Apparatuses, methods and systems for passive counter-directed energy platform protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016165707-A1
Application number	US-201313932803-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 1, 2013
Priority date	Jul 1, 2013
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the passive initiation and release of incident energy-dissipating material from locations on an incident energy target surface as a counter measure response for the protection of a platform. The response is activated over a predetermined area or areas on an incident energy target surface in response to an incident directed energy sensed on a target surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for protecting a structure surface against damage from incident directed energy, the structure surface comprising a coating and at least one enclosure, the coating comprising a sensing layer, and the enclosure further comprising a contained amount of an incident energy-dissipating material in the enclosure, the enclosure in communication with the sensing layer, the method comprising the steps of:
locating the coating at predetermined locations on the structure surface; locating the enclosure at predetermined locations on the structure surface; sensing incident directed energy at the sensing layer; and activating the incident energy-dissipating material at predetermined locations on the structure surface.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is selected from the group consisting of an applique, container, a layer in the coating, and combinations thereof.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises the sensing layer and the incident energy-dissipating material.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a top coat layer.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises at least one layer selected from the group consisting of: a top coat layer, a reflective layer, a base layer, an adhesive layer, and combinations thereof.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the incident energy-dissipating material comprises components dimensioned to at least partially dissipate incident directed energy wavelengths.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the incident energy-dissipating material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: nano-particles, micro-particles, macro-particles, ablative particles, and combinations thereof.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is located remotely from a point of incident direct energy on the structure surface.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the structure is selected from the group consisting of an aircraft, a vehicle, and a stationary structure.

10 . A system for protecting a structure against damage from incident directed energy, said incident directed energy having at least one wavelength, said system comprising:
a coating comprising a sensing layer, wherein said sensor layer comprises at least one sensor, said coating located at a predetermined location on the structure surface; at least one enclosure containing an amount of incident energy-dissipating material in the enclosure, said enclosure in communication with the sensing layer and said enclosure located at a predetermined location on the structure surface; wherein incident directed energy is sensed at the sensing layer; and wherein incident directed energy-dissipating material is activated within the enclosures at predetermined locations on the structure surface.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the enclosure is selected from the group consisting of: a layer of an applique, a container, and combinations thereof.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the coating is applied to the structure surface as an applique.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the coating comprises the sensing layer, the enclosure, and the incident energy-dissipating material.

14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the enclosure comprises layers selected from the group consisting of: a top coat layer, a reflective layer, a base layer, an adhesive layer, and combinations thereof.

15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the incident energy-dissipating material comprises material dimensioned to at least partially dissipate incident directed energy wavelengths.

16 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the incident energy-dissipating material comprises materials selected from the group consisting of: nano-particles, macro-particles, micro-particles, ablative materials, and combinations thereof.

17 . The system of claim 10 , wherein incident directed energy is sensed at a sensing layer at a predetermined location on a structure surface, and said sensing layer in communication with an enclosure activates a predetermined amount of incident energy-dissipating material.

18 . The system of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the enclosure releases from the structure prior to activating a predetermined amount of incident energy-dissipating material.

19 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the enclosure is located remotely from a point of incident direct energy on the structure surface.

20 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the structure is selected from the group consisting of aircraft, vehicles and stationary structures.

21 . A coating for protecting a structure against damage from incident directed energy comprising:
a base layer comprising an adhesive layer; at least one reactive layer comprising incident energy-dissipating material; a reflective layer disposed between the base layer and the reactive layer; and a sensing layer for sensing incident directed energy, said sensing layer in communication with the reactive layer.

22 . The coating of claim 21 , wherein the coating is applied to a structure surface as an applique, said applique further comprising a top coat layer.

23 . The coating of claim 21 , wherein the reactive layer comprises a nano-thermite-containing compound, and the reflective layer comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, silver and combinations thereof.

24 . The coating of claim 21 , wherein the average thickness of coating ranges from about 0.01 μm to about 5,000 μm.

25 . The coating of claim 21 , wherein the incident energy-dissipating material comprises materials selected from the group consisting of: non-nano particles, nano-particles, ablative particles, and combinations thereof.

26 . The coating of claim 21 , wherein the structure is selected from the group consisting of: a vehicle, an aircraft and a stationary structure.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Clemen Jr Mark J
• Stewart Alan F
• Hull John R
• Davis Keith J

Classifications

• H05F7/00 Primary

  Use of naturally-occurring electricity, {e.g. lightning or static electricity} · CPC title

• B60R13/08

  Insulating elements, e.g. for sound insulation {(sound insulating linings for trains B61D17/185; drivers' cabs for load-carrying vehicles insulated against vibrations or noise B62D33/0604; thermal or acoustic insulation of engines F02B77/11; damping of sounds using compensation by electro-acoustic methods G10K11/178)} · CPC title

• B64D45/02 Primary

  Lightning protectors; Static dischargers · CPC title

• B32B2307/212

  Electromagnetic interference shielding · CPC title

• B32B7/12

  using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties · CPC title