阅读说明：本技术 具有最佳架构的辅助助推器 (Auxiliary booster with optimal structure ) 是由 尼古拉斯·库科 让·巴普蒂斯特·德伊特 皮埃尔·拉维兹 让·米歇尔·拉里厄 于 2018-11-29 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种辅助的固体推进剂助推器(100),其旨在被附接至发射器的本体,所述助推器(100)包括圆柱形本体(110),该圆柱形本体在纵向方向(X-X’)上在与喷嘴(130)连通的后端(120)和由圆锥形结构(150)形成的前端(140)之间延伸,圆锥形结构(150)连接至助推器的圆柱形本体(110)。圆柱形本体(110)界定第一内部体积(111),并且前端的圆锥形结构(150)界定第二内部体积(151)。辅助助推器包括固体推进剂装料(160)。圆柱形本体(110)的第一内部体积(111)与圆锥形结构(150)的第二内部体积(151)连通。固体推进剂装料(160)存在于第一和第二内部体积(111、151)两者中。(A secondary solid propellant booster (100) intended to be attached to the body of a launcher, said booster (100) comprising a cylindrical body (110) extending in a longitudinal direction (X-X') between a rear end (120) communicating with a nozzle (130) and a front end (140) formed by a conical structure (150), the conical structure (150) being connected to the cylindrical body (110) of the booster. The cylindrical body (110) defines a first internal volume (111) and the conical structure (150) of the front end defines a second internal volume (151). The booster includes a solid propellant charge (160). The first internal volume (111) of the cylindrical body (110) communicates with the second internal volume (151) of the conical structure (150). A solid propellant charge (160) is present in both the first and second internal volumes (111, 151).)

1. A solid propellant booster (100) intended to be attached to the body of a launcher, the booster comprising a cylindrical body (110), the cylindrical body (110) extending in a longitudinal direction (X-X') between a rear region communicating with a nozzle (130) and a front face (140) formed by a conical structure (150), the conical structure (150) being connected to the cylindrical body of the booster (110), the cylindrical body (110) defining a first internal volume (111) and the conical structure (150) of the front face defining a second internal volume (151), the booster comprising a solid propellant charge (160), characterized in that the first internal volume (111) of the cylindrical body (110) communicates with the second internal volume (151) of the conical structure (150), wherein the solid propellant charge (160) is present in the first internal volume and the second internal volume (111), 151) Both, and wherein the booster further comprises an ignition device (170) of a solid propellant charge (160) present at a rear region of the booster.

2. The auxiliary booster of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body (110) and the conical structure (150) of the front face (140) are made of a metallic material.

3. The auxiliary booster of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body (210) and the conical structure (250) of the front face (240) are made of an organic matrix composite material.

4. The auxiliary booster of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body is made of a composite material and the front face is made of a metallic material.

5. Method of manufacturing a solid propellant booster (100), the solid propellant booster (100) being intended to be attached to the body of a launcher, the booster comprising a cylindrical body (110), the cylindrical body (110) extending in a longitudinal direction (X-X') between a rear region (120) communicating with a nozzle (130) and a front end face (140) formed by a conical structure (150), the conical structure (150) being connected to the cylindrical body of the booster, the cylindrical body (110) delimiting a first internal volume (111) and the conical structure (150) of the front end face (140) delimiting a second internal volume (151), the booster comprising a solid propellant charge (160), characterized in that the method comprises the production of an assembly comprising the cylindrical body (110) and the conical structure (150) forming the front end face of the booster, the first internal volume (111) of the cylindrical body communicates with the second internal volume (151) of the conical structure, wherein a solid propellant charge (160) is present in both the first and second internal volumes (111, 151), and wherein an ignition device (170) of the solid propellant charge (160) is placed at a rear region of the booster.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the cylindrical body (110) and the conical structure (150) of the front face are made of a metallic material, the conical structure being attached to an upstream end of the cylindrical body.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the cylindrical body (110) and the conical structure (150) of the front end face are each filled with a solid propellant before or after assembly thereof.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the cylindrical body is made by assembling a plurality of cylindrical shroud segments, each segment being filled with a solid propellant either before or after it is assembled with another segment.

