ROCKET MOTOR EXTENDIBLE NOZZLE EXIT CONE

Assignee

Filed

Jul 23, 1987

Granted

Oct 10, 1989

Location

NEWARK DE US

Abstract

A membrane of refractory material having opposed arcuate edges one of which is longer than the other, having opposed straight edges which when welded together in edge-to-edge relationship form the frustum of cone, is deformed by brake or die press means over a portion adjacent the longer arcuate edge to provide thereon a pattern comprising two sets of creases in each of five equal sectors, a first set of which creases points at the viewer from the exterior of the membrane (as it subsequently is formed into the frustum of a cone) and a second set which points away from the viewer. The creases of the first set run both circumferentially and longitudinally with respect to the surface of the cone while the creases of the second set run longitudinally only. This crease pattern enables a membrane portion forward of the larger diameter of the cone to be folded inwardly in multiple layers and permits an amount of membrane material sufficient to produce a very large area ratio at the exit plane to be stowed in a much reduced envelope, with the cone in folded form being quite rigid. In other embodiments the membrane is formed into an integral seamless free standing shape by spinning a sheet blank against a mandrel and by condensing or electroplating a thin coating of a refractory material on a substrate or mandrel.

Source: Google Patents