Advanced multi-purpose ballistic insulation

• US 7,556,854 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2003
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Nguyen, Bich, Jensen, Todd E., Farkas, Tibor
• Primary Examiner(s): RUDDOCK, ULA CORINNA
• Application Number:
  US10/669,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20050085146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,113 Days
• Field of Search: 442/134, 442/135, 442221-227, 442/228, 442/232, 442/234, 442/235, 442/268, 442/370, 442/373, 442/376, 442/378, 442/381, 4283044-3227, 428/911, 2/25, 89/360.1, 89/360.2, 89/360.5
• US Class Current: 428/318.4
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/02 Synthetic macromolecular fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/101 Glass fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/206 Insulating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/24 one layer being a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/245 another layer next to it being a foam layer
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03 Fuel tanks chassis frame comprising fluid storage compartment B62D21/16 ; Details of the fuel feeding system related to the fuel tank F02M37/0076
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03046 made from more than one layer
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03407 to protect tanks against projectiles
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/0478 Fibre- or fabric-reinforced layers in combination with plastics layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/911 Penetration resistant layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249987 With nonvoid component of specified composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249991 Synthetic resin or natural rubbers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249992 Linear or thermoplastic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2615 Coating or impregnation is resistant to penetration by solid implements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2623 Ballistic resistant
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3325 Including a foamed layer or component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/335 Plural fabric layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3382 Including a free metal or alloy constituent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3415 Preformed metallic film or foil or sheet [film or foil or sheet had structural integrity prior to association with the woven fabric]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3431 Plural fabric layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3439 : Including a nonwoven fabric layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3707 : Woven fabric including a nonwoven fabric layer other than paper
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/647 : Including a foamed layer or component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/651 : Plural fabric layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/654 : Including a free metal or alloy constituent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/656 : Preformed metallic film or foil or sheet [film or foil or sheet had structural integrity prior to association with the nonwoven fabric]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/659 : Including an additional nonwoven fabric

Abstract

An insulation package comprising a layer of material having a cellular structure disposed between a first layer of high-strength polymeric fabric and a second layer of high-strength polymeric fabric. The insulation provides protection for critical fluid systems, such as fuel, hydraulic, electrical, pneumatic, thermal, and mechanical systems from high-energy projectiles such as fragments from the disintegration of high-speed turbines and engines.

Claims

1. An insulation which is resistant to ballistic impact, comprising:

a first layer of high-strength, ballistic resistant polymeric fabric, the first layer of high-strength polymeric fabric comprises a honeycomb cross-section having a plurality of voids defined by individual honeycomb sections;

a layer of material having a cellular structure disposed upon said first fabric layer; and

,

a second layer of high-strength polymeric fabric disposed upon said cellular material, and wherein the layer of cellular material infiltrates the fabric layers, and wherein the cellular material infiltrates and fills the voids defined by each individual honeycomb.

2. The insulation of claim 1, wherein the cellular material is selected from the group consisting of close-celled polymer foams, open-celled polymer foams, open-celled aerogels, and open-celled graphitic foams.

3. The insulation of claim 1, further comprising a matrix of cellular material surrounding said first and second fabric layers.

4. The insulation of claim 1, wherein the fabric layers comprise one or more plies of woven polymer fabric.

5. The insulation of claim 4, wherein the first fabric layer is woven of fibers selected from the group consisting of aramids, polyethylenes, and polybenzazoles, and interwoven combinations thereof.

6. The insulation of claim 5, wherein the first fabric layer is capable of absorbing up to about 30,000 fl-lbs of kinetic energy without rupture.

7. The insulation of claim 4, wherein the second fabric layer is woven of fibers selected from the group consisting of aramids, polyethylenes, and polybenzazoles, and interwoven combinations thereof.

8. The insulation of claim 7, wherein the second fabric layer is capable of absorbing up to about 30,000 ft-lbs of kinetic energy without rupture.

9. The insulation of claim 1, further comprising at least one thermal insulation layer wherein the thermal insulation layer comprises a fabric layer having thermal resistance.

10. The insulation of claim 9, wherein the thermal insulation layer is a glass fabric layer.

11. The insulation of claim 1, further comprising a radiation control layer formed of a thin film selected from the group consisting of a thin metal film and an aluminized polyester film.

12. The insulation of claim 1, wherein the relative positioning of the layers and the particular compositions of the ballistic resistant layer and the cellular material is determined by the desired end use of the resulting insulation.

13. The insulation of claim 1, wherein the insulation is resistant to penetration by a fragment having a kinetic energy greater than about 1700 ft-lbs.

14. The insulation of claim 13, wherein the insulation is resistant to penetration by a fragment having a kinetic energy greater than about 3500 ft-lbs.

15. An insulated system comprising

a container for retaining at least one fluid;

and

an insulation blanket disposed upon at least a portion of said container, said insulation blanket comprising

a first layer of high-strength, ballistic resistant polymeric fabric, the first layer of high-strength polymeric fabric comprises a honeycomb cross-section having a plurality of voids defined by individual honeycomb sections;

a layer of material having a cellular structure disposed upon said first fabric layer; and

,

a second layer of high-strength polymeric fabric disposed upon said cellular material, and wherein the layer of cellular material infiltrates the fabric layers, and wherein the cellular material infiltrates and fills the voids defined by each individual honeycomb.

16. The insulated system of claim 15, wherein the container is selected from the group consisting of a fuel tank, a fuel transfer line, a hydraulic tank, and a hydraulic transfer line.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the container is a hydrazine fuel tank.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the container is incorporated into the fuel system of a vehicle.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the container is incorporated into the hydraulic system of a vehicle.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the insulation is resistant to penetration by a fragment having a kinetic energy greater than about 1700 ft-lbs.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the insulation is resistant to penetration by a fragment having a kinetic energy greater than about 3500 ft-lbs.

22. An insulated hydrazine fuel tank comprising

a container for retaining hydrazine fuel;

and

an insulation blanket disposed upon at least a portion of said container, said insulation blanket comprising

a first layer of high-strength, ballistic resistant polymeric fabric, the first layer of high-strength polymeric fabric comprises a honeycomb cross-section having a plurality of voids defined by individual honeycomb sections;

a layer of material having a cellular structure disposed upon said first fabric layer; and

,

a second layer of high-strength polymeric fabric disposed upon said cellular material, and wherein the layer of cellular material infiltrates the fabric layers, and wherein the cellular material infiltrates and fills the voids defined by each individual honeycomb.