Method and system of thermal protection

• US 6,827,312 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: COI Ceramics, Inc.
• Inventors: Riedell, James Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): BAREFOOT, GALEN L
• Application Number:
  US10/304,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20030131982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 244/158-R-1, 244/131-133, 244/121, 244/117.R, 244/119, 524/042, 525/060.5, 428/117, 428/288, 428/698, 428/116, 428/118, 428/375, 428/368
• US Class Current: 244/159.1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/38 Constructions adapted to reduce effects of aerodynamic or other external heating
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/58 Thermal protection, e.g. heat shields

Abstract

A method and system for assembly and attachment of high temperature materials used as thermal protection systems (TPS) for applications such as re-entry or hypersonic vehicles are disclosed. The attachment system comprises a fastener that passes through an aperture of and a fitting attached to a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) TPS panel. The flexure fitting allows thermal growth in the panel while providing a structurally stiff interface to support the panel through structural and acoustic loading. The flexure fitting is detachably attached to the substructure, or fuel tank of a vehicle. The fastened connection is accessed through an aperture via an access cover plate conformal to the surface of the CMC TPS panel. It is by way of the access cover that the fastened connection is externally serviced.

Claims

1. A thermal protection member formed of multiple parts assembled together to form the thermal protection member, the member comprising:

a skin member having an inward side and an outward side, the skin member having an array of mortises aligned laterally and an array of mortises aligned transversely, the skin member having at least one access aperture;

a lattice member having an inward side and an outward side, the lattice having a first array of mortises aligned laterally, a second array of mortises aligned transversely, a plurality of diagonally oriented mortises in at least one fixture attachment footprint pattern, and the lattice having an aperture at the center of each of the at least one fixture attachment footprint patterns;

a plurality of lateral subpanels arrayed substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the skin member, each having a plurality of rigid tenons disposed along a first lateral edge and a plurality of rigid tenons disposed along a second lateral edge and each having a plurality of slots disposed along the second lateral edge, the plurality of rigid tenons disposed along the first lateral edge engaging the laterally aligned mortises of the skin member, the plurality of rigid tenons disposed along the second lateral edge engaging the laterally aligned mortises of the lattice member;

a plurality of transverse subpanels arrayed substantially parallel to each other, each substantially perpendicular to the skin member and each substantially perpendicular to the plurality of lateral subpanels, each of the plurality of transverse subpanels having a plurality rigid tenons disposed along a first lateral edge and a plurality of rigid tenons disposed along a second lateral edge and each having a plurality of slots disposed along the first lateral edge;

the plurality of rigid tenons disposed along the first lateral edge engaging the transversely aligned mortises of the skin member, the plurality of rigid tenons disposed along the second lateral edge engaging the laterally aligned mortises of the lattice member, the slots disposed along the first lateral edges of the plurality of transverse subpanels engaging the slots disposed along the second lateral edges of the plurality of lateral subpanels;

at least one fixture attachment having a plurality of rigid tenons disposed along a plurality of mounting edges, the plurality of rigid tenons of the at least one fixture attachment engaging the plurality of diagonally oriented mortises of the lattice; and

at least one access cover panel for covering the at least one skin member access aperture.

2. The thermal protection member of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one flexure fitting having a footing, and

at least one fastener mounted within and extending from the at least one fixture attachment, the at least one fastener engaging the at least one flexure fitting.

3. The thermal protection member of claim 2 wherein the fastener is a bolt.

4. The thermal protection member of claim 1 wherein the skin member, lattice member, plurality of lateral subpanels and plurality of transverse subpanels are formed of composite material.

5. The thermal protection member of claim 1 wherein the skin member, lattice member, plurality of lateral subpanels and plurality of transverse subpanels are formed of ceramic matrix composite material.

