Bellows, tunnel fuel tank summary report
Load transfer to end flanges for prevention of bellows buckling in tunnel fuel tank
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Load transfer to end flanges for prevention of bellows buckling in tunnel fuel tank
Radial coolant channels for distributing a coolant over the inner wall of a circular section are fabricated by cold-rolling indentations on the inside circumference of the base section and covering the indentations with a rolled flange.
Remote control, air-motor driven, chain-drive system engages and disengages a flange coupling from large-diameter, high pressure fluid lines.
Leakage at static seals is a problem common to both NASA and industry. The subject of an intensive investigation has been the establishing of design criteria for reliable, low-weight, leak-tight fluid connectors. The problem has been broken into areas of investigation: the structure which supports the actual seal and the seal itself. A Separable Connector Design Handbook has been written to direct designers' efforts toward the optimum connector design for a given purpose. Included in this paper is a brief discussion of the topics covered in the Handbook, notable flanged connector design, threaded connector design, pressure energized seal design, leakage measurement techniques, and a catalog of current satisfactory seal configurations. Also included in this paper is a discussion of the principles of sealing, including the uses and characteristics of elastomers, plastics, and metals. The load-leakage characteristics of seals, the effect of internal pressure, the effect of surface finish on the leakage rate, the mode of material deformation under load, and the advantages of various seal configurations are discussed.
The Saturn S-II stage and the Apollo spacecraft will include in their design and construction various pressurized tubing systems that will encounter service temperatures of 280° F to -423° F. Design engineering and reliability requirements and weight restrict ions have dictated new concepts to assure leak-tight joints for rocket engine fuel lines, pressurization systems, utility systems, and hydraulic systems. An investigation was initiated at North American Aviation, Inc., Space and Information Systems Division, utilizing the in-place automatically controlled miniaturized fusion-welding equipment originally developed by the Los Angeles Division of NAA and modified to meet the needs of Apollo and Saturn welded tubular systems. The objective was to make circumferential flanged weld joints in any position in 304L stainless for Saturn S-II and sleeve-type joints in 304L for Apollo. Inconel X, commercially pure titanium, 5052-0 aluminum, and 6061 T6 aluminum were also tested experimentally. Extensive environmental, static, and dynamic testing programs were conducted to determine the as-welded mechanical properties, design allowables, and reliability for the tube joints. This paper discusses both the experimental and production phases. Subsequently, the new tube welding process was approved and incorporated into manufacturing fabrication methods for tube joining.
Helical seal is used to seal bolted flange joints in a high temperature environment. The seal design incorporates a new cross-sectional shape, a metal strip with a slight radius, and the use of premolded asbestos. It provides equal load distribution under compression loads, allows for minimum loss and recovery values, and increases the temperature range.
A Solder Committee designated to investigate a solder cracking phenomena occurring on the SATURN electrical/electronic hardware found the cause to be induced stress in the soldered connections rather than faulty soldering techniques. The design of the printed circuit (PC) board assemblies did not allow for thermal expansion of the boards that occurred during normal operation. The difference between the thermal expansion properties of the boards and component lead materials caused stress and cracking in the soldered connections. The failure mechanism and various PC boards component mounting configurations are examined in this report. Effective rework techniques using flanged tubelets, copper tubelets, and soft copper wiring are detailed. Future design considerations to provide adequate strain relief in mounting configurations are included to ensure successful solder terminations.
Pipe plug for remote installation in an open-ended pipe used in a hazardous environment provides a gastight seal by expanding a rubber seal against the inside surface of the pipe opening, with mechanical clamps contacting the pipe flange for positive retention of the plug.
Hot-gas seal prevents warpage tendencies in large flange joints exposed to high temperatures, such as those present in large space vehicle engine exhausts. Two Inconel wire mesh cores are held in place by an asbestos cloth cover that acts as a spacer to form the seal.
Gas leakage rates are quantitatively estimated using threaded and flanged fittings by standardizing bubble appearance. Three classes of bubble formations have been proposed.
New method replaces flowmeter approach with readily available burst diaphragm leak detector assembly mounted to all drain ports. This allows simultaneous leak detection of all flange seals under operating conditions.
Admittance of parallel plate waveguide aperture with infinite flange illuminating metal sheet, using wedge diffraction theory and integral transform method
Mechanism, made of 347 stainless steel, is attached to furnace port by bolted flange. Unit incorporates quick opening, high vacuum valve and associated fittings which provide connections to air lock evacuation and to inert gas supply for quenching specimen after it is withdrawn from furnace into air lock.
Light baffle with oblate hemispheroid surface and shading flange
Threaded rod, mounted in tubular housing which is flanged and expandable at one end, removes valve lifter after removal of valve covers and push rods.
Portable tool was designed to semiautomatically bevel end surfaces of tubular or cylindrical components. Tool may be used for fabrication of elbow assembly which requires mating flange and elbow by fusion butt welding.
A 5 cm structurally integrated ion thruster has been developed for attitude control and stationkeeping of synchronous satellites. With 2-D vectorable grids, thrust is 0.56 mlb at a beam voltage of 1200 V, total mass efficiency is 64%, and electrical efficiency is 46.8%. Nonvectoring thrust of 0.41 is demonstrated at very low specific impulse with dielectric coated grids. Structural integrity is demonstrated with dielectric coated grids for shock (30 G), sinusoidal (9 G), and random (19 G squared/Hz) accelerations. System envelope is 31.6 cm long by 14 cm flange B.C. with a mass of 8.5 kg including 6.2 Kg mercury propellant.
An experimental study of several models used to analyze the longitudinal dynamics of oscillations in launch vehicle propellant tanks, is presented. Several vehicle structural configurations are considered: hemispherical and spherical, cylindrical and spherical, and semiellipsoidal and ellipsoidal. Various bulkheads and flanges are used with each configuration. The results are given in graphs.