US4902450A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Multi-element spherical shell generation
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1988-09-28
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Granted: 1990-02-20
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Expires: 2008-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A nozzle assembly in a multi-element spherical shell generation system includes first and second side-by-side spaced apart nozzles and a web portion extending between and connecting the nozzles. The first nozzle has an inner orifice adapted to discharge a first filler material and an outer annular orifice separated from and defined in concentric relation about the inner orifice and adapted to discharge a first shell material. The second nozzle has an inner orifice adapted to discharge a second filler material and an outer annular orifice separated from and defined in concentric relation about the inner orifice and adapted to discharge a second shell material. A multi-element spherical shell can be formed through employment of the nozzle assembly by merger with one another after discharge from the outer orifices of the nozzles of a pair of adjacent annular streams of liquid or molten shell wall material of different compositions and encapsulation by the mixed shell wall materials of a common encapsulated core fluids also simultaneously discharged by the inner orifices nozzles. On the other hand, the pair of encapsulating streams of shell wall material can be of the same material which merge together and encapsulate core fluids of different compositions which will merge together after discharge from the nozzles.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew D. Morrison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61J; A61J3/00; A61J3/07; B; B01; B01J; B01J13/00; B01J13/02; B01J13/04; B22; B22F; B22F1/00; B22F1/06; B22F1/065; B22F1/0655; B22F9/00; B22F9/02; B22F9/06; B22F9/08; C; C03; C03B; C03B19/00; C03B19/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/804
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
336 words
In a multi-element spherical shell generation system, a nozzle assembly comprising: (a) a first nozzle having an inner orifice adapted to discharge a first filler material in a first inner stream and an outer annular orifice separated from and defined in concentric relation about said inner orifice and adapted to discharge a first shell material in a first annular outer stream, said first nozzle including an outer cylindrical wall and an inner cylindrical tube disposed concentrically within and spaced inwardly from said outer wall, said outer orifice of said first nozzle being defined between outer ends of said outer wall and inner tube and said inner orifice of said first nozzle being defined by said outer end of said inner tube; (b) a second nozzle having an inner orifice adapted to discharge a second filler material in a second inner stream and an outer annular orifice separated from and defined in concentric relation about said inner orifice and adapted to discharge a second shell material in a second annular outer stream, said second nozzle including an outer cylindrical wall and an inner cylindrical tube disposed concentrically within and spaced inwardly from said outer wall, said outer orifice of said second nozzle being defined between outer ends of said outer wall and inner tube and said inner orifice of said second nozzle being defined by said outer end of said inner tube; and (c) a web portion extending between and rigidly interconnecting said first and second nozzles adjacent said respective outer orifices at said outer ends of said outer walls thereof so as to provide an outer end bridge extending between said outer orifices which causes said first and second outer streams of said first and second shell materials to couple together and combine into a single stream for subsequently generating a single shell wall which, in turn, causes said first and second inner streams to coalesce and form a pair of discrete core inclusions for subequently generating a single core inclusion within the single shell wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
336 words
In a multi-element spherical shell generation system, a nozzle assembly comprising: (a) a first nozzle having an inner orifice adapted to discharge a first filler material in a first inner stream and an outer annular orifice separated from and defined in concentric relation about said inner orifice and adapted to discharge a first shell material in a first annular outer stream, said first nozzle including an outer cylindrical wall and an inner cylindrical tube disposed concentrically within and spaced inwardly from said outer wall, said outer orifice of said first nozzle being defined between outer ends of said outer wall and inner tube and said inner orifice of said first nozzle being defined by said outer end of said inner tube; (b) a second nozzle having an inner orifice adapted to discharge a second filler material in a second inner stream and an outer annular orifice separated from and defined in concentric relation about said inner orifice and adapted to discharge a second shell material in a second annular outer stream, said second nozzle including an outer cylindrical wall and an inner cylindrical tube disposed concentrically within and spaced inwardly from said outer wall, said outer orifice of said second nozzle being defined between outer ends of said outer wall and inner tube and said inner orifice of said second nozzle being defined by said outer end of said inner tube; and (c) a web portion extending between and rigidly interconnecting said first and second nozzles adjacent said respective outer orifices at said outer ends of said outer walls thereof so as to provide an outer end bridge extending between said outer orifices which causes said first and second outer streams of said first and second shell materials to couple together and combine into a single stream for subsequently generating a single shell wall which, in turn, causes said first and second inner streams to coalesce and form a pair of discrete core inclusions for subequently generating a single core inclusion within the single shell wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein said first nozzle has an inner passage which communicates with said inner orifice of said first nozzle and is adapted to supply the first filler material thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The nozzle assembly of claim 2, wherein said first nozzle has an outer annular passage separated from and defined in concentric relation about from said inner passage of said first nozzle, said outer passage communicating with said outer orifice of said first nozzle and adapted to supply the first shell material thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The nozzle assembly of claim 3, wherein said outer passage of said first nozzle is defined between said outer wall and inner tube, and said inner passage of said first nozzle is defined within said inner tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The nozzle assembly of claim 1, wherein said second nozzle has an inner passage which communicates with said inner orifice of said second nozzle and is adapted to supply the second filler material thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The nozzle assembly of claim 5, wherein said second nozzle has an outer annular passage separated from and defined in concentric relation about from said inner passage of said second nozzle, said outer passage communicating with said outer orifice of said second nozzle and adapted to supply the second shell material thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The nozzle assembly of claim 6, wherein said outer passage of said second nozzle is defined between said outer wall and inner tube, and said inner passage of said second nozzle is defined within said inner tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
A multi-element spherical shell generation method, comprising the steps of: (a) discharging a pair of annular outer streams of first and second fluid materials; (b) coalescing said annular outer streams such that they merge with one another after discharge from the outer orifices to generate a shell wall; (c) discharging a pair of inner streams of first and second fluid materials such that they are encapsulated by said annular outer streams upon discharge; (d) coalescing said inner streams such that they generate two discrete core inclusions within the shell wall; and (e) merging the two discrete core inclusions into a single inclusion within the shell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
A multi-element spherical shell generation method, comprising the steps of: (a) discharging a pair of annular outer streams of first and second fluid materials; (b) coalescing said annular outer streams such that they merge with one another after discharge from the outer orifices to generate a shell wall; (c) discharging a pair of inner streams of first and second fluid materials such that they are encapsulated by said annular outer streams upon discharge; (d) coalescing said inner streams such that they generate two discrete core inclusions within the shell wall; and (e) merging the two discrete core inclusions into a single inclusion within the shell.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said annular outer streams are discharged from a pair of outer nozzle orifices and said inner streams are discharged from a pair of inner nozzle orifices concentrically surrounded by the respective outer orifices.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said first and second materials of said annular outer streams have different compositions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said first and second materials of said annular outer streams are molten materials.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said first and second materials of said annular outer streams are the same.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said first and second materials of said inner streams are the same fluid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said first and second materials of said inner streams are fluids of different compositions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 8 in which the merger occurs during formation of the shell wall.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 8 in which the merger occurs after formation of the shell wall.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2339114A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-02-19 | 1993-08-21 | 1994-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-19 | 1997-08-21 | 1998-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-19 | 2001-08-21 | 2002-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |