Apparatuses, methods and systems for active counter directed energy platform protection

• US 10,057,971 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2017
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Clemen, Jr., Mark J, Stewart, Alan F, Hull, John R, Davis, Keith J
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thienvu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Lucy
• Application Number:
  US15/785,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20180042094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 308 Days
• Field of Search: 361212, 361218
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2264/105 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/204 Di-electric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/212 Electromagnetic interference shielding
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/416 Reflective
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/732 Dimensional properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/10 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2571/00 Protective equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/18 Aircraft blades, propellers B32B2603/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/40 comprising polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/16 characterised by features of a layer formed of particles, e.g. chips, powder or granules layer formed of natural mineral particles B32B19/00; layer being formed of wood fibres, chips or particles B32B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/08 Insulating elements, e.g. for sound insulation sound insulating linings for trains B61D17/185; drivers' cabs for load-carrying vehicles insulated against vibrations or noise B62D33/0604; thermal or acoustic insulation of engines F02B77/11; damping of sounds using compensation by electro-acoustic methods G10K11/178
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/02 Lightning protectors; Static dischargers in general H01T
• CPC Class Codes: H05F 7/00 Use of naturally-occurring electricity, e.g. lightning or static electricity
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 dummy group
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the active initiation of incident energy-dissipating material from a structure surface coating as a counter measure response for the protection of a structure surface. The active initiation is triggered at a predetermined area or areas on a targeted structure surface in response to incident directed energy sensed on a target surface.

Claims

1. A coating for protecting a structure against damage from incident directed energy comprising:

a base layer comprising an adhesive layer;

at least one reactive layer comprising an incident energy-dissipating material;

a reflective layer disposed between the base layer and the reactive layer;

a sensing layer comprising an active electronic sensor, said sensing layer configured to sense incident directed energy;

a triggering mechanism in communication with the sensing layer;

an enclosure, said enclosure further comprising a contained amount of the incident energy-dissipating material, said enclosure in communication with the sensing layer and the triggering mechanism;

wherein at least a portion of the contained amount of the incident energy-dissipating material is configured to be released from the enclosure to a predetermined distance away from the coating when incident directed energy directed to the coating is sensed by the sensing layer and the triggering mechanism is activated; and

wherein the incident directed energy does not contact the incident energy-dissipating material before the release of the incident energy-dissipating material from the enclosure.

2. The coating of claim 1, wherein the incident energy-dissipating material comprises materials selected from the group consisting of:

nano-particles, micro-particles, macro-particles, ablative particles, and combinations thereof.

3. The coating of claim 1, wherein the incident energy-dissipating material comprises an ablative matrix, said ablative matrix comprising particles that are configured to be released from the coating in a substantially uniform manner.

4. The coating of claim 1, wherein the incident directed energy is energy from a lightning strike.

5. The coating of claim 1, wherein the reactive layer comprises a nano-thermite-containing compound, and the reflective layer comprises a metal or a non-metal.

6. The coating of claim 1, wherein the reactive layer comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of:

gold, indium, silver, aluminum, titanium-nitride, titanium carbide and combinations thereof.

7. The coating of claim 1, wherein the triggering mechanism is configured to activate the amount of incident-energy containing material.

8. The coating of claim 1, wherein the coating further comprises a topcoat layer and an adhesive layer.

9. The coating of claim 1, wherein the coating further comprises an enclosure, wherein at least a portion of the enclosure is configured to release from the coating prior to activating a predetermined amount of incident energy-dissipating material.

10. The coating of claim 1, wherein the coating is an applique, said applique comprising a base film, said applique further comprising a top coat layer.

11. The coating of claim 1, wherein the incident-energy dissipating material comprises components that are dimensioned to at least partially dissipate incident directed energy wavelengths.

12. The coating of claim 1, wherein the coating comprises an average thickness ranging from about 0.01 μ

m to about 5,000 μ

m.

13. The coating of claim 1, wherein the coating comprises molybdenum disulfide in an amount from ranging from about 10 to about 90 weight percent of applique base film.

14. A structure comprising:

a coating for protecting the structure against damage from incident directed energy, the coating comprising;

a base layer comprising an adhesive layer;

at least one reactive layer comprising incident energy-dissipating material;

a reflective layer disposed between the base layer and the reactive layer;

a sensing layer comprising an active electronic sensor, said sensing layer configured to sense incident directed energy;

a triggering mechanism in communication with the sensing layer;

an enclosure, said enclosure further comprising a contained amount of an incident energy-dissipating material, said enclosure in communication with the sensing layer and the triggering mechanism;

wherein at least a portion of the contained amount of the incident energy-dissipating material is configured to be released from the enclosure to a predetermined distance away from the coating when incident directed energy directed to the coating is sensed by the sensing layer and the triggering mechanism is activated; and

wherein the incident directed energy does not contact the incident energy-dissipating material before the release of the incident energy-dissipating material from the enclosure.

15. The structure of claim 14, wherein the incident energy-dissipating material comprises an ablative matrix, said ablative matrix comprising particles that are configured to be released from the coating in a substantially uniform manner under high power laser illumination.

16. The structure of claim 14, wherein the incident directed energy is energy from a lightning strike.

17. The structure of claim 14, wherein the structure is a stationary structure.

18. The structure of claim 14, wherein the structure is a vehicle.

19. The structure of Claim 18, wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of:

manned aircraft;

unmanned aircraft;

spacecraft;

satellites;

terrestrial vehicles;

surface water borne vehicles; and

sub-surface water borne vehicles.

20. The structure of claim 14, wherein the incident directed energy has a power density ranging from about 10W/cm² to about 10,000 W/cm².