Alliant Techsystems Inc.

Conoco Inc.

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Cordant Technologies Inc.

Thiokol Corporation

John K Shigley

Allan P Thompson

Kenneth P Wilson

Martin R Neunzert

Keith M Roussel

Russell J George

Robert K Roberts

Alan R Canfield

Martin McCulley

Lauren F Breitenbach

Klaron Cramer

Marc Hernandez

Bruce A Newman

Ta-Wei Fu

Steve D Harris

Michael W Miks

Shelley Rawding, Legal Representative

A liquid rocket engine assembly comprising a thrust chamber, a nozzle, and a joint structure. The joint structure attaches the thrust chamber and the nozzle and comprises at least one seal element and an attachment ring interposed between the thrust chamber and the nozzle. Fasteners extend between the nozzle and the thrust chamber through the at least one seal element and the attachment ring. Materials of the thrust chamber and of the nozzle comprise different coefficients of thermal expansion. A method of forming a liquid rocket engine assembly is also disclosed.

Liquid rocket engine assemblies and related methods

A rocket motor assembly is insulated or thermally protected with a rocket motor ablative material formed from a prepreg. The prepreg contains at least an impregnating resin matrix and, as a precursor prior to carbonization, carded and spun staple cellulosic fibers. When patterned and carbonized, the rocket motor ablative material can be lined or otherwise placed into a rocket motor assembly, such as between the solid propellant and case, in the bulk area of the exit nozzle liner, or at susceptible portions of a re-entry vehicle, such as the nose cone.

Rocket assembly ablative materials formed from, as a precursor, staple cellulosic fibers, and method of insulating or thermally protecting a rocket assembly with the same

The rocket motor nozzle assembly of this invention includes a throat insert and a carbon or silica protective eyelid. The throat insert has a carbon throat support and a refractory metal shell. The shell is positioned radially inside the throat support to cover the inner surface of the throat support. The protective eyelid covers a sufficient portion of the forward surface region of the shell and the underlying converging portion of the throat support to protect these components against particle impingement. The protective eyelid extends sufficiently far forward along the converging/diverging pathway to cover and protect the forward face or edge of the throat insert and prevent the combustion gases from passing under the throat insert and reaching the radially outer surfaces of the throat insert. However, the protective eyelid leaves the throat surface region of the shell exposed to the converging/diverging pathway.

Rocket motor nozzle assemblies having vacuum plasma-sprayed refractory metal shell throat inserts, methods of making, and rocket motors including same

The rocket motor nozzle assembly of this invention includes a throat insert and a carbon or silica protective eyelid. The throat insert has a carbon throat support and a refractory metal shell. The shell is positioned radially inside the throat support to cover the inner surface of the throat support. The protective eyelid covers a sufficient portion of the forward surface region of the shell and the underlying converging portion of the throat support to protect these components against particle impingement. The protective eyelid extends sufficiently far forward along the converging/diverging pathway to cover and protect the forward face or edge of the throat insert and prevent the combustion gases from passing under the throat insert and reaching the radially outer surface of the throat insert. However, the protective eyelid leaves the throat surface region of the shell exposed to the converging/diverging pathway.

A process for producing low-density composite components as disclosed herein involves forming a compacted and curable pre-preg into a selected level of compaction whereby voids are capable of forming in the compacted cuable pre-preg. The compacted curable pre-preg is then cured at a pressure sufficiently low to permit evolving gases to form voids in the pre-preg as the pre-preg cures into the composite article. The pre-preg is only partially debulked in the process. Rocket nozzle components can be produced with reduced densities while still exhibiting satisfactory erosion and other characteristics desired for products subject to the harsh erosive environment of a rocket motor.

Low density composite rocket nozzle components and process for making the same from standard density phenolic matrix, fiber reinforced materials

A rocket motor assembly is insulated or thermally protected with a rocket motor ablative material formed from a prepreg. The prepreg contains at least an impregnating resin matrix and, as a precursor prior to carbonization, either carded and yarn-spun solvent-spun staple cellulosic fibers, solvent-spun cellulosic filaments, or a combination thereof. When patterned and carbonized, the rocket motor ablative material can be lined or otherwise placed into a rocket motor assembly, such as between the solid propellant and case, in the bulk area of the exit nozzle liner, or at susceptible portions of a re-entry vehicle, such as the nose cone.

Rocket assembly ablative materials formed from solvent-spun cellulosic precursors, and method of insulating or thermally protecting a rocket assembly with the same

The addition polymerization resin systems phthalonitrile, diethynyldiphenyl methane, phenolic triazine, and polyphosphazene are disclosed as the matrix constituent in fiber-reinforced ablative nozzle components. Various types of fibers such as carbon fibers, preferably rayon and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based, graphite fibers, glass fibers, ceramic fibers, and silica fibers may be used in the nozzle composite materials. Fillers, such as carbon black, ground silica, ground petroleum coke, and microballoons, may also be included in the ablative nozzle components. The fiber-reinforced ablative nozzle components include from about 20% to about 40% resin, by weight, from about 45% to about 60% fiber, by weight, and when present, from about 3% to about 15% filler, by weight.

Addition-polymerization resin systems for fiber-reinforced nozzle

Recarburizer coke containing not more than 0.1 weight percent sulfur and not more than 0.1 weight percent nitrogen is prepared by severe catalytic hydrotreating, followed by thermal cracking, and delayed coking of vacuum gas oil obtained from the vacuum distillation of FCC decant oil.

Process for the preparation of recarburizer coke

Premium coke having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and containing reduced fluff coke is obtained by subjecting an aromatic mineral oil to reduced temperature delayed coking, thereafter converting uncoked oil in the coke drum to coke under delayed coking conditions by continuing coking in the presence of a aromatic mineral oil capable forming coke admixed with a non-coking material circulated through the coke drum as a heating fluid. After termination of the heating fluid, the coke in the coke drum is subjected to a heat soak in the presence of a non-coking material at an elevated temperature preferably above the delayed coking conditions.

Delayed coking process

A process for providing more uniform premium coke in a delayed coking operation by adding an aliphatic petroleum fraction to the premium coking feed during the latter part of the coking cycle. Preferably the aliphatic petroleum fraction is added gradually and is increased in quantity over the period of addition.

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Ogden, UT, United States of America

John K Shigley