Systems and methods for non-destructive testing of energetic materials
First Claim
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1. A non-destructive testing system for propellant for a rocket comprising:
- an insertion tube having a first end and a second end including;
a first channel extending from the first end to the second end of the insertion tube, the first channel being configured to receive an optical fiber probe that includes a first bundle of optical fibers and a second bundle of optical fibers;
a probe tip generally disposed at the second end of the first channel, wherein the first bundle of optical fibers extends into the insertion tube and terminates at a first end of the optical fiber probe at the probe tip to carry light to the probe tip, and wherein the second bundle of optical fibers extends into the insertion tube and terminates at the first end of the optical fiber probe at the probe tip to receive reflected light from the propellant; and
a support sleeve configured to mate to an ignition charge mount of the rocket, the support sleeve including an insertion tube opening configured to receive the insertion tube and allow the insertion tube to slide along the support sleeve.
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Abstract
A non-destructive testing system for propellant for a rocket is provided. The system includes an insertion tube having a first end and a second end in addition to a support sleeve configured to mate with a casing of the rocket. The insertion tube includes a channel that extends from the first end to the second end of the insertion tube to receive a probe and also includes a probe tip generally disposed at the second end of the channel. The support sleeve includes an insertion tube opening configured to receive the insertion tube and allow the insertion tube to slide along the support sleeve.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A non-destructive testing system for propellant for a rocket comprising:
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an insertion tube having a first end and a second end including; a first channel extending from the first end to the second end of the insertion tube, the first channel being configured to receive an optical fiber probe that includes a first bundle of optical fibers and a second bundle of optical fibers; a probe tip generally disposed at the second end of the first channel, wherein the first bundle of optical fibers extends into the insertion tube and terminates at a first end of the optical fiber probe at the probe tip to carry light to the probe tip, and wherein the second bundle of optical fibers extends into the insertion tube and terminates at the first end of the optical fiber probe at the probe tip to receive reflected light from the propellant; and a support sleeve configured to mate to an ignition charge mount of the rocket, the support sleeve including an insertion tube opening configured to receive the insertion tube and allow the insertion tube to slide along the support sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of non-destructively testing propellant inside a rocket, the method comprising:
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removing a payload and an ignition charge from the rocket to expose an ignition charge mount of the rocket; mating a support sleeve to the ignition charge mount, including bolting the support sleeve to the ignition charge mount on the rocket; inserting an insertion tube into an opening of the support sleeve to extend a probe tip into the rocket; optically coupling a Near Infrared (NIR) spectrometer to an optical fiber probe that extends through the insertion tube to the probe tip, wherein the optical fiber probe includes a first bundle of optical fibers that extend from the NIR spectrometer into the insertion tube and terminate at the probe tip, and a second bundle of optical fibers that extend from the NIR spectrometer into the insertion tube and terminate at the probe tip; and operating the NIR spectrometer to take at least one NIR measurement of the propellant including carrying light from the NIR spectrometer along the first optical fiber bundle to the optical fiber probe, and carrying light reflected from the propellant to the NIR spectrometer along the second optical fiber bundle. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification