Ceramic composite thermal protection system
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a thermal protection element that comprises a ceramic material and an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of sides;
a groove formed into the plurality of sides of the thermal protection element, such that the groove forms a single continuous depression that encompasses all of the plurality of sides and comprises a curved shape; and
a frame comprising;
four rails, each rail connected to two other rails of the four rails and respectively comprising an inner edge, and a number of tabs that extend away from the inner edge such that the inner edge of each rail comprises a shape that fills the groove such that the inner edge of each rail terminates before each end of each rail respectively such that a fastener is securable to an end of one rail and to an end of another rail.
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Abstract
An apparatus comprises a thermal protection element, a number of washers, a ceramic layer, a number of blind fasteners, and a number of tabs. The thermal protection element has an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of sides. The ceramic layer covers at least the plurality of sides of the thermal protection element. The number of tabs is connected to the number of sides by the number of blind fasteners secured to the ceramic layers. The tabs may be part of a frame secured to a groove around the plurality of sides.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a thermal protection element that comprises a ceramic material and an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of sides; a groove formed into the plurality of sides of the thermal protection element, such that the groove forms a single continuous depression that encompasses all of the plurality of sides and comprises a curved shape; and a frame comprising;
four rails, each rail connected to two other rails of the four rails and respectively comprising an inner edge, and a number of tabs that extend away from the inner edge such that the inner edge of each rail comprises a shape that fills the groove such that the inner edge of each rail terminates before each end of each rail respectively such that a fastener is securable to an end of one rail and to an end of another rail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for securing a thermal protection element comprising a ceramic material to a structure, the method comprising:
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positioning the thermal protection element with respect to a number of fastener elements on a surface of the structure, such that the thermal protection element comprises; a groove formed into a plurality of sides of the thermal protection element, such that the groove forms a single continuous depression that encompasses all of the plurality of sides and comprises a curved shape; and a frame comprising;
four rails, each rail connected to two other rails of the four rails and respectively comprising an inner edge and a number of tabs that extend, away from the inner edge, the inner edge of each rail being secured to the groove via directly contacting the groove with a shape that conforms to and fills the groove; andsecuring the number of tabs to the number of fastener elements on the surface of the structure, such that the inner edge of each rail terminates before each end of each rail respectively such that each end of each rail is secured to a respective end of another rail using a fastener. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for securing a thermal protection element comprising a ceramic material to a structure, the method comprising:
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positioning the thermal protection element with respect to a number of fastener elements on a surface of the structure, such that the thermal protection element comprises; a groove formed into a plurality of sides of the thermal protection element, such that the groove forms a single continuous depression that encompasses all of the plurality of sides and comprises a curved shape; and a frame comprising;
four rails, each rail connected to two other rails of the four rails and respectively comprising an inner edge and a number of tabs that extend, substantially perpendicular to a side of the plurality of sides, and away from the inner edge, the inner edge of each rail being secured to the groove via directly contacting the groove with a shape that conforms to and fills the groove;securing a lower surface of the thermal protection element directly to a surface of the structure; and securing the number of tabs to the number of fastener elements on the surface of the structure, such that the inner edge of each rail terminates before each end of each rail respectively such that each end of each rail is secured to a respective end of another rail using a fastener.
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Specification