MULTI-FUNCTIONAL COMPOSITE STRUCTURE FOR EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS
First Claim
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1. A composite structure comprising:
- an outer panel, the outer panel being constructed of a composite material, the outer panel having a thickness between an exterior surface of the outer panel and an interior surface of the outer panel, the exterior surface of the outer panel and the interior surface of the outer panel being smooth, continuous surfaces that are substantially parallel;
an inner panel, the inner panel being constructed of a composite material, the inner panel having a thickness between an exterior surface of the inner panel and an interior surface of the inner panel, the exterior surface of the inner panel and the interior surface of the inner panel being smooth, continuous surfaces that are substantially parallel;
a space between the interior surface of the outer panel and the interior surface of the inner panel;
a support structure in the space, the support structure being connected to the interior surface of the outer panel and the interior surface of the inner panel;
a foam interposed in the space and the support structure; and
,a wire extending through the space between the interior surface of the outer panel and the interior surface of the inner panel, the wire having a high electrical conductivity.
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Abstract
A multi-functional composite structure has a modular design that can be altered depending on an extreme environment in which the structure will be exposed such as hazardous radiation, micro-meteoroid and orbital debris impacts, extreme temperature changes, etc. The material combinations employed in the multi-functional composite structure provide a supporting structure with low weight and maximum protection from radiation, debris impacts and temperature variations.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A composite structure comprising:
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an outer panel, the outer panel being constructed of a composite material, the outer panel having a thickness between an exterior surface of the outer panel and an interior surface of the outer panel, the exterior surface of the outer panel and the interior surface of the outer panel being smooth, continuous surfaces that are substantially parallel; an inner panel, the inner panel being constructed of a composite material, the inner panel having a thickness between an exterior surface of the inner panel and an interior surface of the inner panel, the exterior surface of the inner panel and the interior surface of the inner panel being smooth, continuous surfaces that are substantially parallel; a space between the interior surface of the outer panel and the interior surface of the inner panel; a support structure in the space, the support structure being connected to the interior surface of the outer panel and the interior surface of the inner panel; a foam interposed in the space and the support structure; and
,a wire extending through the space between the interior surface of the outer panel and the interior surface of the inner panel, the wire having a high electrical conductivity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A composite structure comprising:
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an outer panel, the outer panel being constructed of a composite material, the outer panel having a thickness between an exterior surface of the outer panel and an interior surface of the outer panel, the exterior surface of the outer panel and the interior surface of the outer panel being smooth, continuous surfaces and being substantially parallel; an inner panel, the inner panel being constructed of a composite material, the inner panel having a thickness between an exterior surface of the inner panel and an interior surface of the inner panel, the exterior surface of the inner panel and the interior surface of the inner panel being smooth, continuous surfaces and being substantially parallel; a space between the interior surface of the outer panel and the interior surface of the inner panel; a support structure in the space, the support structure being connected to the interior surface of the outer panel and the interior surface of the inner panel, the support structure having a lattice configuration comprised of a plurality of walls that are connected to the interior surface of the outer panel and the interior surface of the inner panel, the plurality of walls extending between a plurality of divided spaces between the interior surface of the outer panel and the interior surface of the inner panel with the plurality of walls separating the plurality of divided spaces; a foam filling the plurality of divided spaces between the interior surface of the outer panel and the interior surface of the inner panel; and
,a wire extending through the space between the interior surface of the outer panel and the interior surface of the inner panel, the wire having high electrical conductivity. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of constructing a composite structure of a spacecraft comprising:
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constructing a spacecraft with an inner panel that extends around an interior volume of the spacecraft and an outer panel that extends around the inner panel; constructing the outer panel of composite material selected from a group comprising Kevlar 49, fiberglass, boron carbide, Spectra Fiber, Nextel fabric, graphite/epoxy fabric, Spectra Fiber/polyethelene, graphite/epoxy tape, and graphite/Spectra/high density polyethylene laminate; constructing the inner panel of composite material selected from a group comprising Kevlar 49, fiberglass, boron carbide, Spectra Fiber, Nextel fabric, graphite/epoxy fabric, Spectra Fiber/polyethylene, graphite/epoxy tape, and graphite/Spectra/high density polyethylene laminate; providing a space between the outer panel and the inner panel; positioning a support structure in the space and connecting the support structure to the outer panel and the inner panel; interposing foam in the space and the support structure; and
,extending wire through the space with the wire configured in a helix configuration; and
,connecting a power source to the wire.
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21. A method of shielding a spacecraft from radiation comprising:
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subjecting a spacecraft to an extreme environment of space where the spacecraft is constructed with an inner panel extending around an interior volume of the spacecraft and an outer panel extending around the inner panel with a space between the inner panel and the outer panel; positioning an electrical conductor having a length with opposite first and second ends in the spacecraft with the length of the electrical conductor extending in a helix configuration from the first end of the electrical conductor to the second end of the electrical conductor around the spacecraft; directing a flow of electric current through the length of the electrical conductor from the first end of the electrical conductor to the second end of the electrical conductor; creating a magnetic field in the space by the flow of electric current directed through the length of the electrical conductor; and
,repelling radiation with the magnetic field created in the space thereby shielding the structure from radiation.
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Specification