9. The method according to claim 5, wherein the assembly comprising the cylindrical body (210) and the conical structure (250) of the front end face is made of an organic matrix composite on a mandrel (300) corresponding to the shape of the assembly.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the assembly comprising the cylindrical body (110) and the conical structure (150) of the front face is made of an organic matrix composite, the conical structure being attached to the upstream end of the cylindrical body by a mechanical connection.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the cylindrical body is made of an organic matrix composite material and the conical structure of the front face is made of a metallic material, the conical structure being attached to the upstream end of the cylindrical body by a mechanical connection.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the cylindrical body (110) and the conical structure (150) of the front end face are each filled with a solid propellant before or after assembly thereof.

13. The method of claim 10 or 11, wherein the cylindrical body is made by assembling a plurality of cylindrical shroud segments, each segment being filled with a solid propellant either before or after it is assembled with another segment.

Background

The present invention relates to the field of solid propellant boosters, and more particularly to secondary boosters intended to be attached to the body of a launcher.

As shown in fig. 1, the auxiliary booster 10 includes a housing 11 having a cylindrical shape extending in a longitudinal direction between a rear end face 12 communicating with a nozzle 13 and a closed front end face 14. The housing 11, which constitutes the reservoir of the auxiliary booster, comprises a solid propellant charge 17, at the front end face 14 of which there is an actuating device 18. The front face 14 of the housing 11 is covered with a cover or conical structure 15, the cover or conical structure 15 ensuring aerodynamic protection of the front face. The cap 15 is attached to the housing 11 by means of a skirt 16 applied to the front end face of the housing.

Document US 5131610 discloses an auxiliary booster of this type.

The connection between the skirt 16 and the front end face of the casing 11, on the one hand, and the cover 15 and the skirt 16, on the other hand, must have excellent mechanical strength in order to resist the aerodynamic loads to which the auxiliary booster is subjected. These components and their connections are expensive and complex to implement.

Accordingly, there is a need for a solid propellant assisted booster having reduced manufacturing costs.

Disclosure of Invention

This object is achieved by a solid propellant assisted booster, intended to be attached to the body of a launcher, the booster comprises a cylindrical body extending in a longitudinal direction between a rear end face communicating with the nozzle and a front end face formed by a conical structure connected to the cylindrical body of the booster, the cylindrical body delimiting a first internal volume, and the conical configuration of the front face defining a second interior volume, the auxiliary booster comprising a solid propellant charge, it is characterized in that the first internal volume of the cylindrical body is in communication with the second internal volume of the conical structure, wherein a solid propellant charge is present in both the first and second internal volumes, and wherein the secondary booster further comprises an ignition device for the solid propellant charge present at a rear end face of the secondary booster.

The construction of the front part of the booster is greatly simplified when manufacturing the conical structure in the continuation of the cylindrical body of the booster, in particular since the application of the skirt is no longer necessary to ensure the connection between the body of the booster and the aerodynamic protection element, nor is it necessary to manage a precise connection between the three elements (booster casing, skirt and cover).

Furthermore, by combining the internal volume of the cylindrical body with the internal volume of the conical structure, the solid propellant charge of the auxiliary booster is increased. Thus, for a given charge volume, auxiliary boosters having smaller dimensions can be manufactured, thereby further reducing their manufacturing costs.

Furthermore, the placement of the ignition device for the solid propellant charge on the rear end face of the booster allows to optimize the charge volume in the assembly formed by the cylindrical body and the conical structure.

According to one embodiment of the auxiliary booster of the present invention, the cylindrical body and the conical structure of the front end face are made of a metallic material.

According to another embodiment of the auxiliary booster according to the invention, the cylindrical body and the conical structure of the front end face are made of an organic matrix composite.

The invention also aims at a method of manufacturing a solid propellant booster intended to be attached to the body of a launcher, the booster comprising a cylindrical body extending in a longitudinal direction between a rear end face communicating with a nozzle and a front end face formed by a conical structure connected to the cylindrical body of the booster, the cylindrical body delimiting a first internal volume and the conical structure of the front end face delimiting a second internal volume, said booster comprising a solid propellant charge, characterized in that the method comprises the production of an assembly comprising a cylindrical body and a conical structure forming the front end face of the booster, the first internal volume of the cylindrical body communicating with the second internal volume of the conical structure, wherein the solid propellant charge is present in both the first internal volume and the second internal volume, and wherein the ignition means of the solid propellant charge is placed at the rear region of the auxiliary booster.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the assembly of the conical structure comprising the cylindrical body and the front end face is made of a metallic material, the conical structure being attached to the upstream end of the cylindrical body by welding or brazing or other mechanical connection.

