Solid fuel launch vehicle destruction system and method
US5507231A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 13, 1994 |
| Grant date | Apr 16, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 13, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF42B15/36
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for shattering a launch vehicle into relatively small pieces are described. The launch vehicle includes at least one solid fuel rocket motor having a propellant disposed about a combustion chamber within a rocket motor case. Each rocket motor also includes at least one motor igniter to ignite the propellant and at least one explosive charge adjacent the rocket motor case. A firing unit is capable of generating a motor ignition signal and a charge explosion signal. A first propagator carries the motor ignition signal to the motor igniter so the signal arrives after a propagation time T.sub.ignition and causes ignition of the previously unignited rocket motor. A second propagator carries the charge explosion signal to the explosive charge so the signal arrives after a propagation time T.sub.explosion and causes an explosion against the rocket motor case. The time T.sub.explosion is greater than the time T.sub.ignition by a pressurization time T.sub.pressurization that is sufficient to allow pressurization of the combustion chamber before actuation of the explosive charge. Pressurization of the combustion chamber exerts forces on the rocket motor case which act in …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.