Nose-tip assembly for hypersonic and high-speed vehicles
A nose-tip assembly for a vehicle is provided. The assembly includes a nose tip having a forward aerodynamic portion and a rearward shaft portion. The rearward shaft portion includes an exterior conical surface and an enlarged end region. An insert is formed from multiple pieces that are securable together to define an internal bore receiving the rearward shaft portion of the nose tip. The internal bore includes a throat sized smaller than the enlarged end region so that the enlarged end region is retained within the insert. An adapter defines a cavity having an interior conical surface that engages the exterior conical surface of the nose tip, and a receptacle that receives the insert.
1 . A nose-tip assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a nose tip having a forward aerodynamic portion and a rearward shaft portion, the rearward shaft portion including an exterior conical surface and an enlarged end region;
an insert comprising multiple pieces securable together to define an internal bore receiving the rearward shaft portion of the nose tip, the internal bore including a throat sized smaller than the enlarged end region such that the enlarged end region is retained within the insert; and
an adapter defining a cavity having an interior conical surface engaging the exterior conical surface of the nose tip, and a receptacle receiving the insert.
2 . The nose-tip assembly of claim 1 wherein the rearward shaft portion includes a curved transition region between the exterior conical surface and the enlarged end region.
3 . The nose-tip assembly of claim 1 wherein the insert and the adapter are fastened together to apply a preload urging the exterior conical surface of the nose tip against the interior conical surface of the adapter.
4 . The nose-tip assembly of claim 1 wherein the insert comprises two pieces securable together around the rearward shaft portion.
5 . The nose-tip assembly of claim 1 wherein the insert includes an anti-rotation feature configured to resist rotation of the nose tip relative to the insert.
6 . The nose-tip assembly of claim 1 wherein the insert defines continuous load-bearing surfaces engaging the rearward shaft portion of the nose tip along at least a portion of its length.
7 . The nose-tip assembly of claim 1 wherein the adapter is configured to be fastened to a vehicle body.
8 . The nose-tip assembly of claim 1 wherein the adapter and the insert are configured such that preload of the adapter maintains contact between the exterior and interior conical surfaces during operation.
9 . A vehicle comprising the nose-tip assembly of claim 1 .
10 . The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the vehicle is a hypersonic vehicle, a rocket, or a spacecraft.
11 . A method of assembling a nose-tip assembly, comprising:
placing an insert comprising multiple insert pieces around a shaft portion of a nose tip;
securing the multiple insert pieces together to clamp the shaft portion within a bore of the insert;
positioning the nose tip and insert into a cavity of an adapter; and
fastening the adapter to apply a preload urging an exterior conical surface of the nose tip against an interior conical surface of the adapter.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein securing the multiple insert pieces together comprises tightening fasteners extending through the insert.
13 . The method of claim 11 further comprising engaging an anti-rotation feature between the shaft portion of the nose tip and the insert.
14 . The method of claim 11 wherein the insert comprises two pieces that are joined together around the shaft portion.
15 . The method of claim 11 further comprising applying a preload to the insert prior to fastening the adapter.
16 . The method of claim 11 wherein fastening the adapter comprises tightening fasteners that draw the nose tip toward a bearing surface of the adapter.
17 . The method of claim 11 wherein the step of placing the insert around the shaft portion includes aligning the shaft portion within a throat of the insert narrower than an enlarged end region of the shaft portion.
18 . The method of claim 11 wherein the preload maintains engagement between the interior and exterior conical surfaces during operation of a vehicle.
19 . The method of claim 11 further comprising attaching the adapter to a body of a vehicle.
20 . The method of claim 11 wherein the shaft portion of the nose tip includes a curved transition region between the exterior conical surface and an enlarged end region, and the method includes positioning the insert to contact the curved transition region.