According to a particular feature of the method of the invention, the conical structures of the cylindrical body and of the front end face are each filled with a solid propellant before or after assembly thereof.

According to a particular feature of the method of the invention, the cylindrical body is made by assembling a plurality of cylindrical shroud segments, each segment being filled with a solid propellant before or after its assembly with another segment.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the assembly of conical structures comprising a cylindrical body and a front end face is made of an organic matrix composite. The cylindrical body and the conical structure may be produced together, i.e. made in one piece. The cylindrical body and the conical structure can also be produced separately and then assembled together, the cylindrical body and the conical structure being able to be filled with a solid propellant before or after their assembly. The cylindrical body may also be produced from a plurality of shroud segments manufactured independently of one another and then assembled, which segments can be filled with a solid propellant either before or after their assembly.

Drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be revealed by the following description of a specific embodiment thereof, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an auxiliary booster according to the prior art;

figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an auxiliary booster according to one embodiment of the present invention;

figures 3A to 3D show the manufacturing steps of the auxiliary booster of figure 2;

figure 4 shows a manufacturing alternative of the booster of figure 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an auxiliary booster according to an embodiment of the invention;

figures 6A to 6D show the manufacturing steps of the auxiliary booster of figure 4;

fig. 7 shows a manufacturing alternative of the booster of fig. 5.

Detailed Description

Fig. 2 shows an auxiliary booster 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The auxiliary booster 100 comprises a cylindrical body 110, the cylindrical body 110 extending in a longitudinal direction X-X' between a rear region or portion 120 (in the example described herein) communicating with the nozzle 130 and a front face 140 formed by a conical structure 150, the conical structure 150 being connected to the cylindrical body 110 of the booster.

In this embodiment, the cylindrical body 110 and the conical structure 150 forming the front end face 140 are made of a metallic material, such as steel or titanium or aluminum.

The cylindrical body 110 defines a first internal volume 111, while the conical structure 150 of the front face 140 defines a second internal volume 151. According to the invention, the first internal volume 111 of the cylindrical body 110 communicates with the second internal volume 151 of the conical structure 150. Still according to the invention, a solid propellant charge 160 is present in both the first internal volume 111 and the second internal volume 151. In other words, in the present invention, the casing of the reservoir of the auxiliary booster is constituted by the cylindrical body 110 and the conical structure 150 of the front face 140, which together form (combination of the first internal volume 111 and the second internal volume 151) a common volume occupied by the solid propellant charge 160, unlike the auxiliary booster of the prior art as described in document US 5131610, in which the casing forming the solid propellant reservoir is closed at the front face of the cylindrical body, preventing communication between the internal volume of the cylindrical body and the conical structure applied to the front face of the auxiliary booster.

A layer of thermal protection material 102 is present on the inner surface of the cylindrical body 110 and the inner surface of the conical structure 150.

The solid propellant charge 160 comprises a central channel 161 extending in the longitudinal direction X-X' and forming a combustion chamber, and a duct for circulating hot gases resulting from the combustion of the propellant in the direction of the nozzle 130.

In the example described here, the propellant charge 160 is present in particular in the entire internal volume 151 of the conical structure, i.e. from the rear end 152 to the front end 153 of the conical structure 150. In the example still described herein, the central channel 161 present in the solid propellant charge 160 is interrupted at an intermediate position between the rear end 152 and the front end 153 of the conical structure 150. The central passage may also extend up to the front end 153 of the conical structure 150.

The booster 100 further comprises an ignition device 170 for the solid propellant charge 160, the solid propellant charge 160 being present inside the cylindrical body near the rear region 120 of the booster.

The booster 100 may further include a rear coupling means (not shown in fig. 2) located at a lower portion of the skirt or cylindrical body 110 in a rear region according to the specific design of the auxiliary booster, and a front coupling means (not shown in fig. 2) located at an upper portion of the conical structure 150 or cylindrical body 110 according to the specific design of the auxiliary booster. The coupling means is intended to allow the auxiliary booster to be attached to the body of the launcher (not shown in fig. 2).

As shown in fig. 3A to 3D, two components corresponding to the cylindrical body 110 and the conical structure 150 (fig. 3A), respectively, are manufactured independently of the metal material used to manufacture the auxiliary booster 100. The cylindrical body 110 and conical structure 150 are then assembled by attaching the rear end 152 of the conical structure 150 to the front end 113 of the cylindrical body 110 by welding or brazing or other mechanical assembly (fig. 3B). After the layer of thermal protection material 102 has been formed on the inner surfaces of the cylindrical body 110 and the conical structure 150, a solid propellant charge 160 is poured into an internal common volume 103 (fig. 3B) consisting of the combination of the internal volume 111 of the cylindrical body 110 and the internal volume 151 of the conical structure 150, by using a tool that allows providing a central channel 161 (fig. 3C) in the charge. The rear region 120, which is here equipped with a nozzle 130 and an ignition device 170, is then attached to the rear end 112 of the cylindrical body 110 by welding or soldering or another mechanical connection (fig. 3D). The auxiliary booster 100 as shown in fig. 2 is then obtained.

According to the variant embodiment shown in fig. 4, the cylindrical body 110 ', the conical structure 150 ' and the rear region 120 ' are assembled before filling the booster with the solid propellant. In this case, the solid propellant 160 ' is poured into a common internal volume constituted by the combination of all or part of the internal volume 111 ' of the cylindrical body 110 ', the internal volume 151 ' of the conical structure 150 ' and possibly the internal volume 121 ' of the rear region 120 '. The solid propellant is poured through the opening 122 ' present in the rear region 120 ' and by using a tool 20 ', which tool 20 ' allows to provide a central channel in the solid propellant charge 160 '.

According to another variant embodiment of the secondary booster 100, each of the cylindrical body 110 and the conical structure 150 may be filled with a solid propellant before they are assembled.

According to another variant embodiment of the auxiliary booster 100, the cylindrical body 110 is produced by the assembly of a plurality of cylindrical shroud segments, each segment being filled with a solid propellant before it is assembled with another segment.

Fig. 5 shows a secondary booster 200 according to another embodiment of the invention, which secondary booster 200 differs from the secondary booster 100 described above in that at least the cylindrical body and the conical structure forming the booster front end are made of a composite material, i.e. of a matrix densified fibrous reinforcement.

With the aforementioned auxiliary booster 100, the auxiliary booster 200 comprises a cylindrical body 210, said cylindrical body 210 extending in the longitudinal direction X-X 'between a rear portion or region 220 (in the example described here) communicating with the nozzle 230 and a front end face 240 formed by a conical structure 250, the conical structure 250 extending in the axial direction X-X' in continuation of the cylindrical body 210.

The cylindrical body 210 defines a first interior volume 211, while the conical structure 250 of the front face 240 defines a second interior volume 251. According to the invention, the first internal volume 211 of the cylindrical body 210 communicates with the second internal volume 251 of the conical structure 250. Still according to the invention, a solid propellant charge 260 is present in both the first internal volume 211 and the second internal volume 251.

In other words, the secondary booster reservoir casing is constituted by the cylindrical body 210 and the conical structure 250 of the front face 240, which together form (combination of the first internal volume 211 and the second internal volume 251) a common volume occupied by the solid propellant charge 260, unlike the secondary booster of the prior art like that described in document US 5131610, in which the casing forming the reservoir for the solid propellant is closed at the front face of the cylindrical body, preventing communication between the internal volume of the cylindrical body and the conical structure applied on the front face of the secondary booster.

A layer of thermal protection material 202 is present in the inner surface of the cylindrical body 210 and the inner surface of the conical structure 250. The solid propellant charge 260 comprises a central channel 261 extending in the longitudinal direction X-X' and forming a combustion chamber, and a conduit for circulating hot gases resulting from the combustion of the propellant in the direction of the nozzle 230.

In the example described here, the propellant charge 260 is present in particular in the entire inner volume 251 of the conical structure, i.e. from the front end 252 up to the front end 253 of the conical structure 250. In the example still described herein, the central channel 261 present in the solid propellant charge 260 is interrupted at an intermediate position between the rear end 252 and the front end 253 of the conical structure 250. The central passage may also extend to the front end 253 of the conical structure 250.

The booster 200 also includes an ignition device 270 for a solid propellant charge 260, the solid propellant charge 260 residing in the interior of the cylindrical body proximate the rear face 220 of the booster.

The booster 200 may also include an aft coupling (not shown in fig. 5) located at the aft region 220, the skirt of the aft region, or a lower portion of the cylindrical body 210, depending on the particular design of the auxiliary booster, and a forward coupling (not shown in fig. 5) located at the conical structure 250, the tip 311 of the cylindrical body 210, or an upper portion, depending on the particular design of the auxiliary booster. The coupling means is intended to allow the auxiliary booster to be attached to the body of the launcher (not shown in fig. 5).

