Thiokol Corporation

Morton Thiokol Inc.

Scott W Lauritzen

Mark J Warner

Kevin W Davis

E Wayne Tackett

Wayne E Berndt

O N Thompson, Jr

Daniel C Dombrowski

The present invention is directed to a novel pressure vessel and process for manufacturing the pressure vessel. In one embodiment, the invention includes a case for a rocket motor which includes a cylindrical, metal shell which has been configured with a plurality of slots positioned in axially extending rows. A fiber reinforced plastic layer is attached to the metal shell. Each slot has a length (L) and is separated by adjacent slots in the same row by an axial distance (A) with adjacent rows of slots separated by a circumferential distance (C) and configured such that L+A.gtoreq.6C and L.gtoreq.4A. The method of the invention comprises using a CO.sub.2 laser to cut a keyhole in the shell and then cutting axially outwardly from the keyhole to form the slot, resulting in slots having a width equal to the cutting width of the laser. The beam is then defocused and used to heat a portion of the metal shell surrounding the ends of each slot to produce a tempered zone.

Slotted hybrid pressure vessel

A composite electromagnetic barrel is preloaded to minimize rail separation by jacking the rails radially outwardly away from each other and wedging a pair of insulating members between the rails to retain the preload. The jacking force is then released.

Preloaded composite electromagnetic barrel and process for fabricating

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Hyrum, UT, United States of America

Scott W Lauritzen