Flame deflectors for rocket launchpads have historically been constructed on-site by spraying on a layer of refractory cement material, resulting in large monolithic structures which lack durability and are vulnerable to degradation by ambient weather. By assembling together a plurality of metal modules and refractory material modules, one obtains a flame deflector structure whose set of modules is matched to an expected heat distribution pattern of the exhaust from the rocket to be launched. Further, modules can be prefabricated at another location, under controlled conditions, and subsequently installed. In case of damage during a launch, any damaged modules can be swapped out and replaced by new modules, thereby minimizing cost and downtime before a subsequent launch event. The modules can be made more weather-resistant by applying an epoxy sealant to their rocket-facing surfaces.
Launch pad flame deflector structure and method of making the same
2018-12-11
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B64G Raumfahrt , COSMONAUTICS / B05D PROCESSES FOR APPLYING LIQUIDS OR OTHER FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL , Verfahren zum Aufbringen von Flüssigkeiten oder von anderen fließfähigen Stoffen auf Oberflächen allgemein / C23C Beschichten metallischer Werkstoffe , COATING METALLIC MATERIAL |
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