The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 15, 1996
Filed:
Jul. 29, 1994
Mark J Warner, North Ogden, UT (US);
Wayne E Berndt, North Ogden, UT (US);
O N Thompson, Jr, Logan, UT (US);
Scott W Lauritzen, Hyrum, UT (US);
Kevin W Davis, Ogden, UT (US);
Thiokol Corporation, Ogden, UT (US);
Abstract
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.