US3113521A - Silica heat barrier - Google Patents
Silica heat barrier Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3113521A US3113521A US790735A US79073559A US3113521A US 3113521 A US3113521 A US 3113521A US 790735 A US790735 A US 790735A US 79073559 A US79073559 A US 79073559A US 3113521 A US3113521 A US 3113521A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- quartz
- nose cone
- heat
- percent
- gadolinium
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
- F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
- F42B10/00—Means for influencing, e.g. improving, the aerodynamic properties of projectiles or missiles; Arrangements on projectiles or missiles for stabilising, steering, range-reducing, range-increasing or fall-retarding
- F42B10/32—Range-reducing or range-increasing arrangements; Fall-retarding means
- F42B10/38—Range-increasing arrangements
- F42B10/42—Streamlined projectiles
- F42B10/46—Streamlined nose cones; Windshields; Radomes
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
- F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
- F42B15/00—Self-propelled projectiles or missiles, e.g. rockets; Guided missiles
- F42B15/34—Protection against overheating or radiation, e.g. heat shields; Additional cooling arrangements
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S65/00—Glass manufacturing
- Y10S65/08—Quartz
Definitions
- a principal object of the present invention is to reduce the heat or infrared transmission properties of fused quartz.
- this object may be achieved through the addition of gadolinium or one of the other rare earth materials to quartz. More specifically, excellent results have been obtained through the use of fused quartz made with approximately 1 percent of gadolinium oxide and 99 percent silica.
- the silica may initially be in the form of quartz crystals or quartz sand. It is also contemplated that useful results may be obtained by using from traces of, for example about .01 percent, gadolinum, up to several percent of this material.
- the other rare earths are also applicable to this problem, as they have generally simliar properties to gadolinium. Particularly for situations in which nuclear radiations may also be present, however, gadolinium is to be preferred in view of its known radiation absorption properties.
- the illustrative embodiment of the invention constitutes a multi-stage rocket 2.
- This multi-stage rocket is of a conventional design and includes a separate nose cone assembly 4.
- the nose cone assembly 4 is separated from the main body portion of the rocket 2.
- the nose cone assembly 4 may include a warhead 6, electronic controls 8 and an auxiliary engine and fuel supply
- the outer surface of the nose cone is covered with a shell 12 which may, for example, be a gadolinium quartz material of the type described above.
- the composition of the nose cone may be of about .01 to 10 percent, preferably .3 to 2 percent gadolinium oxide, the remainder being quartz, and beneficial results may be obtained by using other of the rare earths in similar percentages.
- the other metals generally known as rare earths include lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, Samarium, europium, terbium, tdysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbiurn, and lutetium. Scandium and yttrium, atomic numbers Z1 and 39, occur together with the rare earths in nature, and are also Group IIIA elements.
- rare earths are therefore normally included in the group of rare earths, and will be so included for the purpose of the present specification and claims.
- rare earth materials mentioned above samarium and europium in addition to gadolinium, have higher thermal neutron cross-sections than any other naturally occurring materials.
- These elements are therefore particularly suitable for the present purposes, in which the property of inhibiting radiation and subatomic particles is a useful collateral property With respect to the primary function of inhibiting heat transfer through the quartz material.
- the material in accordance with the present invention is also suitable for use as an ablating or as a heat insulating material for purposes other than the nose cone of high speed re-entry vehicles.
- the material could be used for some types of jet nozzles and for the lining of ovens or low temperature furnaces.
- the additional rare earth material may be essentially pure or in the form of compounds such as oxides of the elements.
- a missile comprising a nose cone made of quartz, said quartz containing .01 to 10 percent of gadolinium, and means for mounting electronic equipment in said nose cone.
- a high speed re-entry vehicle comprising a nose cone made principally of quartz, said quartz containing .01 to 10 percent of gadolinium.
- a heat barrier comprising fused quartz, said quartz containing 10 1 to 10 percent of gadoliniurn, means for subjecting a region adjacent one side of said barrier to elevated temperatures and heat sensitive equipment located adjacent said barrier on the other side thereof.
