Insulated reentry heat shield
US6558785B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 5, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 6, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 5, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/31942
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention discloses an insulated reentry heat shield for minimizing heat transfer to a spacecraft structure or the like during atmospheric reentry. The heat shield (10) comprises an outer heat resistant layer (12) including an ablative first material backed by an inner insulating layer (14) including an insulating second material. The outer and inner layers (12, 14) are bonded to one another by a middle layer (16) disposed therebetween. The middle layer is formed by disposing at least one layer of a phenolic loaded third material between the outer and inner layers and heating all three layers simultaneously to remove phenolic volatiles from the middle layer. In one embodiment, the ablative first material is carbon-carbon, the insulating second material is carbon foam, and the phenolic loaded third material is carbon scrim cloth. The present invention also discloses a method for use in constructing a heat shield. The method includes the steps of preparing an outer heat resistant layer comprised of an ablative first material and attaching the outer heat resistant layer to an inner insulating layer comprised of an insulating second material. The outer heat resistant layer …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.