6. A method of constructing a thermal protection member, the method comprising the steps of:

assembling;

(a) a skin member having an inward side and an outward side, the skin member having an array of mortises aligned laterally and an array of mortises aligned transversely, the skin member having at least one access aperture;

(b) a lattice member having an inward side and an outward side, the lattice having a first array of mortises aligned laterally, a second array of mortises aligned transversely, a plurality of diagonally oriented mortises in at least one fixture attachment footprint pattern, and the lattice having an aperture at the center of each of the at least one fixture attachment footprint patterns;

(c) a plurality of lateral subpanels arrayed substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the skin member, each having a plurality of rigid tenons disposed along a fist lateral edge and a plurality of rigid tenons disposed along a second lateral edge and each having a plurality of slots disposed along the second lateral edge;

(d) a plurality of transverse subpanels arrayed substantially parallel to each other, each substantially perpendicular to the skin member and each substantially perpendicular to the plurality of lateral subpanels, each of the plurality of transverse subpanels having a plurality rigid tenons disposed along a first lateral edge and a plurality of rigid tenons disposed along a second lateral edge and each having a plurality of slots disposed along the first lateral edge; and

(e) at least one fixture attachment having a plurality of rigid tenons disposed along a plurality of mounting edges;

connecting;

(a) the plurality of rigid tenons disposed along the first lateral edge of the plurality of lateral subpanels to the laterally aligned mortises of the skin member and the plurality of rigid tenons disposed along the second lateral edge of the plurality of lateral subpanels to the laterally aligned mortises of the lattice member;

(b) the plurality of rigid tenons disposed along the first lateral edge of the plurality of transverse subpanels to the transversely aligned mortises of the skin member, the plurality of rigid tenons disposed along the second lateral edge of the plurality of transverse subpanels to the laterally aligned mortises of the lattice member and the slots disposed along the first lateral edges of the plurality of transverse subpanels to the slots disposed along the second lateral edges of the plurality of lateral subpanels;

(c) the plurality of rigid tenons of the at least one fixture attachment to the plurality of diagonally oriented mortises of the lattice;

wherein each connected tenon and motise forms a joint; and

applying an adhesive to each tenon and mortise joint.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

assembling at least one flexure fitting having a footing, at least one fastener and at least one access cover panel;

mounting within and extending from the at least one fixture attachment, the at least one fastener;

connecting the at least one flexure fitting with at least one flexure fitting via the at least one fastener; and

and covering the at least one access aperture with at least one access cover panel.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the skin member, lattice member, plurality of lateral subpanels and plurality of transverse subpanels are formed of composite material.

9. A system of attachment of high temperature materials used as thermal protection systems;

the attachment system comprising;

a ceramic matrix composite thermal protection systems panel comprised of at least one panel aperture, a skin member, a lattice member, and a plurality of lateral subpanels transversely arrayed with a plurality of transverse subpanels, wherein the plurality of lateral subpanels and the plurality of transverse panels are substantially perpendicularly interposed between the skin member and the lattice member;

a plurality of interface fittings, each individually mounted to the lattice member and substantially aligned with a respective panel aperture;

a plurality of fasteners, each individually translatable through a respective panel aperture and interface fitting; and

a plurality of flexure fittings attached to a substructure;

each flexure fitting substantially aligned with a respective panel aperture and interface fitting to receive one of the plurality of fasteners and thereby detachably attaching the panel to the substructure by way of the plurality of flexure fittings and causing a plurality of fastening connections.

10. A system of attachment of high temperature materials used as thermal protection systems;

the attachment system comprising;

a ceramic matrix composite thermal protection systems panel comprised of at least one panel aperture;

a plurality of interface fittings, each individually mounted to the panel and substantially aligned with a respective panel aperture;

a plurality of fasteners, each individually translatable through a respective panel aperture and interface fitting;

a plurality of flexure fittings attached to a substructure;

each flexure fitting substantially aligned with a respective panel aperture and interface fitting to receive one of the plurality of fasteners and thereby detachably attaching the panel to the substructure by way of the plurality of flexure fittings and causing a plurality of fastening connections;

at least one thermal blanket installed within the interstitial region formed between the ceramic matrix composite thermal protection systems panel and the substructure, the at least one thermal blanket having a plurality of apertures, each of the apertures aligned with a respective flexure fitting; and

a plurality of access cover plates, each detachably attached to the panel and covering each respective aperture substantially conformal to the panel;

whereby each fastening connection is accessed via an aperture covered by a cover plate.