- a heat barrier comprising fused quartz, said quartz containing .01 to 10* percent of a material selected from the group consisting of stable rare earth elements and oxides thereof, means for subjectinga region adjacent one side of said barrier to elevated temperat-ures and heat sensitive equipment located adjacent said barrier on the other side thereof.
- a 'high speed re-entry vehicle comprising a nose cone made principally of quartz, said quartz including 0.3 to 2 percent of material selected from the group consisting of gadolinium and gadolinium oxide. 2,862,131
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Glass Compositions (AREA)
Description
Dec. 10, 1963 ELECTRONIC CONTROLS AUXILIARY ENG/NE, FUEL M- M. WALLER SILICA HEAT BARRIER Filed Feb. 2, 1959 FUEL MAIN ENG/NE INVENTOR.
MILTON M. WALLER ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,113,521 SILICA EEAT BAER Milton M. Waller, Plainfield, N..l., assignor to Nuclear Corporation of America, Inc., Denville, NJL, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 790,735 5 Claims. (Cl. 162-925) This invention relates to arrangements for protection against heat or other radiations.
In a number of important situations, it is desirable to use materials which retain mechanical strength at high temperatures, and which do not transmit heat readily. One particularly important application of this type is in the nose cone of a high speed re-entry vehicle. Because of its high melting point and high temperature rigidity, it has been proposed that fused quartz be employed as a nose cone material. However, because quartz transmits infrared radiations, the warhead and electronic equipment within the nose cone tend to get extremely hot, once the fused quartz nose cone begins to heat up.
Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to reduce the heat or infrared transmission properties of fused quartz.
In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that this object may be achieved through the addition of gadolinium or one of the other rare earth materials to quartz. More specifically, excellent results have been obtained through the use of fused quartz made with approximately 1 percent of gadolinium oxide and 99 percent silica. The silica may initially be in the form of quartz crystals or quartz sand. It is also contemplated that useful results may be obtained by using from traces of, for example about .01 percent, gadolinum, up to several percent of this material. The other rare earths are also applicable to this problem, as they have generally simliar properties to gadolinium. Particularly for situations in which nuclear radiations may also be present, however, gadolinium is to be preferred in view of its known radiation absorption properties.
Other objects, and various features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and from a consideration of the single FIGURE of the drawing.
With reference to the drawing, the illustrative embodiment of the invention constitutes a multi-stage rocket 2. This multi-stage rocket is of a conventional design and includes a separate nose cone assembly 4. In accordance with known techniques, following the consumption of the fuel in the main portion of the rocket 2, the nose cone assembly 4 is separated from the main body portion of the rocket 2. The nose cone assembly 4 may include a warhead 6, electronic controls 8 and an auxiliary engine and fuel supply The outer surface of the nose cone is covered with a shell 12 which may, for example, be a gadolinium quartz material of the type described above.
As the nose cone assembly returns to earth, frictional forces between the nose cone and the atmosphere will greatly increase the temperature of the outer surface of the nose cone. Without the rare earth additions in the quartz, the infrared radiations and the heat from the outer surface of the quartz layer would be readily transmitted to the interior of the nose cone. The presence of the 'ice rare earth additions, however, causes an absorption and reradiation of the heat from the outer layer of the nose cone. The remainder of the quartz then constitutes a heat barrier which shields the interior of the nose cone from infrared radiations and from 'high temperatures.
As mentioned above, the composition of the nose cone may be of about .01 to 10 percent, preferably .3 to 2 percent gadolinium oxide, the remainder being quartz, and beneficial results may be obtained by using other of the rare earths in similar percentages. The other metals generally known as rare earths include lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, Samarium, europium, terbium, tdysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbiurn, and lutetium. Scandium and yttrium, atomic numbers Z1 and 39, occur together with the rare earths in nature, and are also Group IIIA elements. These elements are therefore normally included in the group of rare earths, and will be so included for the purpose of the present specification and claims. Of the rare earth materials mentioned above, samarium and europium in addition to gadolinium, have higher thermal neutron cross-sections than any other naturally occurring materials. These elements are therefore particularly suitable for the present purposes, in which the property of inhibiting radiation and subatomic particles is a useful collateral property With respect to the primary function of inhibiting heat transfer through the quartz material.
