Michael P Bleday

US Patent:

42758599, Jun 30, 1981

Filed:

Dec 18, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/104923

Inventors:

Michael P. Bleday - Concord MA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air
Force - Washington DC

International Classification:

B64C 110

US Classification:

244121

Abstract:

A conical shaped, screen-like structured device that is positioned over, and forward of, the rain-erodible, thermal shock-susceptible optical dome of an optically guided missile which travels at varying speeds, from sub-sonic to and including supersonic, through an air environment in which raindrops are falling. This device provides raindrop erosion protection to the dome by fragmenting the raindrops before they impact on the dome; and, it also provides thermal shock protection to the dome by producing a region of relatively stagnant air forward of the dome, and within the device, which reduces the heating rate to the dome. The device allows the use of lower cost rain-erodible and thermal shock-susceptible materials for the optical dome.