11. A method of attachment of high temperature materials used as thermal protection systems;

the method of attachment comprising the steps of;

aligning at least one interface fitting to at least one aperture of a ceramic matrix composite thermal protection systems panel wherein the panel further comprises of a skin member, a lattice member, and a plurality of lateral subpanels transversely arrayed with a plurality of transverse subpanels, wherein the plurality of lateral subpanels and the plurality of transverse panels are substantially perpendicularly interposed between the skin member and the lattice member;

attaching the aligned at least one interface fitting to the lattice member;

aligning at least one flexure fitting to the at least interface fitting;

attaching the aligned at least one flexure fitting to a common substructure;

translating each of the at least one fastener through its panel aperture and its aligned interface fitting to a point of insertion into its aligned flexure fitting for detachable attachment of the panel to the substructure;

detachably attaching with the at least one fastener the panel to the at least one flexure fitting thereby causing a plurality fastening connections between the panel and the substructure; and

detachably attaching a plurality of access cover plates to the panel thereby conformally covering each respective aperture;

whereby the high temperature materials arc detachably attached with fastened connections accessible through their respective apertures.

12. A method of attachment of high temperature materials used as thermal protection systems;

the method of attachment comprising the steps of;

aligning at least one interface fittings to at least one aperture of a ceramic matrix composite thermal protection systems panel;

attaching the aligned at least one interface fitting to the panel;

aligning at least one flexure fitting to the at least interface fitting;

attaching the aligned at least one flexure fitting to a common substructure;

installing at least one thermal blanket within the interstitial region formed between the ceramic matrix composite thermal protection systems panel and the substructure, the at least one thermal blanket having a plurality of apertures, each of the apertures aligned with a respective flexure fitting;

translating each of the at least one fastener through its panel aperture and its aligned interface fitting to a point of insertion into its aligned flexure fitting for detachable attachment of the panel to the substructure;

detachably attaching with the at least one fastener the panel to the at least one flexure fitting thereby causing a plurality fastening connections between the panel and the substructure; and

detachably attaching a plurality of access cover plates to the panel thereby conformally covering each respective aperture;

whereby the high temperature materials are detachably attached with fastened connections accessible through their respective apertures via said cover plates.

13. A thermal protection member comprising:

a skin member having an array of mortises aligned laterally and an array of mortises aligned transversely and at least one access aperture;

a lattice member having a first array of mortises aligned laterally, a second array of mortises aligned transversely, a plurality of mortises in at least one fixture attachment footprint pattern, and the lattice having an aperture proximate to the center of each of the at least one fixture attachment footprint patterns;

a plurality of lateral subpanels arrayed substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the skin member, each having a plurality of rigid tenons disposed along a first lateral edge and a plurality of rigid tenons disposed along a second lateral edge and each having a plurality of slots disposed along the second lateral edge, the plurality of rigid tenons disposed along the first lateral edge engaging the laterally aligned mortises of the skin member, the plurality of rigid tenons disposed along the second lateral edge engaging the laterally aligned mortises of the lattice member;

a plurality of transverse subpanels arrayed substantially parallel to each other, each substantially perpendicular to the skin member and each transversely oriented with respect to the plurality of lateral subpanels, each of the plurality of transverse subpanels having a plurality rigid tenons disposed along a first lateral edge and a plurality of rigid tenons disposed along a second lateral edge and each of the plurality of transverse subpanels having a plurality of slots disposed along the first lateral edge;

the plurality of rigid tenons disposed along the first lateral edge engaging the transversely aligned mortises of the skin member, the plurality of rigid tenons disposed along the second lateral edge engaging the laterally aligned mortises of the lattice member, the slots disposed along the first lateral edges of the plurality of transverse subpanels engaging the slots disposed along the second lateral edges of the plurality of lateral subpanels; and

at least one fixture attachment having a plurality of rigid tenons disposed along a plurality of mounting edges, the plurality of rigid tenons of the at least one fixture attachment engaging the plurality of mortises in the at least one fixture attachment footprint pattern.

14. The thermal protection member of claim 13 further comprising:

at least one access cover panel for covering the at least one skin member access aperture.

15. The thermal protection member of claim 13 further comprising:

at least one flexure fitting having a footing, and

at least one fastener mounted within and extending from the at least one fixture attachment, the at least one fastener engaging the at least one flexure fitting.

16. The thermal protection member of claim 15 wherein the fastener is a bolt.

17. The thermal protection member of claim 13 wherein the skin member, lattice member, plurality of lateral subpanels and plurality of transverse subpanels are formed of composite material.

18. The thermal protection member of claim 13 wherein the skin member, lattice member, plurality of lateral subpanels and plurality of transverse subpanels are formed of ceramic matrix composite material.