after a predetermined time of operation of the motor has elapsed to unblock gas flow to said deployable skirt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
A rocket motor having an expansion cone, a combustion gas deployable skirt for the expansion cone and a barrier blocking gas flow to said deployable skirt in its undeployed condition, means retaining said barrier in said expansion cone, and said barrier removed by the erosive action of the combustion gas after a predetermined time of operation of the motor has elapsed to unblock gas flow to said deployable skirt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention set forth in claim 1 with the barrier comprising sacrificial material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention set forth in claim 2 with the sacrificial material being close-celled Styrofoam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention set forth in claim 2 with the sacrificial material being a phenolic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention set forth in claim 1 with the barrier comprising a composite of both slow eroding and fast eroding sacrificial material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention set forth in claim 5 with the slow eroding sacrificial material comprising a layer on the exterior of the fast eroding sacrificial material where it is exposed to the flow of combustion gases.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention set forth in claim 1 with the deployable skirt attached to the after end of the expansion cone and folded inwardly and forwardly substantially on the expansion cone's inner surface, and the barrier located on the expansion cone's inner surface forward of the deployable skirt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention set forth in claim 7 with the barrier in the form of a truncated hollow cone with its larger end at the deployable skirt and with the skirt below the rim of the barrier.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention set forth in claim 1 with the barrier retained to the expansion cone by an adhesive bond.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3776466A
Cited
US4125224A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-06-15 | 1984-12-15 | 1985-06-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-06-15 | 1988-12-15 | 1989-06-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-06-15 | 1992-12-15 | 1993-06-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |