Spacecraft shield
US5601258A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 25, 1994 |
| Grant date | Feb 11, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 25, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/30
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A shield for protecting spacecraft from impact with particles having a wide range of velocities includes three elements. Sets of spacers are used to secure the elements in positions in which they are separated from each other selected distances. The bumper element is the outermost element and is composed of ceramic fabric material or tin and is utilized to vaporize or melt a high velocity particle upon impact therewith. The intermediate element is a cloud stopper element and is composed of a metallic layer over a graphite epoxy layer and is used to absorb small fragments resulting from high velocity impacts with the bumper element. The innermost element is a fragment stopper element and is utilized to absorb low velocity particles. The shield elements generally enclose the spacecraft and are mounted onto hardpoint end portions of the spacecraft so that impact forces are not transmitted directly to impact sensitive portions of the spacecraft. The spacing of the elements generally prevents transmission of highly concentrated impact forces to successively inwardly positioned elements of the shield thereby preventing impact damage to the spacecraft.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.