Extendible Rocket Nozzle Segmented Cone Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rocket engine nozzle extensions with multiple conical segments are difficult to assemble and maintain, requiring complex assembly from the top, limiting accessibility and increasing the risk of damage during integration and transport, and necessitating additional support for horizontal transport.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a design where at least one locking area between cones is automatically lockable via stops and flexible elements, and another area is manually locked, allowing cones to be mounted or removed from either above or below, and enabling separate transport and maintenance, reducing the number of required mechanical supports and simplifying production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all three cones are assembled simultaneously from the top, then the nozzle extension can be locked securely during flight, but the assembly complexity increases and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle extension is divided into three separate conical segments (top cone, middle cone, bottom cone) that can be assembled independently. The top cone can be assembled first and locked to the engine, then the middle and bottom cones can be added separately, reducing overall assembly complexity while maintaining secure locking through individual locking mechanisms at each interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism incorporates flexible locking elements that can adapt dynamically during assembly. These elements allow for adjustment and self-alignment, making the assembly process more forgiving and less complex while ensuring reliable locking once assembled.
2Reliability
If the top cone is assembled first, then the locking mechanism can secure the nozzle extension, but access to the engine becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the nozzle extension into separable conical segments, the design allows the top cone to be assembled and locked first for security, while the middle and bottom cones remain as separate units that can be removed or adjusted to provide access to the engine components underneath.
Solution Approach 2:
The top cone is assembled and locked in advance before the other cones are attached. This preliminary action secures the locking mechanism early, but the design anticipates that the lower cones can be detached later when engine access is needed, thus resolving the accessibility issue.
3Ease of manufacture
If the cones are locked together manually on the ground, then assembly is simpler, but the locking reliability during flight is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to be self-actuating during flight. The flexible locking elements automatically engage and lock the cones together when the appropriate forces are applied during extension, eliminating the need for manual locking operations during flight while maintaining simplicity during ground assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking system transitions from a static manual locking state on the ground to a dynamic self-locking state during flight. The flexible elements are designed to deform and engage automatically under flight conditions, providing reliable locking without requiring manual intervention while keeping the ground assembly process simple.
4Volume of moving object
If three cones are used for the nozzle extension, then the storage space is reduced, but the number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle extension is segmented into three conical parts that can be nested within each other during storage and transport. The smaller cones can be placed inside larger cones, significantly reducing the storage volume required while maintaining the benefit of having multiple separable parts for assembly flexibility and maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The three conical segments are designed to nest within one another when not in use. The bottom cone can contain the middle cone, which in turn can contain the top cone, creating a compact storage configuration that minimizes volume while preserving the multi-part structure for assembly and maintenance advantages.
5Stability of the object's composition
If the cones are transported together, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle extension is divided into three separate conical segments that can be transported independently or together. When structural integrity is not required during transport, the cones can be separated and transported individually, reducing the total weight that needs to be moved at once while maintaining the option to assemble them into the完整 structure when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
In a rocket engine, an extendable nozzle extension consists of three cone-shaped individual elements, each slidable relative to the other in the longitudinal direction of the engine, which can be locked together in the extended position. At least one locking section between two cones is designed to lock automatically via a known arrangement of stops and flexible locking elements, and at least one locking section between two cones can only be locked manually. In the automatically locking arrangement, the flexible locking elements held on the first cone can be engaged with stops, which in turn are detachably connected to the second cone. The stops are designed as an annular projection that is connected to the second cone via screws. The connection between the other cones, which can only be locked manually, is secured by screws or...The connection is made using positive-locking connecting elements. Alternatively, the connection, which can only be locked manually, can be made using clamping elements or inserts with corresponding fixings.