The material in accordance with the present invention is also suitable for use as an ablating or as a heat insulating material for purposes other than the nose cone of high speed re-entry vehicles. Thus, for example, the material could be used for some types of jet nozzles and for the lining of ovens or low temperature furnaces.
It is to be understood that the above described arran gements are illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. By Way of example but not of limitation, it may be noted that the additional rare earth material may be essentially pure or in the form of compounds such as oxides of the elements.
What is claimed is:
1. A missile comprising a nose cone made of quartz, said quartz containing .01 to 10 percent of gadolinium, and means for mounting electronic equipment in said nose cone.
2. A high speed re-entry vehicle comprising a nose cone made principally of quartz, said quartz containing .01 to 10 percent of gadolinium.
3. In combination, a heat barrier comprising fused quartz, said quartz containing 10 1 to 10 percent of gadoliniurn, means for subjecting a region adjacent one side of said barrier to elevated temperatures and heat sensitive equipment located adjacent said barrier on the other side thereof.
4. In combination, a heat barrier comprising fused quartz, said quartz containing .01 to 10* percent of a material selected from the group consisting of stable rare earth elements and oxides thereof, means for subjectinga region adjacent one side of said barrier to elevated temperat-ures and heat sensitive equipment located adjacent said barrier on the other side thereof.
5. A 'high speed re-entry vehicle comprising a nose cone made principally of quartz, said quartz including 0.3 to 2 percent of material selected from the group consisting of gadolinium and gadolinium oxide. 2,862,131
References Cited in the file of this patent 2,976,806
UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,578,325 Sun et a1. Dec. 11, 1951 73 405 2,782,716 Johnston Feb. 26, 1957 297 259 4 Loifler Sept. 3, 1957 Desrivieres Nov. 25, 1958 Winn May 24, 1960 Risk Mar. 28, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Sept. 15, 1893 Italy June 8, 1932
Claims (1)
- 3. IN COMBINATION, A HEAT BARRIER COMPRISING FUSED QUARTZ, SAID QUARTZ CONTAINING .01 TO 10 PERCENT OF GADOLINIUM, MEANS FOR SUBJECTING A REGION ADJACENT ONE SIDE OF SAID BARRIER TO EVELATED TEMPERATURES AND HEAT SENSITIVE
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US790735A US3113521A (en) | 1959-02-02 | 1959-02-02 | Silica heat barrier |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US790735A US3113521A (en) | 1959-02-02 | 1959-02-02 | Silica heat barrier |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3113521A true US3113521A (en) | 1963-12-10 |
Family
ID=25151610
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US790735A Expired - Lifetime US3113521A (en) | 1959-02-02 | 1959-02-02 | Silica heat barrier |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3113521A (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3336872A (en) * | 1965-08-12 | 1967-08-22 | Edward W Langen | Fuze window assembly |
US3679189A (en) * | 1970-04-03 | 1972-07-25 | Raychem Corp | Pyrotechnic heating device |
US3747530A (en) * | 1966-10-26 | 1973-07-24 | Us Navy | Window protector |
US6555211B2 (en) | 2001-01-10 | 2003-04-29 | Albany International Techniweave, Inc. | Carbon composites with silicon based resin to inhibit oxidation |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE78405C (en) * | GRAEGERS chemisch - technische fabrik, Mühlhausen i. Th | Shrapnel with a glass core | ||
US2578325A (en) * | 1949-12-13 | 1951-12-11 | Eastman Kodak Co | Oxyfluoride glasses |
