Load limiting energy absorbing lightweight debris catcher

US5071091A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Jon B. Kahn · Spring, US
• William C. Schneider · Houston, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 22, 1991
• Grant date: Dec 10, 1991
• Expiry date: Feb 22, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64G1/52
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

In the representative embodiment of the invention disclosed herein a load limiting, energy absorbing net is arranged to overlay a normally-covered vent opening in the rear bulkhead of the space orbiter vehicle. Spatially-disposed flexible retainer straps are extended from the net and respectively secured to bulkhead brackets spaced around the vent opening. The intermediate portions of the straps are doubled over and stitched together in a pattern enabling the doubled-over portions to progressively separate at a predicable load designed to be well below the tensile capability of the straps as the stitches are successively torn apart by the forces imposed on the retainer members whenever the cover plate is explosively separated from the bulkhead and propelled into the net. By arranging these stitches to be successively torn away at a load below the strap strength in response to forces acting on the retainers that are less than the combined strength of the retainers, this tearing action serves as a predictable compact energy absorber for safely halting the cover plate as the retainers are extended as the net is deployed. The invention further includes a block of an energy-absorbing ma…