General Atomics, Inc.

Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation

Thomas R McGovern

Lawrence D Woolf

Robert B Whitesides

Ronald N Hubbard

Karen Spinar

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for implementing lightning strike protective compositions. In one aspect, a composition for providing protection against electrical discharges (e.g., including lightning strikes) for composite structures includes a binder material capable of dispersing material structures therein and attaching to a surface of a substrate, and a plurality of pigment structures dispersed in the binder material. The pigment structures include a central layer including an electrically conducting material, and outer layers formed on the central layer, in which the outer layers include an optical absorber material or a dielectric material. The composition, when attached to the substrate, is capable of providing electrically conductive paths to transfer electrical current from a multi kiloamp electrical discharge within the composition.

Material compositions for lightning strike protection

Composite structures having an integral intelligent skin are made of one or more plies of a structural base material and an intelligent or smart film by molding one or more plies and the film into an integral unitary body with the intelligent film outermost. The intelligent or smart film contains or bears a functionally active or interactive component such as antennae, electronic sensors, electric and/or electronic circuitry, and/or spectrally tailored coatings. A method of making the composite structure in a very economical manner is disclosed.

Composite structures with integral intelligent skin

A plurality of inlet and outlet channels for receiving and exhausting respectively the flow of a heat exchange medium directed to the inlet channels are located adjacent a plate provided with generally parallel, elongated orifices extending in the direction of and in registration with the inlet and outlet channels. A heat exchange panel is disposed adjacent the plate on the side thereof opposite that of the channels such that the medium entering the input channels travels through the orifices of the plate to the heat exchange panel and then from the panel to and through the outlet channels.

Growing community of inventors

Escondido, CA, United States of America

Thomas R McGovern