Atlantic Research Corporation

Aerojet-general Corporation

Richard T Brown

Guy Bruce Spear

Michael Digiacomo

Carl H Culp, Sr

William M Wallace

Clint H Ashton

Katherine L Clopeck

Eric D Ratliff

Steven M Hastings

A multi-pulse rocket is equipped with a thermally insulating barrier that serves as a rupture disk or a movable plug or plate separating staged propellant grains. When a rupture disk it used, the disk can be equipped with a pyrotechnic actuator to weaken the disk upon command, enabling the propellant grain on the fore side of the disk to burst the disk at a relatively low pressure when ignition of the propellant grain is needed for additional thrust. Rupturing of the disk can also be controlled by attitude maneuvering ports on the fore side of the barrier whose open or closed conditions are controlled by independently operable closures. When a movable plug is used, the plug is movable between a closed position separating rocket chamber into subchambers isolating the propellant grains from each other and an open position allowing the flow of combustion gas between the two subchambers to achieve additional axial thrust. In all cases, the barrier when intact serves to contain both propellant grains regardless of whether one or both is ignited. The propellant grain on the fore side of the barrier can thus be used for either axial thrust augmentation or for attitude maneuvering.

Multi-functional pulse-divided rocket

Apparatus for braiding an article from a plurality of fibers, comprising a plurality of flexible annular members of substantially the same size which are disposed side-by-side in axially aligned relation and have means for supporting fiber carriers for axial movement relative thereto. The annular members are mounted for circumferential movement about a common central axis relative to each other. A plurality of rows of fiber carriers are mounted on the annular members for axial movement relative to the annular members. Actuating means are provided to move the annular members and to move the rows of fiber carriers axially in a predetermined manner to intertwine the fibers.

Braiding apparatus

A fiber spool apparatus for a braiding machine or the like, comprising a support, a fiber supply spool rotatably mounted on the support, a housing fixedly mounted on the support and having a plurality of recessed portions on the inner surface thereof, and a coil spring mounted within the housing. The coil spring has an inner end operatively associated with the spool and an outer end in engagement with the inner surface of the housing. When fiber is fed from the spool to the braiding machine, the spool is rotated in a first direction to wind and tension the spring by engagement of the outer end thereof in one of the recessed portions in the housing rotation of the spool in the first direction until the spring reaches a predetermined tension. Continued rotation of the spool in the first direction causes the outer spring end to slip from one recessed portion to another after the spring has reached the predetermined tension. In the event of slack in the fiber being fed to the braiding machine, the tensioned coil spring, by engagement of its outer end in one of the recessed portions of the housing, causes the spool to rotate in the opposite direction to maintain tension in the fiber.

Fiber spool apparatus

Apparatus for braiding an article from a plurality of fibers, comprising a plurality of ring members of substantially the same size which are disposed side-by-side in axially aligned relation and have means for supporting fiber carriers for axial movement relative thereto. The ring members are mounted for rotation about a common central axis relative to each other. A plurality of rows of fiber carriers are mounted on the ring members for axial movement relative to the ring members. Actuating means are provided to rotate the ring members and to move the rows of fiber carriers axially in a predetermined manner to intertwine the fibers.

A braiding method wherein fiber carriers are arranged in rows and columns which are moved in a predetermined alternating sequence to intertwine the fibers and form a braided article. A selected intermediate row is moved a distance sufficient to block movement of a column on one side thereof. While the column is blocked, a tamping force is applied thereto to move it against the one side of the selected row to facilitate proper alignment of the fiber carriers in the column.

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Manassas, VA, United States of America

Richard T Brown