Raytheon Company

Edward B Liguori

Wayne Lee Sunne

Oscar Kenneth Ohanian

Peter A Nagy

James Samonte

Michael Kevershan

Oscar O Hanian

James Dolan

A missile has a body with a substantially circular nose opening therein, and a ceramic radome sized to cover the nose opening. A compliant metallic circular transition element is disposed structurally between the radome and the body. The transition element includes an elongated compliant arm region and an upper crossbar region positioned adjacent to the radome such that the lower margin surface of the radome is adjacent to an upper side of the crossbar region. A brazed butt joint is formed between the lower margin surface of the radome and the upper side of the crossbar region of the transition element. A second brazed butt joint is formed between the vehicle body and the lower side of a lower crossbar region joined to the arm region. The brazed joints are formed with a single active braze alloy which permits the entire joining operation to be accomplished in a single furnace cycle.

Vehicle having a ceramic radome joined thereto by an actively brazed compliant metallic transition element

A missile has a body with a substantially circular nose opening therein, and a ceramic radome sized to cover the nose opening. A compliant metallic circular 'T'-flexure element is disposed structurally between the radome and the body and is integral with the body. A niobium-containing washer is disposed between the radome and the 'T'-flexure element. The 'T'-flexure element includes an elongated compliant arm region and a cross bar region positioned adjacent the radome such that the niobium-containing washer is situated between a lower margin surface of the radome and an upper side of the crossbar region. A first brazed butt joint is formed between the lower margin surface of the radome and an upper surface of the niobium-containing washer, while a second brazed butt joint is formed between a lower surface of the niobium-containing washer and the crossbar region of the 'T'-flexure element. Two separate brazing materials are employed to be compatible with the respective materials (radome and niobium washer; niobium washer and 'T'-flexure element), but have substantially the same brazing temperature to permit brazing the radome to the body in a single brazing operation.

Vehicle having a ceramic radome affixed thereto by a complaint metallic

A missile has a body with a substantially circular nose opening therein, and a ceramic radome sized to cover the nose opening. A compliant metallic circular transition element is disposed structurally between the radome and the body. The transition element includes an elongated compliant arm region and a crossbar region positioned adjacent to the radome such that a lower margin surface of the radome rests against an upper side of the crossbar region. A brazed butt joint is formed between the lower margin surface of the radome and the upper side of the crossbar region of the transition element. A second brazed lap joint is formed between the vehicle body and the elongated compliant arm of the transition element.

Vehicle having a ceramic radome affixed thereto by a compliant metallic

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Edward B Liguori