US2782716A (en) * | 1953-11-30 | 1957-02-26 | North American Aviation Inc | Destructible cover for fragile dome |
US2805166A (en) * | 1954-01-18 | 1957-09-03 | Loffler Johannes | Glasses containing oxides of rare earth metals |
US2862131A (en) * | 1951-02-27 | 1958-11-25 | Saint Gobain | Glass for glow discharge lamps such as fluorescent luminescent lamps and the like |
US2937597A (en) * | 1956-08-27 | 1960-05-24 | Gen Electric | Missile nose structure |
US2976806A (en) * | 1958-03-05 | 1961-03-28 | Gen Dynamics Corp | Missile structure |
-
1959
- 1959-02-02 US US790735A patent/US3113521A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE78405C (en) * | GRAEGERS chemisch - technische fabrik, Mühlhausen i. Th | Shrapnel with a glass core | ||
US2578325A (en) * | 1949-12-13 | 1951-12-11 | Eastman Kodak Co | Oxyfluoride glasses |
US2862131A (en) * | 1951-02-27 | 1958-11-25 | Saint Gobain | Glass for glow discharge lamps such as fluorescent luminescent lamps and the like |
US2782716A (en) * | 1953-11-30 | 1957-02-26 | North American Aviation Inc | Destructible cover for fragile dome |
US2805166A (en) * | 1954-01-18 | 1957-09-03 | Loffler Johannes | Glasses containing oxides of rare earth metals |
US2937597A (en) * | 1956-08-27 | 1960-05-24 | Gen Electric | Missile nose structure |
US2976806A (en) * | 1958-03-05 | 1961-03-28 | Gen Dynamics Corp | Missile structure |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3336872A (en) * | 1965-08-12 | 1967-08-22 | Edward W Langen | Fuze window assembly |
US3747530A (en) * | 1966-10-26 | 1973-07-24 | Us Navy | Window protector |
US3679189A (en) * | 1970-04-03 | 1972-07-25 | Raychem Corp | Pyrotechnic heating device |
US6555211B2 (en) | 2001-01-10 | 2003-04-29 | Albany International Techniweave, Inc. | Carbon composites with silicon based resin to inhibit oxidation |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US3081249A (en) | Process of making a nuclear fuel element | |
Ringwood | Special papers—Apollo 11 symposium: Petrogenesis of Apollo 11 basalts and implications for lunar origin | |
US4173187A (en) | Multipurpose protection system | |
US3113521A (en) | Silica heat barrier | |
US3682100A (en) | Nose-cone cooling of space vehicles | |
US3569714A (en) | Protected radioisotopic heat source | |
Fredriksson et al. | Meteoritic, lunar and Lonar impact chondrules | |
US3489579A (en) | Ablative heat shielding and injection cooling by addition of surface active agents | |
US3255698A (en) | Nose-cone cooling of space vehicles | |
US3236476A (en) | Heat insulation for hypersonic vehicles | |
US4649795A (en) | Structural shroud system incorporating a pyrotechnic | |
Gast et al. | Evidence for initial chemical layering of the moon | |
US4192714A (en) | Reactor safety method | |
Riddell et al. | Meteorites and re-entry of space vehicles at meteor velocities | |
RU2294865C1 (en) | Method of protection of spacecraft | |
Dwork | Coning Effects Caused by Separation of Spin-Stabilized Stages | |
Kracher et al. | Leoville (CV3)-An" Accretionary Breccia"? | |
Arndt et al. | Design trade-offs for ceramic/composite armor materials | |
US3208692A (en) | Tug-tow arrangement for nuclear aircraft | |
Dhawan et al. | Thermal Protection for a Re-Entry Vehicle Using Heat Ablation Process | |
Brunner et al. | Re-entry of radioactive power sources. | |
CN1266709C (en) | Radiation-proof shading material and preparing method thereof | |
Vahia | Solar flare plasma conditions inferred from solar cosmic rays | |
STONEMETZ et al. | Long term cryogenic storage system integration(Thermal management of liquid hydrogen storage systems using high performance insulation and solar shielding) | |
Kyte et al. | Sanidine spherules in a Pacific KT boundary |