As shown in fig. 6A, the cylindrical body 210 and the conical structure 250 are produced together by filament winding. To this end, a mandrel 300 is used, which comprises, at its front part, a base 310 intended to allow the formation of the conical structure 250, a cylinder 320 connected to the base 310 for the formation of the cylindrical body 210, and a rear part 360 allowing the mandrel to be supported on a rotating shaft at its rear part. The base 310 comprises a conical tip 311 intended to form the front end of the conical structure 250, which is fixed to a conical support 312 that widens on the side opposite to the conical tip 311. The conical tip 311 and the conical support 312 may be made of a composite material or a metal material.

The conical tip 311 is retained in a first element or opposing tip 331 of the shaft 330 of the mandrel 300. The second member 332 of the rotation shaft 300 is coupled to the inner surface of the base 310 (i.e., the side opposite to the side including the tip 311) and the rear portion 360 of the cylinder 320. The shaft 330 is supported by two pins 340 and 350, at least one of the pins 340 and 350 including a motor (not shown) to drive the mandrel 300 along a direction indicated by arrow S in FIG. 5A_RThe indicated direction is rotated. The pin 340 may, for example, comprise a motor and is fixed to the rear portion 360 for driving the cylinder 320 in rotation.

In the example described here, the cylindrical body 210 and the conical structure 250 are produced by continuously winding the strand 31 by means of a winding and laying head 33, said winding and laying head 33 being movable on the track 34 parallel to the axis of the mandrel 300 so as to form the winding 32 on the mandrel 300. The strands 31 are impregnated with a precursor of the substrate or with the substrate itself. The winding direction on the mandrel is adjusted depending on the orientation of the strands of the fibrous reinforcement desired to be obtained. The cylindrical body and conical structure may also be manufactured by covering the mandrel 300 with fiber plies.

The cylindrical body 210, the rear end 220 and the conical structure 250 can be produced, inter alia, by winding or covering of an organic matrix composite (thermosetting or thermoplastic).

A winding of elastomeric tape may be produced on the mandrel 300 prior to filament winding of the strands 31 to form the inner layer of the thermal protective material 202 of the booster.

Once the winding is completed, depending on the nature of the matrix, polymerization or hardening of the resin is performed in order to form a structural shell comprising the cylindrical body 210 and the conical structure 250, as shown in fig. 6B. The solid propellant charge 260 is then poured into the common internal volume 203 consisting of the combination of the internal volume 211 of the cylindrical body 210 and the internal volume 251 of the conical structure 250 (fig. 6B) by using a tool 40, which tool 40 allows providing a central channel 261 (fig. 6C) in the charge. The rear region 220, here equipped with the nozzle 230 and the ignition device 270, is then attached to the rear end 212 of the cylindrical body 210, for example by adhesion (fig. 6D). The auxiliary booster 200 as shown in fig. 4 is then obtained.

According to the variant embodiment shown in fig. 7, the cylindrical body 210 ', the conical structure 250 ' and the rear region 220 ' are produced or assembled together before filling the booster with solid propellant. In this case, the solid propellant 260 ' is poured into a common internal volume consisting of the combination of the internal volume 211 ' of the cylindrical body 210 ', the internal volume 251 ' of the conical structure 250 ' and the internal volume 221 ' of the rear region 220 ', possibly all or part of it. The solid propellant is poured through an opening 222 ' present on the rear region 220 ' and by using a tool 40 ', which tool 40 ' allows providing a central channel in the solid propellant charge 260 '.

The cylindrical body and the conical structure of the composite material may be produced together, i.e. as one piece. The cylindrical body and conical structure can also be produced separately and then assembled together, the cylindrical body and conical structure being able to be filled with solid propellant before or after their assembly. The cylindrical body may also be produced from shroud segments that are manufactured independently of one another and then assembled, which segments can be filled with solid propellant before or after their assembly.

Furthermore, it is possible to produce the elements that constitute the auxiliary booster, i.e. the cylindrical body, the formation of the frontal conical structure and the rear area, some made of metallic material and others made of composite material. For example, the auxiliary booster of the present invention may be comprised of a composite cylindrical body having a front face and a rear region of metallic material.