ROCKET POD (VERSIONS) AND METHOD OF ITS MANUFACTURE (VERSIONS) Russian patent published in 2002 - IPC

FIELD: rocketry and space engineering; structures of tank compartments made from composite materials. SUBSTANCE: rocket pod includes front and rear skirts, mating profiles and propellant section consisting of two tanks with common intermediate bottom. Proposed rocket pod may be made from separate sections. According to one version, each bottom is provided with cylindrical section in form of double-layer envelope. Polymer liner is used as inner layer and carbon-filled plastic is used as outer layer. Three- layer shell is laid on cylindrical section between upper and lower bottoms, thus forming front and rear skirts. Said shell includes inner and outer skins and filler with matting profiles in its butts. Adhesive film is applied on cylindrical sections of bottoms. Hardening of layers and bonding of bottoms are effected in autoclave. According to another version, manufacture of rocket pods consists in manufacture of separate sections. First, double-layer bottom with cylindrical section and adhesive film over it is lined and then layer of polymer liner and three-layer shell are lined, thus forming projecting skirts. Ready sections are coupled together by means of fasteners located in mating profiles. Joint areas are sealed-up. EFFECT: enhanced strength; reduced mass. 5 cl, 5 dwg