Thiokol Corporation

Frederick W Van Name

Michael A Gerace

Victor Singer

Robert E Black

Robert G Gleeson

Brendan M Walsh

Don C Carson

A composite structure for rocket motors includes a longitudinal element of the composite structure, which is an assembly of segments of clamshell or barrel stave form. The element is held in place by a circumferential element, which is a composite overwrap of reinforcing fibers in a resin matrix. The matrix may be thermoplastic or thermosetting. The reinforcing fiber being high strength polyolefin thereby providing the rocket motor with insensitive munitions capability.

Low cost segmented structure for pressure vessels, rocket motors, piping

The invention is a propellant rocket motor case designed to meet insensitive munitions requirements comprising a propellant surrounded by a case having slots therein, and a wrapping around the case, the wrapping comprising a load bearing material which can withstand the hoop load on the case during normal firing of said rocket, the material also having the characteristic of losing strength or melting at undesired temperatures above normal storage temperatures, but below the autoignition temperature of said propellant, so that during undesired high storage temperatures the propellant will exhaust any subsequently generated gases, due to any subsequent propellant burning, by venting through said slots thereby avoiding any explosion or undesired operative one-way thrust.

Solid propellant rocket motor case for insensitive munitions requirements

The moisture or water vapor barrier protection of a composite pressure vessel suitable for use as a composite cased solid propellant rocket motor is improved by immersing the pressure vessel, during pressure testing thereof, in a curable liquid polymer solution, optionally containing electrically conductive material such as metallic flakes or powder, so that the solution may flow into open voids, cracks or fractures in the pressure vessel and subsequently curing the curable liquid polymer in said voids, cracks or fractures.

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Newark, DE, United States of America

Frederick W Van Name